SFBWHWTC Logo

Westie Rescue of Northern California

A Service of the
San Francisco Bay West Highland White Terrier Club

Application to Provide Foster Care

 
Thank you for your interest in providing foster care to Westies in need.  The purpose of a foster home is to provide temporary care for homeless Westies in a loving environment until a suitable permanent home is found.  The primary reason most Westies are placed into foster care is for  rehabilitation of a skin condition.  Foster care is a very tough job, but it is a very gratifying one and most of all, a critical one. You will be rewarded with a tremendous sense of satisfaction knowing you made a difference in the life of a wonderful dog.
 
Please read and carefully complete the foster care provider application. This form is designed to help us and you decide what your limits are as a foster parent, what you are willing to commit to rescue and in which areas you wish to become involved.  Please answer the questions to the best of your ability.  Please use the back of the form if you need more space for your answers.
 
Please print this application and mail to the address below.
 
Part I - Personal Information

Name: ______________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________________________State: ___________Zip: _______________

Telephone (Day): ______________________________ (Evening): _____________________________

E-mail address:_______________________________________________________________________

Number of adults in household: _____________________ # Men ____________ # Women __________

Your employer's name: ________________________________________________________________

Employer's address: ___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Days and hours you work outside the home: _______________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Children ______________________ Boys (ages) ________________ Girls (ages)__________________

Do you own or rent your dwelling? ________________________________________________________

What type of dwelling: (Please check/circle appropriate)

House Townhouse
Duplex Condominium
Triplex Apartment
Mobile home Farm

If other (please specify):

____________________________________________________________________________________

If you rent, do you have the landlord's permission to keep a dog?_______________________________

Landlord’s name: _____________________________________________________________________

Landlord's address: ___________________________________________________________________

Landlord's phone number: ______________________________________________________________

Would you be willing to allow us to visit your home? _________________________________________

In which areas of rescue are you interested? (Please check/circle all that apply)

Foster Home Adoption
Screening Fundraising
Pick up Animal Placement
Referral Transportation
Shelter Contact

Home Visits

 If other, please specify: ________________________________________________________________

What type of vehicle do your drive?_______________________________________________________

What areas are you willing to cover with regard to transporting a rescue? (Please check/circle appropriate)

Your City Your County
7 Bay Area Counties* Northern California
Statewide Anywhere in US
Other, specify:_______________________________________

* San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Clara & Sonoma Counties.

List additional dog equipment you have (crates, leashes, collars, food bowls, etc.)

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Part II - Environmental Information

How large is your yard? ________________________________________________________________

Is it securely fenced?  (If "yes" what kind and how tall?) ______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

What type of gates? ___________________________________________________________________

Can children open the gates? ___________________________________________________________

If you have a pool, is it fenced separately? (If "yes" what kind and how tall?)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you aware of any dangers that could harm the dog inside the yard?

____________________________________________________________________________________

If your yard is not fenced, how do you plan to ensure that the dog receives safe and adequate exercise?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Where will the dogs sleep?______________________________________________________________

Do you plan to use a crate? Why or why not?_______________________________________________

 ____________________________________________________________________________________

How many hours a day will the rescue be alone? ____________________________________________

Where will the rescue stay when alone? ___________________________________________________

If needed, can you isolate a rescue? (If "yes", where will isolate the rescue)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Part III - Your Pets

Have you ever owned a Westie before? (If "yes", how many and how long?)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Where did you get your Westie(s)?

____________________________________________________________________________________

What happened to your Westie(s)?

____________________________________________________________________________________

If you have never owned a Westie, please describe the Westie personality and temperament:

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have any other pets at this time? What kind, sex and age?

____________________________________________________________________________________

If you have other pets, are their vaccinations current?

____________________________________________________________________________________

If you don't have a pet now, have you owned one before?

____________________________________________________________________________________

If you have other animals what has been your main health and/or behavior problem(s) with them?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

If you have other dogs, would you consider them aggressive or submissive to other animals? (If "yes", please explain)

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

How do you think your other pets would react to a rescue dog?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you prepared to deal with negative reactions on the part of your pets?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Part IV - Foster Preferences

Are you willing to foster a Westie for a short period of time? ___________________________________

Are you willing to foster until the Westie is placed? __________________________________________

Why do you want to foster a Westie? _____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

What type of Westies will you take? (only males, only females, only older dogs)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Would you be willing to take a dog that did not fit this criteria in an emergency?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you prepared to provide the extensive socialization that is needed to ensure that you have a well-rounded Westie for placement?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are there any situations to which you WILL NOT be able to expose a foster dog? (Please check/circle all that apply)

Other dogs Other people
Small children Cats
Other pets Riding in a car
Housebreaking Grooming
Crate training Obedience Training
Nail clipping Leash training
Alone in a car Alone in a fenced yard
Alone in a house

What medical considerations will you make in taking a rescue dog? (e.g. won't take a dog diagnosed with heartworms)

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you agreeable to spaying/neutering EVERY dog that you foster? (Please state your reason)

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

How many dogs are you willing to foster at once? (Circle)    1      2      3      4+  

Are you likely to do any training with the foster dog while in rescue? ____________________________

What type of training and how much?

____________________________________________________________________________________

What is your definition of disciplining a dog?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

How will you deal with behavior problems in a rescue? (e.g. aggression, urination)

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Part V -Tough Decisions

Would you be able to handle a dog that after it has been rescued is diagnosed with an illness and has to be euthanized?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you agreeable to having dogs euthanized because of temperament problems? (Please explain why or why not)

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

If "NO" what would be your alternative solution?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you willing to take Westie mixes? ____________________________________________________

How would you handle a situation in which a rescue dog bit you?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Or bit someone else?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Would you be willing to deny an adoptive family a particular dog because the placement didn't "feel" right?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Does your family support your desire to aid Westies in rescue?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you willing to work closely with the SFBWHWTC Rescue Committee in making a placement for the rescue dogs?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Have you emotionally prepared yourself for the sadness that comes when you finally make a placement?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you willing to stay in contact with the adoptive home to ensure the placement was a success, including follow up visits and/or phone calls?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Are you willing to provide counseling/resources to the adoptive family should problems arise later on in the placement?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Please describe your experiences with obedience classes.

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Please describe your competition experiences with dogs, if any.

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Please describe other volunteer experiences you have had.

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Please list memberships in dog and other animal related organizations:

____________________________________________________________________________________

Is there anything else that you want to tell us about your family and its suitability to foster a rescue Westie?

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

How did you find out about us?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Your comments or suggestions:

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Part VI - References

Please list three (3) references that can attest to your suitability as a pet owner, and more specifically, a foster parent in Westie rescue.  If you own any pets now, include your Veterinarian and at least one neighbor as references.

Reference #1: ________________________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________________________

Phone: (day and evening) ______________________________________________________________

 

Reference #2: _______________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________________________

Phone: (day and evening) ______________________________________________________________

 

Reference #3: _______________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________________________

Phone: (day and evening) ______________________________________________________________

 

I, the undersigned, attest, to the best of my knowledge, the above information is accurate and complete at the time of signing, and I understand that falsely provided information can mean that my application will be terminated.

Signature__________________________________________ Date_____________________________

 

Thank you for completing this questionnaire.

This will greatly aid us in knowing what your limitations are and in what capacity that you will best be suited in rescue. Please be aware that foster help doesn't just end with the placement, nor does keeping the dog in your home constitute all of the needs of rescue. Every individual is suited to a different aspect of rescue. We will work with you to assign you in a capacity where you are comfortable and can make a difference.

Though sometimes it is hard to let go of a rescue dog, we all know that there is another one that could be just as needy, if not more, just around the corner. When you are able to make a successful placement, the pain is all worth it.

 Thank you for your cooperation.

Please return this form at your earliest convenience to:

Pamela Evans
S.F.B.W.H.W.T.C. Rescue
3137 Rasmus Circle
San Jose, CA  95148

If you have any questions about this form, please contact one of the SFBWHWTC Rescue Committee members below:

SFBWHWTC Westie Rescue Contacts
 
Pamela Evans (408) 274-8718
E-mail: Padiwak@msn.com
 
Sandy Gilmer (415) 752-2406

 
SFBWHWTC    |   Westie Rescue    |   Search Site    |   Site Map
This site is designed and maintained by Sandy Gilmer and her Fog City Westies
Copyright © San Francisco Bay West Highland White Terrier Club.  All rights reserved.