Become a foster home

Fostering a dog is the most critical volunteer job in our rescue!! 

As a foster home, nothing feels better than knowing YOU were the one that saved a dog's life. There is almost nothing as rewarding as seeing the incredible impact a foster family has on the life of a foster dog. When you have the time, one to two weeks of "puppy therapy" is the difference between life and death for some babies. It's a great way to get children involved, too! 
Reasons to become a foster:
  • Love of animals
  • Want to help save lives
  • Able to always get your "puppy fix."
  • No permanent, lifetime commitment to one puppy/dog while still saving countless lives
  • The instant gratification of love and affection – they know you saved them!
  • Get to wake up feeling good every day knowing you made a difference
Things we ask of our fosters:
  • 1-2 week commitment, but as little as overnight & weekend too!
  • Keep the puppies safe & loved.
  • Watch and report IMMEDIATELY any signs of illness.
  • Agree to pick up or arrange to meet to pick up your puppies when they arrive in from the transport.
  • Bath the pups once they arrive or before their adoption meeting.
  • If needed, administer any medications as prescribed.
  • Agree to drop off your puppies at their adoption meeting.
NEPR pays all vetting costs for the foster puppy while the puppy is in your care. In addition, we provide fosters with as much support as we can. That includes the food we have for use, exercise pens and/or crates, towels/beds, bowls if needed, and other supplies if we have them available. Otherwise, there may be times you need to use your supplies.​​

"But isn't it hard to give them up?" is the number one reason for not fostering. But can you imagine.... taking in a puppy that was at risk of being put to sleep... loving, snuggling, and caring for this puppy for one to two weeks... sending this puppy off to a new loving home knowing you were solely responsible for this puppy's new life and giving so much joy to a family. It's like a part-time puppy that you get to enjoy all the happy parts! Then, when you are ready..... you get a new puppy to love and snuggle! It's a fantastic cycle of never-ending love. It may seem sad to give them away but think: With everyone adopted... is another life saved because you can take another one in! (Plus... puppy poop. Lots and lots of puppy poop. And no one is sad to see less of that!)

*New* Foster-to-Adopt Program
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  • Apply to our Foster Home Program, as normal
  • All of the above 'Things we ask' are the same
  • You get to have a trial run with a puppy to see if it is a right fit. And, if not, you helped save a life.
  • Not all puppies are eligible for this program, but the majority are
Apply Now!

Volunteer

Becoming a foster home is the number one volunteer option needed but if you can't be a foster home and still want puppy love, here are a few ways you can help:
  • Transport Coordinator- facilitating the pick up of puppies arriving 
  • Adoption Counselor- facilitating adoptions with new families
  • Puppy Intake- setting up, cleaning up after, bathing and medicating new arrivals
  • Photographer- taking high resolution pictures of the puppies that arrive
  • Event & Fundraiser Coordinator- coordinating new events for fundraisers, foster home outreach and adoption events