My foster care/ rescue experience is fairly limited, so I thought I might pose this questiion for those more rescue savvy than myself. (NOTE: Not saying this decision is wrong/right or anything else just getting a better understanding and I think that my local HS is doing the best they can with what they have)
back to the story and question:
Knowing that my local HS is dreadfully short on fosters and knowing that full time fostering is not a smart option for me at this time, I thought perhaps I'd offer a sort of doggie day care option to take a dog in the afternoons away from the temporary housing which consists of 3 kennels and some crates so they could begin on some house manners and basic training. It isn't much, but was something easy for me to do. I was told that the change in environment would be too stressful on the dogs and that I could come work with them on site (Room with cats, kennel run, garage area with other noisy dogs or parking lot would be my choices there.) I guess I'm just trying to understand how a change in the environment would be more stressful. I would think that for the dogs, a quiet house with some 1 on 1 would be a welcome break BUT I'm not a dog psychologist so I may very well be wrong. As I said before, I'm not saying it was the wrong decision. It's their HS and they can decide whatever they would like to. I'm just trying to understand it from those more involved than myself.

Hi Amy!!

I used to do something like this with the Leerburg pups that we fostered. I would start with an overnight, then a weekend, then a few nights during the week, until they were with us full time. I guess there was never any stress on the dog's part because I went to work and was there during the day with them as well. The Leerburg dogs weren't shelter dogs though, and the mindset may be much different.

I don't know for sure, but the constant coming and going could induce some seperation anxiety or just generalized anxiety - not knowing or understanding if/when/why they will be going back to the shelter. Just a thought...

It could also be a liability issue for the HS since you are not "fostering" the dog, nor do you work or volunteer for the HS, yet you are taking the dog off site. Their insurance may just not cover that kind of incidence.

When I work with the local humane society dogs, I do it on their grounds in a quiet area. I have also built a bond with the dogs before I work with them - I take them for a couple of walks and "load the clicker" with them before I actually try to teach them anything.

I use the training sessions at the shelter as opportunites to train their staff on marker training as well, so that they can work with other dogs and get them ready for adoption quicker.

It's a great thing that you want to do Amy, and I hope that you and the shelter are able to compromise so that you are able to do it. The dogs SOOOOO enjoy the 1:1 time and the super great treats that I bring them

--Kel

Hello Amy! Good for you for wanting to help and knowing your limits. I agree and disagree with the shelter from the stress stand point. This is because every dog is different. Some dogs can come and go from a home to a shelter no problem other can not.

Right now I work with two shelters. In one the dogs go out in play groups for at least an hour 3-4 time a day in big yards, they all have kuranda beds with blankets, get two types of toys ever day, have indoor out door kennels, and we have three "quite room" The other shelter has 6X5 foot indoor runs, no beds, no toys, the dogs do not get to leave their kennel unless a volunteer is walking them, They are tied to a wall while their kennel is cleaned. No quite anything in the shelter.

Both would let you take a dog and do some day care. But the dogs coming back to the second shelter are more stress and depressed each time they come back because it is not a great place they are coming back to. I encourage people to spend time with the dogs in front of that shelter on the grass, training, relaxing, grooming, or walking them and not to take them home on and off. This way people see you and the dog when they come to look and you can show off what you have trained and they can see the dog in a nicer place then walking down the dirty barking kennels. The dog will have to be adopted in the shelter environment so I like to do what I can to make it the best for the dog at the shelter. . If I take a dog home from that shelter it stays with me until I find it a home.

See what you can do about getting a "quite room" at your shelter so you have a quite place to take the dogs when you are at the shelter. We would let our older house trained dogs sleep in the laundry room too. Get creative!

I could type for day on shelter stuff. Fell free to PM me and I can send you written material to take to the shelter about making improvement that cost no money and make such a difference for the mental health of the shelter dogs.

Just from a personal experience I've had- bringing a dog home, and then back to the shelter/rescue multiple times can really mess up a soft/nervous dog.

I adopted my Sara (Pointer) from the rescue I managed. I brought her to work with me, and would take her home at night. I left her there for a weekend twice, when I was going somewhere un-dog friendly (Why would I EVER do that?). At this rescue, the dogs hard pretty much the greatest life possible. They lived in a fairly stable pack environment, had run of the house, and all the walls were lined with big squishy bolster beds. Heated polished cement floors, the owner was on site 24/7. 2 acres to run in..... very very nice.

When I initially adopted Sara she was a DREAM in the car. First few weeks there was no panting, whining, yawning, nervous licking. After the 2d weekend stay at FurryTale, she's never been the same since. Nothing traumatic happened, but I think that the experience of coming and going from the rescue multiple times was just too much for her little pea sized brain. She never knew if she was going to be left forever, if I'm going to get all Anthropomorphism on ya.

Koenig, through all this, was fine. Sara didn't handle it well, for whatever it's worth.

Thanks for giving me your experiences! I think I understand a bit better now. My plan is to turn in my volunteer paper work and start with what they have available. Perhaps when I am a trusted and regular volunteer I can comandeer an unused corner or room as a quiet space. Just wish I could move my fenced yard there so they could run a bit more