Getting Ready
Supplies
We will provide: collar, leash, temporary tag, and crate.
Your supply shopping list:
An engraved ID tag: include your contact information. Leave the name blank, or use “Foster” or “I am loved”. *Please bring to pick up.
Food: It can take some time for the dog to get used to new food and and they may not eat for the first couple of days.
If experiencing loose stool, replace half of the kibble with cooked white rice until the dog’s stomach settles. Gradually increase the kibble to rice ratio phasing out the rice across 5 days or so.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are some food recommendations: Costco-Nature’s Domain: beef, Merrick, Nutrisource, Pure Vita, Fromm, Stella and Chewy, Honest Kitchen, Open Farm. For more help, you can also visit Rosie Bunny Bean or Tailwaggers. Steer toward beef, bison, and fish formulas.
Bedding: Start with a couple of old towels or blankets as light bedding in the crate. They’re easy to wash and some dogs like to tear up beds. Some breeds are prone to overheating when it’s warm. Start with less.
Water and food bowl: Human dishware or tupperware is fine. Leave water accessible in a common area.
Poop bags!
Foster program participation
We ask for the most foster involvement in the first 4-6 weeks during the period when the dogs are most prone to have issues. Once on their feet, fosters can check in on a less frequent basis.
Leash walking class
On Sunday mornings we meet in Highland Park to practice our leash skills and we often end with a playgroup. This is excellent socialization both on and off leash for the dogs and also helps the humans get to know each other and swap tips while sharpening their handling skills.
Weekly foster call
Once a week, our team joins a video call with all our fosters to check in on their progress and address any questions or concerns. It’s especially important that new fosters attend these calls as the first few weeks are the most challenging.
Adoption guidance and promotion
Adoption websites and social media are very important to getting the shelter dogs in our program seen and adopted. Fosters will be provided a link to share photos and videos.
Tip: Please take well-lit images with bright backgrounds – out in the sun is always great. Try to capture their personality in videos with short clips of them engaging with people, other dogs, and walking well on a leash.
Pro Tip: Making an instagram account for a foster dog is the easiest way to share content, build a fan club, and connect with adopters. Make sure it’s a public account and,tag and collaborate with @dogcoalitionla.
Medical
As you are fostering directly from the shelter, the dog is under the care of the city. Medical items are addressed with the shelter. Please advise the DCLA team of any medical concerns so we can coordinate an appointment. Fosters are permitted to take their dog to a vet, but the shelter will not reimburse any costs. In the event of an emergency, please contact the DCLA team.
Fecal Tests
In order to participate in group activities like playgroups and events, we ask that you complete a fecal test for the dog. This is especially recommended for households with multiple dogs as it is common for dogs coming from the shelter to pick up easily treatable parasites. It is advised that you call the office ahead of time to confirm drop-off times and protocols. We have relationships with two clinics that offer a reduced rate for the fecal test, allow sample drop off, and do not require an exam and fee.
North Figueroa Animal Hospital
NFAH offers a foster rate of $50. Hours are Tues - Sat 8-10AM. Sign up on the clipboard noting “Fecal Drop-off”. List “Dog Coalition LA/Foster for Life” as the organization.
*You must email us a heads up so we can send a new patient form the night prior to be seen.
HPAH can accept a fecal sample drop-off. The cost here is $60. Drop-off hours are Mon -Fri (AM 8-1230) OR (PM 3-530). Fill out a new patient form and put the dog's profile under the Dog Coalition Los Angeles/Foster for Life account.
*Fecal drop needs to be 4 hours fresh, in a ziplock or tupperware, but cannot be in a poop bag.
Please create a profile for your dog using the sign-in sheet.
Put your dog's profile under the DCLA/Foster For Life account.
Please pay the cost directly.
Results will be emailed to us and we will forward. Please do not contact the clinic directly (they’re very busy!).
Dogs testing positive can be sent to the shelter for medication.
Safety
Collar with ID tag
Your dog must wear a collar and tag at all times. At pick-up, we will fit the martingale and make sure the ID tag is attached properly onto a different ring than the one you will clip the leash to.
Dog parks and daycare
Per city liability rules, foster dogs can’t go to a dog park, daycare, or boarding facility. Dogs in our program will have the opportunity to socialize with other foster dogs at leash walking class and playgroup. We can also connect well-matched foster dogs for playdates.
Summer heat
Please take precautions when the weather is warm. Walk earlier in the morning or later in the evening and check the streets and sidewalk before your walk. Asphalt can become especially hot, so hot that it can burn a dog’s paws. If it’s too hot to place your hand on it 10 seconds, it’s too hot for the dog to walk on. Find grass and shaded areas and keep outside outings brief.
Temporary foster coverage
We cannot guarantee temporary coverage. In an effort to keep dogs out of the shelter, we do our best to connect fosters to LAAS approved temporary fosters and assist with coordination with the shelter.
DCLA Team Support
We are here to help!
We check in regularly to track developments and progress on Thursday evenings and see you at class on Sunday mornings. We ask that you join both for the first 4 weeks or until things are running smoothly. Thereafter, please check in periodically or if anything new comes up. You are welcome to join when things are going well too — we love updates and to see the dogs!
For urgent questions regarding foster support, training, medical, or urgent matters, email foster@dogcoalitionla.org.