The Foster Lifeline

Fostering is more than just temporarily bringing a dog to your home, it is opening a door to a better tomorrow. For many dogs in southern states, where overcrowded shelters struggle to accommodate the sheer number of abandoned, stray, or surrendered dogs, this chance can be transformative. Fosters provide a home environment where dogs can be part of the family. Many dogs arrive at shelters traumatized or fearful.

In a foster home, they learn to trust again.

The Journey North: A Second Chance

Up north, there’s a higher concentration of potential adopters. Dogs have a better chance of finding their forever families here. Shelters are temporary stops—a bridge to a home of their own. When dogs move north, they’re stepping toward a brighter future.

Check out TLC’s tails from Corinth Blog here

https://www.tlcrescuepa.com/tails-from-corinth-2024

This is where TLC steps in. TLC and rescue partners down south coordinate the transportation and care of dogs in need. Many of the rescued dogs come from animal shelters.

What it is like to foster for To Love a Canine Rescue

Every Saturday, the dogs arrive via transport, having journeyed from Mississippi. Departing early on Friday mornings, the same transport collects dogs from Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama, bringing them as far north as New Hampshire.

Call For Fosters

Days before transport, dogs in need are posted on a private Facebook group for TLC volunteers. Once matched with a foster home, they receive their ‘freedom ride ticket.’ Most volunteers commit to fostering until the dog finds a permanent home. For those who can only do short-term fostering, they work in teams to ensure continuous coverage, allowing the dog to move come up. Regardless of the available time commitment, everything goes smoothly due to the extensive network of fosters and the exceptional coordination skills of our TLC foster director. This steadfast dedication to the well-being of dogs stands as a testament to the transformative impact that individuals can have on their lives.

Freedom ride

Friday mornings mark the loading of the transport for all the dogs to travel up north.

They travel throughout the night and arrive at the TLC Center in Malvern, PA early on Saturday morning. Transport day brims with excitement as the TLC team welcomes the dogs to the next significant chapter in their journey. It’s impossible not to be swept away by a surge of joyous emotions as you witness each dog stepping off the transport. Some arrive with boundless excitement, others with confusion, and a few with trepidation. Yet, as we’ve observed time and again, fear gradually yields to trust. In their foster homes, they find comfort, and each passing day brings fresh discoveries.”

Did you know that you can be part of this incredible experience as a TLC transport volunteer? Click the Link below to learn more!

Settling In Their New Foster homes

The dogs go home with their fosters after they are microchipped and given necessary vaccinations. Once in their foster homes, they get fed, bathed, and given time to decompress after their long trip. Some need a little more time to get used to their new surroundings, while the transition is seamless for others.

As a TLC foster, you’ll receive all the necessary supplies, and TLC covers all vet expenses. Your commitment involves providing a temporary home for the dogs, showering them with the love they deserve, and getting to know them. By doing so, you become their voice and can share with others the incredible souls they truly are.

Foster support

Every foster is paired with a foster partner, who serves as the main point of contact for anything the foster needs. This ensures that you’re never on your own, and assistance is readily available. For new fosters, this support is invaluable—from answering questions like ‘Is that normal?’ to handling situations like ‘What do I do if…’ or ‘I think we need to take the dog to the vet.’ Your foster partner is there to guide you.”

In addition to foster partners, fosters are also connected with other TLC volunteers through the private Facebook group where fosters can reach out for assistance. Through the group, fosters can also learn from others like routines, what to expect, pup room set up, tips and tricks, training, etc. Fosters also post updates on their foster dogs, pictures and videos, and updates from former fosters who have found their homes.

TLC events

Later, the dogs get to attend TLC meet and greet events where they can get a chance to meet their future families. There are many ways to get involved and some volunteers taxi dogs to and from the events, while some organize, facilitate, or handle dogs. The event leads also facilitate dogs’ attendance by connecting their fosters with other volunteers who can transport them to the events. Another benefit of volunteering with TLC is that the workload is shared, and fosters receive assistance from fellow volunteers. When you foster for TLC, you’re never alone in the journey.

Finding their families

A dedicated team of volunteers meticulously handles adoption applications. They conduct property checks, interview applicants, communicate with references, and strive to find the perfect match for both the family and the dogs.

After completing the application review, our foster director coordinates with families and fosters to schedule an adoption appointment. Fosters play a crucial role during the meeting between the dog and the potential adoptive family. During this time, fosters can address any questions and provide essential information about the dog. Some fosters provide their contact information, allowing families to connect if they wish and share updates about the dog.

When a dog finds their forever home, it’s not just a happy ending—it’s a fresh start. They become cherished family members, going on walks, cuddling on couches, and experiencing being part of a home. Their trajectory shifts from despair to hope, uncertainty to belonging. Fostering isn’t just about providing shelter; it’s about rewriting a dog’s story. By fostering and advocating for their journey north, we give them a chance to find their family, experience love, and transform their destiny.

So, if you’re considering fostering, know that you’re not just opening your home—you’re opening a door to a better tomorrow for a deserving dog.

What does it mean to foster puppies? We asked our puppy fosters what they love about fostering this age group. Fostering puppies comes with challenges. Puppies need a lot of attention, patience, and training. However, is it all worth the effort? See what our dedicated puppy fosters have to say about their experiences.

Kari

I foster puppies because I thrive on chaos. It’s fun to see them experience life for the first time, their first time sleeping in a soft bed, playing with toys, trying new treats like pup cups and being taken to new places. Fostering puppies is fun, but it’s also a lot of work, cleaning up a lot of messes, sometimes a lot of crying and not a lot of sleep and sharp puppy teeth, but watching them thrive and learn and gain confidence is so worth it. They give lots of love and kisses. Plus who doesn’t love puppy snuggles!

Erin

While the puppies are more fun than anyone can imagine, our focus is always making certain mama is safe and her little family gets the best care while they are young. It’s hard work, but it’s absolute magic to know we have saved mama from a life of future litters and to know she is on the road to a family of her very own.

Lynn

I primarily foster dogs that are harder to find fosters for: very young puppies, heartworm positive dogs, and large dogs. In the case of very young puppies I know that being in the shelter is a health risk for them, so I am always anxious to get them out as soon as possible. While puppies are a lot of work to care for, they are also so fun, sweet, and full of love. It makes the work totally worth it!

Rachel

The most frequently asked question I get about fostering is , "How can you let them go?" I see my part as a foster to be the bridge to get the puppies out of a bad situation and into a loving home. And I get to enjoy them in the between time! Once the pups realize that they are safe, fed and loved they blossom. So much fun to see them romp and explore their new world! TLC provides everything you need, you just add love and a bit of clean up. An added bonus is receiving updates from the adopters and seeing your babies live happily ever after.

Fostering puppies is like having a house full of fluffy joy, where every wag and wiggle brings a smile

Good things take time, and these dogs are a perfect example. Over the past few months, they've grown, matured, learned new commands, and become even more adoptable!

When a dog enters our rescue, they're welcomed into a happy, loving, and supportive home. Each foster family helps socialize and train the dogs, getting to know their likes, dislikes, quirks, and how they interact with other dogs, cats, and people. We use this information to build detailed bios for the dogs, ensuring we connect them with the right families.

Some might think that dogs in foster care for several months are "less adoptable," but that's far from the truth. With each passing week, we learn more about the dogs, and they learn more about love and commands like "sit" and "stay." This extra time is a bonus, providing more information to match them with their perfect families.

This is especially true for dogs like Posie, Phineas, and Palmer who have been with us a bit longer. During this time, they've learned new commands, met people of all ages, tried new things, and moved closer to finding their forever homes.

For instance, Palmer’s extra time with us has allowed his personalty to blossom! He's the life of the party, showing his excitement through zoomies! Phineas has gained confidence and discovered his love for swimming. He is now more social and ready to meet people. During Posie’s time with us, she has mastered her crate and house training!

This “extra” time really becomes a bonus for our adoptable families out there. The more time we have with our pups, the more we learn, and the more info we have to match you with them!

Imagine a world where nonprofits high-five each other, sharing resources like best buddies on a playground. Yep, it's nonprofits helping nonprofits, making the world a brighter, cuddlier place, one heartwarming gesture at a time!

At TLC, we are more than just a dog rescue, we believe in supporting our community partners and hope that by doing so we continue to take steps toward making the world a better and brighter place, one non-profit partnership at a time.

Teaching your dog to "speak" on command can be a fun and useful trick. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you train your dog to bark on cue:

Step 1: Choose the Right Time. Choose a time when your dog is naturally more vocal, such as when it’s excited or when someone is at the door.

Step 2: Gather Supplies. You’ll need treats and a clicker (if you use clicker training).

Step 3: Trigger the Bark. Find a way to trigger your dog to bark. This could be by knocking on a door, ringing a doorbell, or any action that you know will make your dog bark. If your dog barks when you play with a favorite toy, use that as the trigger.

Step 4: Mark the Behavior. As soon as your dog barks, immediately mark the behavior with a click from the clicker or a verbal marker like “Yes!” or “Good!”

Step 5: Reward, Give your dog a treat right after marking the behavior. This helps your dog associate barking with positive reinforcement.

Step 6: Add the Cue. Once your dog is consistently barking when triggered, start saying the cue word “Speak” right before your dog barks. For example, if your dog barks when you knock on the door, say “Speak” just before you knock.

Step 7: Repeat and Reinforce. Practice this several times in short sessions (5-10 minutes each) throughout the day. Always use the cue word “Speak” right before your dog is about to bark, mark the behavior, and reward.

Step 8: Test the cue. After a few days of practice, test the cue without the trigger. Say “Speak” and wait. If your dog barks, immediately mark and reward. If not, go back to using the trigger with the cue for a few more sessions.

Step 9: Practice the “Speak” command in various settings and situations to help your dog generalize the behavior. Try different rooms, outside in the yard, or during walks.

Step 10: Gradually Phase Out the Treats. Once your dog reliably responds to the “Speak” command, start phasing out the treats. Begin by rewarding every other bark, then every third, and so on, until your dog barks on command without expecting a treat every time. Always give lots of praise and occasional treats to keep the behavior strong.

Step 11: Be Consistent: Consistency is key in training. Make sure everyone in your household uses the same cue word and follows the same training steps.

Step 12: Teach the “Quiet” Command (Optional) To ensure your dog doesn’t become too vocal, you might also want to teach the “Quiet” command. This is done by rewarding your dog for stopping barking on cue.

Bonus Tip

Practice often and in different places. Once your dog is happily lying down on command in your home, start to practice in more distracting environments, like the garden or your local park.