You -Can- Foster a Dachshund

Foster Application

Yay! You’re Here! 

Let’s get started! There are homeless dachshunds and doxie-mixes in need of a foster home. Please fill out this form (below), and we’ll get in touch with you to discuss what is involved in being a foster at RMDR. We hope to talk to you soon!

Fosters may face challenges, but we have your back and get through them together. We work together to figure out what seems un-figure-out-able. You’re not alone at RMDR, we’re a community. If you have a question, many or our fosters and volunteers have experience with dachshunds, or maybe even grew up around them; we try to help each other out! We’re all here for the dogs. 

10+ REASONS TO FOSTER

  1. Unconditional Love
  2. Loyal & Smart
  3. Patient Listener
  4. Small Dog-Big Heart
  5. Walking Buddy
  6. Fight Puppy Mills
  7. Your Own Bed Hog
  8. Bragging Rights
  9. Fun Personalities
  10. You’ll Save a Life
  11. Support from the RMDR Team (Assistance, Encouragement and Collaboration)
Foster (adopter) with Charlie and Sally at yard sale fundraiser

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Sally and Charlie with mom Sarah at a RMDR yard sale.

Long hair dachshunds. Kona with foster sibling Lilly (foster fail)

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Oklahoma fans Kona and foster sister Lilly ready for the big game!

Maya and foster mom (foster fail)

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Little nugget, Maya at Bark in the Park Cottonwood Heights.

Heather and foster chiweenie Louie.

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Foster mom, Heather with chiweenie Louie.

Foster mom with Kona and Bailey.

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Foster mom Nancy with Kona and Bailey at a community event.

Daisy and forever-foster sister Maggie.

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Cherry and her forever foster sister Maggie.

Hercules on his way to his foster family.

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Schnoxie Hercules on his way to his foster family.

Foster dad and mom with Sammy, chiweenie.

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Little chiweenie Sammy with his dad and mom on gotcha day.

Manny and Schatze his foster sister.

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Foster Manny being a little brother to Schatze.

Buddy with his foster mom.

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Little Buddy with his dedicated foster mom.

Max and Moritz saying hello to foster dad.

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Max and Moritz meeting their fosters for the first time.

Schatze and Moritz saying hello

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Schatze saying hello to her visiting foster brother Moritz.

Moritz found a water fountain in the backyard at his foster home.

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Moritz loves water, exploring his fosters backyard.

Gus on the way to his foster family after being surrendered.

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Gus on the way to his foster family after being surrendered.

Friend, and foster Holly with fosters and bonded pair Matix and Peter.

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Matix and Peter going home with foster, Holly (right).

Thor with foster dad at work.

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Foster, Eric with sweet puppy Thor, while at work.

Laney taking a nap with her foster mom.

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Laney cuddling and napping with her foster mom.

Puppy (50.3% dachshund) Thor at his foster home.

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Thor with his foster’s boot, that made it’s way into his bed.

Puppy, Manny at his temporary foster's home.

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Puppy Manny hanging out with his foster family.

Schatze with her foster sister Rosebud.

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Schatze and her foster sister Rosebud snuggling.

Foster Application
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Your Name:
Your Address:
Living Situation
Do you have:
Select all that apply.
If you have stairs can you carry your foster dog up/downstairs if needed to go potty?
Do you have a yard or green space for the dog to explore and go potty?
A bed to go to in a quiet space, an -open- kennel with a bed and blanket in it, a quiet space to sleep or choose to get out of the fray of things.
Do you have children under 18 years old in the home?
Does anyone living in the home smoke?
The AKC, FDA and VCA agree that cigarette smoke can affect dogs. The dogs around tobacco smoking have a greater risk for health problems.
Are your pets properly licensed and up to date on their Rabies & DHPP vaccinations?
Your dog(s) must meet these minimum requirements to foster with RMDR:

✔ Your dog(s) must be licensed, with the license renewed annually.
✔ Your dog(s) must have a current DHPP vaccine from a licensed veterinarian.
✔ Your dog(s) must have a current rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian.
✔ You must keep your dog's rabies and DHPP vaccinations up to date.

This information will be verified by RMDR prior to fostering with your veterinarian. Please check with your city's animal control department for any additional requirements or restrictions regarding dog ownership in your area.
🏡 Do you agree to a Virtual Home Check and understand why it's needed for fosters?
The Virtual Home Check is required. RMDR accepts dogs who have already likely been through some rough times, we want to place them not only in a loving, but safe environment. We need to review the setting the dog will be living in. For example a house with a yard, a condo with a small garden or gated dog park.
Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 5 files.
Please upload up to 5 photos or videos of the inside of your home.

Show areas where the dog will live, such as the living room, kitchen, and bedroom where they will sleep. Be sure to include any safety features like baby gates at stairs, ramps to furniture, and other accommodations that make life safer for a foster dachshund. Baby gates and ramps are easy to add, and we have them available to loan, if needed.

What we look for:
✔ A clean, well-kept home
✔ Baby gates at stairs
✔ Dog ramps
✔ A designated dog bed
✔ A water source
✔ A safe space for the dog

Accepted file types: .jpeg, .png, .pdf, .mp4, .avc, .hevc, .vp9, .av1.
Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 5 files.
Please upload up to 5 photos or videos of the outside of your home.

Show key areas such as dog doors, patio, garden, lawn, and the complete fence/gate enclosing the yard. If you live in a townhouse or apartment, please provide images of the green space available for the foster dachshund.

What we look for:
✔ A clean, well-kept yard
✔ A sturdy, secure fence and gate with no holes or gaps
✔ No trash, debris, or excessive weeds
✔ Low-to-no foxtails or goathead thorns (We know, but we can hope!)

Accepted file types: .jpeg, .png, .pdf, .mp4, .avc, .hevc, .vp9, .av1.
Have you ever been cited by animal control or the police for an animal related issue?
Do you have a Veterinarian?

Dog Fostering Experience?

Your experience
Experience with sassy personalities, IVDD, grooming long hair dachshunds, barking, etc.
Do you have a dog door?
Potty Training Experience?
Are you comfortable refreshing potty training with foster dogs? Do you have any help with giving the foster dog potty breaks?

References

How did you hear about us?
Rocky Mountain Dachshund Rescue (RMDR) is a Utah based 501(c)(3) non-profit serving the Rocky Mountain region.
Have you used Slack?
Slack is a messaging app (iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac) that RMDR uses to connect people to the information they need when volunteering.
Are you currently involved with or fostering for another shelter/rescue organization?
Why RMDR Prefers that our Fosters Focus on One Dog at a Time:

We appreciate your dedication to helping dogs in need. However, fostering for multiple rescues simultaneously can present challenges that affect both you and the dogs in your care. Here’s why RMDR encourages fostering for one organization at a time:

1. Conflicting Policies: Each rescue has its own set of rules and expectations. Managing these differences can lead to confusion and unintentional mistakes.

2. Health Concerns: Mixing dogs from different rescues increases the risk of spreading illnesses due to varying health screening and quarantine practices.

3. Behavioral Challenges: Introducing dogs without thorough compatibility assessments can lead to stress, fights, or injuries.

4. Resource Limitations: Fostering for multiple rescues can stretch your time, space, and financial resources, potentially impacting the level of care each dog receives.

5. Reduced Focus: Juggling multiple dogs may divide your attention, making it harder to meet each dog’s unique needs, including training and socialization.

6. Accountability Issues: If problems arise, such as medical or behavioral concerns, it may be unclear which rescue is responsible, causing stress and potential legal complications.

7. Rescue Relationships: Fostering for multiple rescues can sometimes create tension or competition between organizations. RMDR values positive relationships within the rescue community and wants to avoid such conflicts.

8. Burnout: Managing responsibilities for multiple rescues can lead to exhaustion, affecting your ability to foster effectively in the long run.

RMDR's Perspective: By fostering exclusively for RMDR, you help ensure consistent, high-quality care for the dachshunds in our program. If you are currently fostering for another rescue, please let us know when you’re available to join our foster team. We’d love to work with you when the time is right!
"Available to start fostering?" means that you are currently able to take in and provide a temporary home for a dog(s) in need, where you would care for them until placed in a permanent home.

Key points about fostering:

Temporary care: Fostering is not about adopting, but providing a safe, supportive environment for a limited time until a more permanent solution can be found. RMDR does allow "foster fails". We are always trying to put the dogs needs first, sometimes the foster falls in love and adopts their foster. A happy outcome for everyone.

Variety of needs: Depending on the needs of RMDR dog, you might be able to foster a boned pair, a single dog or help with puppies, dogs with specific medical needs, or dachshunds requiring socialization training.
Please include any questions you would like to cover when we call. Please check your phone settings to receive calls/texts from unknown numbers so we can contact you.
Note: Hold Harmless Form
When you submit your application you will be directed to our Hold Harmless form. All of our fosters and volunteers are required to sign this.
Clear Signature
By signing below, you confirm this as your legal digital signature. Thank you for your willingness to help dachshunds in need! We’ll be in touch within the next few days. Your dedication and compassion make a meaningful difference for the dogs we serve. We truly appreciate your interest in helping the dogs and working with RMDR!