Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue

Foster

Foster

Potential Foster Families

Foster homes are crucial to the operation of RMLR. We mostly work with out of state shelters, but we also take in some dogs from Colorado. Once we commit to taking a dog, they are considered “safe” and the shelter will hold them until they can arrange a transport to Colorado. Typically, we don’t have a lot of background information on the foster dogs, but we do ask that they be temperament tested with other dogs. The shelters know that even they can’t save every dog, so they try to send us the best ones – they know that dogs in Colorado have amazing lives!

We will not take dogs that have shown aggression with humans or other dogs. Many dogs are stressed out in a shelter environment and once they get to Colorado their true personalities show – they can finally relax and realize that they are safe.

Please fill out a foster application to get the process started today. 

Foster Application

Why I Foster

Why start fostering? ▼

Fostering has given me a sense of purpose I would have not found anywhere else. I have always volunteered with animal groups, but wanted to make a bigger impact on the homeless pets issue we face in our country. That’s when I looked into fostering.
-Kathryn

What have you gotten from being a foster? ▼

It is rewarding to know I am making a difference and keeping a dog from being euthanized. When I take a dog into my home and watch it grow into a mentally and physically healthy dog, it fills my heart with an overwhelming love. People ask me how I can give the dog up and isn’t it hard to say goodbye. My response is always the same, “Of course it is hard. But, with each dog that gets adopted, my home is open to save another dog. It would be harder knowing the dog did not get a chance to live because there was not an available foster.”
-Laurie

Fostering is an adventure! Taking an unknown dog into our home is always a fascinating challenge as we discover the dog’s personality, and manage the new dog’s relationships with our own dogs. We like the challenge! The first 24-48 hours can take a good amount of attention and problem-solving, but usually everyone settles in well together. We get to enjoy a new dog, and sometimes help that dog regain its health. By the time we fostered about 10 dogs, our knowledge, skills, and confidence had grown much stronger. Nevertheless, we learn more with every dog.
-Joanna

What would you say to someone wanting to foster? ▼

When you first take the dog home, it may be overwhelmed with joy from being out of a shelter and can act a little crazy. Or, it may be fearful because it has lived on the streets or in an abusive/neglectful situation. Understand that it may take a few days for the dog to settle into feeling comfortable. The transition is overwhelming for the dog. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone. You have the support of many volunteers that have a ton of experience.
-Laurie

Why do we keep getting foster dogs? Simply put, it’s become an addiction. Figuring out who we might pick up, when only given a photo and approximate age, is half the fun. Picking up a slightly wild foster dog and seeing them transform into a respectable, adoptable dog, is very rewarding. Teaching a dog stay, down and other simple manners makes them more adoptable and more likely to find a great home that will continue the training. We’ve seen so many dogs with issues of some kind come a long way in a short time, and seeing them find their family makes it all worth it. Dogs are so smart and funny. When the right family arrives for a meet and greet, we have seen out of character good behavior that we just have to laugh and know they have found their people.
-Ethan and Tegan

We are a small group of dedicated volunteers who love dogs and work to find homes for Labs and Lab Mixes in need.

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