Rat Terrier Rescue Canada Inc.

"Rescue One Til There Are None"

All About Fostering With Rat Terrier Rescue Canada

Rat Terrier Rescue Canada (RTRC) is a small village of dog loving volunteers who spend endless hours trying to save as many dogs as possible.

RTRC is geographically dispersed throughout Ontario and the US. As such, we do not have a central location to hold dogs until they are adopted and are totally reliant on foster homes to care for our dogs until they find their "furever" home. We have a variety of different dogs of all sizes and ages and can generally find a foster dog that will suit any home. The availability of foster homes is absolutely critical to our ability to save dogs. We are always looking for new foster homes so we do not get into a situation where we can longer accept new dogs and have to turn some away.

Fostering is what we call “A Bridge", filling the gap between the homeless and forgotten dog - to finding them a loving perfect forever home. As a foster, your job is to help determine what type of home best suits your foster dog and to give them a second chance at life. Rat Terrier Rescue Canada expects foster dogs to be treated as part of your family, as you would your own pet. Human contact, safe places to sleep, eat, rest and play are essential.

Rat Terrier Rescue Canada enhances the lives of individuals and families and enriches communities by providing a meaningful connection by fostering and promoting shared experiences, all united by a commitment to animal welfare.

Every dog will be different as well, along with every situation. Much like people, they all have similar yet different personality traits.

Along with providing food, treats, toys and love, foster homes also work on socialization and basic training skills. Many of our foster dogs are not house trained therefore it’s best to be prepared for accidents and set your home up for a safe area that can be cleaned up easily. It can be messy but with careful monitoring and consistency, potty training will be successful. As a foster home you also evaluate the personality traits, sociability of the dogs with adults, children and other pets.

If you are interested in fostering with us please click the button below and to fill out an application!

Fostering Application

Animal rescue can begin at a young age, instilling in children the value of dedicating time to a noble cause. It teaches them that, in addition to caring for the environment, we humans have a duty to protect animals from unnecessary suffering. Fostering also teaches children to give without expecting compensation.

Many families consider a dog an essential part of their household. If you're searching for the right breed and the perfect fit for your home, fostering could be an excellent method to make that determination.

Families with older children are permitted to foster a dog, on the condition that they are educated to treat the foster dog with kindness and respect. Finding an appropriate match is crucial for both fostering and potential adoption. Our diverse selection of dogs offers a great opportunity for you to find the perfect companion that will provide lifelong love and loyalty to the right individual or family.

Many dogs have found their forever homes thanks to the temporary shelter provided by RTRC foster homes, bridging the gap until a permanent family could be found.

Foster homes are the vanguard for Rat Terrier Rescue Canada Dogs, playing a crucial role in saving lives. These temporary homes offer animals awaiting permanent adoption a place to stay. Foster families supply shelter, food, care, affection, and direction. Typically, fosters care for the animals for an average duration of 4-8 weeks, supporting the dog until it is placed in its forever home.

For many of these dogs, it will be their initial experience of being cherished as a family pet. You represent their deliverance, and the significance of the role you play in their lives should never be undervalued!

"My foster dog stinks to high heaven. I don’t know for sure what breed he is. His eyes are blank and hard. He won’t let me pet him and growls when I reach for him. He has ragged scars and crusty sores on his skin. His nails are long and his teeth which he showed me are stained.

I sigh.

I drove two hours for this. I carefully maneuver him so that I can stuff him in the crate. Then I heft the crate and put it in the car. I am going home with my new foster dog.

At home I leave him in the crate till all the other dogs are in the yard. I get him out of the crate and ask him if he wants ‘outside.’ As I lead him to the door he hikes his leg on the wall and shows me his stained teeth again.

When we come in he goes to the crate because that’s the only safe place he sees. I offer him food but he won’t eat it if I look at him, so I turn my back. When I come back the food is gone. I ask again about ‘outside.’ When we come back I pat him before I let him in the crate, he jerks away and runs into the crate to show me his teeth.

The next day I decide I can’t stand the stink any longer. I lead him into the bath with cheese in my hand. His fear of me is not quite overcome by his wish for the cheese. And well he should fear me, for I will give him a bath.

After an attempt or two to bail out he is defeated and stands there. I have bathed four legged bath squirters for more dog years than he has been alive. His only defense was a show of his stained teeth that did not hold up to a face full of water.

As I wash him it is almost as if I wash not only the stink and dirt away but also some of his hardness. His eyes look full of sadness now. And he looks completely pitiful as only a soap covered dog can. I tell him that he will feel better when he is cleaned. After the soap the towels are not too bad so he lets me rub him dry. I take him outside. He runs for joy. The joy of not being in the tub and the joy of being clean. I, the bath giver, am allowed to share the joy. He comes to me and lets me pet him.

His skin is healing. He likes for me to pet him. I think I know what color he will be when his hair grows in. I have found out he is terrified of other dogs. So I carefully introduce him to my mildest four legged brat. It doesn’t go well.

Two weeks later a new vet bill for an infection that was missed on the first visit. He plays with the other dogs.

Three weeks later he asks to be petted. He chewed up part of the rug.

Eight weeks later his coat shines, he has gained weight. He shows his clean teeth when his tongue lolls out after he plays chase in the yard with the gang. His eyes are soft and filled with life. He loves hugs and likes to show off his tricks, if you have the cheese.

Someone adopted him today... When they saw him the first time they said he was the most beautiful dog they had ever seen.

Six months later I got a call from his new family. He is wonderful, smart, well behaved and very loving. How could someone not want him? I told them I didn’t know. He is beautiful. They all are".

Fosters change the world, so please consider opening your home to a dog in need. 🙏🐾

Author

- EVERY RESCUER ACROSS OUR COUNTRY -

The innocent face of the scared and homeless, otherwise known as a shelter dog before having RTRC help.

After being in a foster home!

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