Scouting out homes for the "Little Brushwood Dog"
Shiba Scout Rescue
Fort Collins, CO 80525
shibasco
Foster A Dog!
How Fostering Works
When we are contacted about a Shiba Inu that needs to come into rescue, we will line up a foster home typically before they come in. We determine which foster home is most appropriate based on what we know about the existing pets, family members, and any special circumstances. Then the Rescue Director or Adoption and Foster Coordinator(s) will be in touch when we have a foster dog coming in that we'd like to place with you!
While a foster dog is with you, you will be responsible for keeping the director and coordinator(s) informed regarding the dog’s true temperament, training needs, and any other special needs. We also may call upon you for feedback and advice when considering potential families. Your cooperation and regular communication will be essential to empowering Shiba Scout Rescue to find the best possible match for each dog that comes into our program and ensuring their long-term success.
Shiba Scout Rescue will keep foster dogs in our program for as long as it takes to find them the perfect forever home. Some dogs will only stay for a couple weeks, others may stay for months. There is no hard and fast rule, and we ask and hope that our foster families will be patient and understand this part of fostering. If you have any trips planned while a foster is with you, we ask that you either make arrangements for the foster as if they were your own dog, or contact us as soon as possible so that we can ask another foster family to watch your dog. However, we do not guarantee that we can watch your dog during the holidays. Please pass along contact info for pet sitters or the name and number of where they will be staying to Beki or Erin in advance of your trip. We will do our best to assist you in the case of any emergencies, but otherwise it is your responsibility to plan accordingly.
Once a match has been determined for your specific foster, we will coordinate with you to get the dog to their forever home. As a foster family, you are more than welcome to come meet the new family so that you can share what you have learned about them to help with the adjustment period.
Should you decide to adopt your foster dog (so long as it is not your first foster), the officers and directors will have to agree they are a good match for your family and you will need to notify us prior to us promising the dog elsewhere. You will have to fill out an adoption application and sign an adoption agreement and you will be asked to provide the adoption fee just like everyone else.
Requirements for Becoming a Foster Parent
- The foster home agrees to not adopt their first foster dog.
- The foster home agrees to crate their foster dog BOTH at night when sleeping and whenever the dog is to be left alone. No dog is ever to be left loose in the home or in the yard without supervision unless approved by the director.
- The foster home agrees to feed their foster dog in the crate.
- The foster home must be willing to accept an untrained foster dog and be willing to start the training of the foster dog. All training must be based off of positive reinforcement and "no touch" training methods.
- The foster home must be willing to follow the feeding directions set forth by Shiba Scout Rescue. Shiba Scout Rescue will provide food that is free of corn, wheat and any animal by-products.
- The foster home must be willing to adequately exercise and socialize the foster dog.
- The foster home must be willing to keep the foster dogs appearance in a presentable condition.
- The foster home must be willing to transport the foster dog to and from vet appointments as deemed necessary by Shiba Scout Rescue.
- The foster home must be willing to make the foster dog available for public viewing as deemed necessary by Shiba Scout Rescue.
- The foster home must have some dog experience.
- If the foster family lives in a rental, written consent from the landlord must be provided.
- If the foster family has other pets, all pets must be spayed or neutered and current on all vaccinations.
- The foster family must have Internet access and be willing/able to participate in the SSR email group.
- The foster home must agree to sign a volunteer agreement stating that the foster home is willing to follow the above-mentioned requirements.
Shiba Scout Rescue is currently looking for Foster Homes for the following dogs.
We also need Foster Homes for dogs that come from shelters that we have no background information on. The shelters do their best to give us accurate descriptions of the dogs, but there is really no way of telling how the dog will do in a certain situation until it is transferred to us and evaluated in a home situation for a few weeks.
Jasmine and Lola are two Shiba Inu mixes waiting for a spot in our rescue. Their owner's living situation will be changing and they can no longer care for their dogs. Both dogs are Shiba Inu/Heeler mixes, around 4 years old.
We are looking for a foster home that can either take one or both of them. They are good with other dogs, cats, kids, and small animals even birds. Jasmine is spayed but Lola is not but the rescue can get that taken care of. Both are also crate trained and potty trained. Lola can get over a 6 foot fence so she will either need supervision and a tie-out line in a yard or she would need to be fostered in an apartment to prevent this type of escape.
Akela is a 4 year old pure bred Cream male that is looking for a place in our rescue with his housemate, Mia. Akela is crate trained, used to using a doggie door and good with children. He prefers the company of his sister and isn't really into meeting other dogs anymore but loves meeting new people.
The owners will be moving due to being enlisted in the armed forces and need placement by mid-December or earlier.
"Zoey" is a 4 year old pure bred Cream female Shiba Inu that was originally pulled from a puppy mill and then adopted from a rescue in Missouri sight unseen to a young woman in Colorado. Unfortunately, the rescue did not prepare the adopter for the task ahead of her on the process of living with, much less rehabilitating, a former puppy mill breeder.
Currently Zoey is still terriied of walking on a leash and since she lives in an apartment without a yard to go potty in, she is not potty trained and uses the house as her toilet. However she is good in her crate which is a good starting point with some strict guidelines that our rescue will start enforcing with Zoey in order to teach her good habits.
Zoey is also still very afraid of people and will run and hide from you. She is however good with dogs and currently lives with another Shiba.
If you would be interested in helping our director work with Zoey and then take her on as a foster with specific care instructions, please email shibascout@yahoo.com, subject, "Zoey".
Addie is a 10 year old Red pure bred female Shiba looking for a spot in our rescue. Her owner is wishing to surrender her into our rescue so we need someone that can foster her.
She is good with children, other calm dogs, cats and is crate trained. She does get stressed in new environments and loud noises like thunderstorms and fireworks.
If you can foster Addie, please contact shibascout@yahoo.com for an application so that we can place her in our rescue.
When it comes to shelter dogs, we try not to turn them away as we are usually their last chance. We will be taking in these dogs but will need foster homes for them as soon as possible!
WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO OPEN SPACES! IF A SHELTER CONTACTS US TOMORROW FOR A DOG THAT THEY WISH TO EUTHANIZE, WE HAVE NO ROOM TO TAKE IN ADDITIONAL DOGS! PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT!
SHIBA SCOUT RESCUE FOSTER HOME APPLICATION
Shiba Scout Rescue appreciates your interest in becoming a Foster Parent for our rescue. By becoming a Foster Parent, you are literally saving a life as the more Foster Homes we have, the more dogs we can take in and save from being euthanized in shelters and puppy mills, both locally and across the country.
Please fill out and return back to us. We reserve the right to turn down any application for any reason. We recommend you keep a copy with your responses for your records.
A representative of Shiba Scout Rescue will contact you either by phone or email to go over your application.
General Information
Today’s Date:
Name:
Street:
City, State, Zip
Phone at home:
Phone at work:
Email address:
What type of dog are you looking for? Circle all that apply
Couch potato Companion Lap dog
Fetch/tug partner Hiking buddy Jogging pal
Guard/watch dog Other_____________________
What type of energy level are you looking for in a dog?
Quiet/Easy going Moderate Activity High Energy Any activity level is fine
Family Information
Do you have children? If so, what ages?
Do you have visiting grandchildren?
Do you or your family members have allergies to pets?
Animal Background
Do you presently have any pets (dog, cat, birds, horses, etc)?
If so, which and what ages?
If you currently have dogs, are they spayed/neutered?
Have any of your present or previous pets been adopted from animal shelters or
rescue organizations?
Breeders?
Pet stores?
Have you ever had a Shiba Inu before?
Describe the personalities of your other dogs
Describe the personalities of your cats
What types of dogs have you owned in the past?
Did you ever have to work with any of your previous dogs on difficult behavior issues? (check all that apply)
Separation anxiety Dog reactivity and/or aggression
Excessive barking People reactivity and/or aggression
Excessive digging Food/toy possessiveness/aggression
Excessive chewing Fearfulness or sensitivity to strangers/environment
Other______________________________________________________
What did you do to try and resolve these behavior problems?
What types of training methods have you used with your dogs in the past? (circle all that apply)
Treats Choke Chains Scruff Shaking
Praise Pinch/Prong Collars Muzzling (by hand or device)
Games of fetch/tug Shock Collars Alpha Rolling
Other________________________________________________________
What types of training methods do you currently use with your dogs or if you do not have a dog, what types would you currently use with your Foster Shiba? (circle all that apply)
Treats Choke Chains Scruff Shaking
Praise Pinch/Prong Collars Muzzling (by hand or device)
Games of fetch/tug Shock Collars Alpha Rolling
Other________________________________________________________
Are you open to following Shiba Scout Rescue's guidelines when working with and training your Foster Shiba?
What behavior issues are you comfortable working with that may come with or arise with fostering a dog? Check all that apply
Pottying in the house Excessive barking/howling
Fear of sounds Excessive chewing
Fear of people Excessive digging
Dog reactivity/aggression Bolting/running away
People reactivity/aggression Does not get along with other animals
Food/toy aggression Does not get along with children
What behavior issues are you completely opposed to working with that may come with or arise with fostering a dog? Check all that apply
Pottying in the house Excessive barking/howling
Fear of sounds Excessive chewing
Fear of people Excessive digging
Dog reactivity/aggression Bolting/running away
People reactivity/aggression Does not get along with other animals
Food/toy aggression Does not get along with children
None, I am willing to work with my dog on any issues that may arise
If your Shiba begins to exhibit ANY type of behavioral issues, what are you most likely to do?
Return the dog
See if I can solve the problem on my own, if not, then return the dog
Contact Shiba Scout Rescue for solutions
Anything to resolve the problem, my dogs are a part of the family
Shiba Inu Knowledge
Do you have an age preference? Mark all that apply
Young Puppy—8 weeks to 6 months
Adolescent Puppy—6 months to 1 year
Young Adult—1 year to 3 years
Older Adult—4 years to 6 years
Senior-7 years or older
Whatever the rescue feels is the best fit for my situation
Are you open to dealing with medical issues or special needs dogs that may require daily medication or special training such as, but not limited to, recovering from spay/neuter/dental surgery, seperation anxiety, glaucoma/cataracts, arthritis, luxating patellas/hip dysplasia, and/or incontinence (the ability to control their bladder)?
Do you have a preference between males or females? If so, please explain why.
Are you aware that Shiba Inus, although relatively quiet, have what is called the “Shiba Scream” when they are either upset or excited?
Are you aware that Shiba Inus are a relatively independent breed and may not always do well meeting other high energy in their face types of dogs, especially when on leash?
Are you aware that Shiba Inus can be little “drama queens” when being handled for things such as brushing and nail trims and can throw fits of “shiba screaming” combined with bouts of struggling and mouthing?
Are you aware that Shiba Inus blow their coat off in heavy chunks as the seasons change (about 2-4 times a year) and will either need to be brushed regularly during this time or taken to a professional groomer?
Are you aware that Shiba Inus are bolters and runners and must NEVER EVER BE OFF LEASH unless in a securely fenced area?
List a source of information you have researched on the Shiba Inu breed:
Your Environment
House Apartment Condo
Other
If you rent, we will need to have a signed agreement from your landlord stating that you are able to foster a dog
What is the longest your dog would be left home alone?
What is the average time your dog would be left home alone?
Are you willing to crate train your Foster Dog?
Where would the dog's crate be located?
Bedroom Bathroom Kitchen
Living Room Basement Garage
Would you prefer a dog that could be left out loose in the house?
Fenced Yard?
Type of Fencing and height? Is the yard totally fenced?
Is your yard attached to the house with an opening directly from the yard to the
house?
Do you have utility meters in your backyard?
If so, does a utility person need to enter the yard to read the meters?
How much exercise do you plan to give you Shiba Inu per day? Check all that apply
No additional exercise, they have a backyard
Short walks averaging 10-15minutes per day
At least one 30-45 minute walk per day
Long walks over 1 mile long
Jogging over 1 mile
How much exercise do you plan to give you Shiba Inu weekly? Check all that apply
No additional exercise, they have a backyard
Short walks averaging 10-15minutes per day
At least one 30-45 minute walk per day
Long walks over 1 mile long
Jogging over 1 mile
What sparked your interest in fostering a Shiba Inu from Shiba Scout Rescue?
QUESTIONNAIRE
The questionnaire is simply for us to get an idea of the training background that a potential Foster Parent may or may not have and the type of training methods that they are familiar with using on dogs. It is by no means an area where we would disapprove a Foster Home application however, potential Foster Parents should understand that any comments, concerns, or corrections that we have to their answers are only to give them the best understanding of how to have the best companion possible.
If your dog has an accident or destroys something in your home and you were in another room and not around to catch your dog doing it…what do you do?
How would you attempt to teach your foster dog how to “sit” if it came to you not having any previous training background?
If your dog pulls on the walk what would you do?
If your Shiba runs away from you, how would you attempt to catch him/her and what do you do when you get your Shiba back?
What would you do if your Shiba struggled, mouthed or bit at you while attempting to handle or groom him/her?
Describe your typical day in detail with your ideal dog:
Shiba Scout Rescue
Fort Collins, CO 80525
shibasco
