Foster a hound
Give a hound the home experience they need to find their perfect forever family.
Help two hounds by fostering one
Most of the hounds in our care come from a racing or hunting background and have never experienced life as a pet. As a foster parent, you can help them learn about domestic life, give our team a clearer picture of their needs, and make it easier to match the foster dog with a new family.
But the impact of fostering doesn't stop there: when one hound moves into a foster home, a kennel space opens up for another dog in need. When you open the door to a foster dog, you're helping not one hound - but two.
Could you be a foster carer?
To meet the needs of the hounds in our care, we are looking for foster homes who match the following criteria:
- You are based in Devon, Dorset or Somerset
- You have no resident children under 10 years old
- You are available to foster for at least one month per dog
- You have a secure garden, or easy access to a safe outdoor area for the dog to toilet in
- Resident dogs must be fellow sighthounds, or medium-to-large sized breeds
- No cats
- Foster dogs should not be left alone for more than 4 hours at a time. You'll also need to spend around a week at the start of each placement, building up to any time alone.
How the fostering process works
Apply to foster
Complete the form below; we'll ask for details of your home environment and relevant experience.
Complete the training
Learn about dog behaviour, handling and assessment through our Foster Carer Induction programme.
Start fostering
You receive ongoing phone and in-person support from our qualified team while the foster hound is staying with you.
Personalised support, every step of the way
As a foster carer, you're an invaluable part of the adoption journey; you won't be doing this alone.
Before your first placement, you'll have access to our Foster Carer Induction programme. This covers dog behaviour and body language, handling, and how to continue the behavioural assessment of your foster hound during their stay.
Once your foster dog is with you, our team of qualified and experienced staff stays by your side - by phone, and in person when needed.
Fostering a sighthound comes with its own quirks, and we're here to help you navigate them.
Hear from other fostering volunteers
Thrilled with Nora
Flossie’s a great match
Rosie’s adoption
Questions? Get in touch
- Before you apply: homeoffers@foreverhoundstrust.org
- About your application: myapplication@foreverhoundstrust.org
- While you're fostering: behaviour@foreverhoundstrust.org
Or call us at 03000 125 125 between 9.30am – 3.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Ready to apply?
Before you apply, please make sure you've read through the requirements above and that your household meets all of the criteria listed.