Foster Agreement – Terms & Conditions
Thank you for opening your home and heart to a Snow Dog Rescue Society foster dog. Fostering is one of the most important roles within our rescue, providing dogs with a safe, loving environment while they prepare for their forever homes.
Many of our dogs come from northern and remote communities where they have lived as free-roaming street dogs or have had very limited experience living indoors. As a result, they may require time, patience, consistency, and understanding as they adjust to life as a family companion.
By agreeing to foster a dog for Snow Dog Rescue Society, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions.
1. Ownership
All foster dogs remain the sole property of Snow Dog Rescue Society.
Foster homes are providing temporary care only and do not obtain ownership rights to the dog.
Snow Dog Rescue Society retains sole authority over all decisions regarding veterinary care, transfers, adoption, placement, and any other matters concerning the dog.
2. General Care
The foster home agrees to:
Provide a safe, clean, loving, and secure environment.
Treat the dog humanely and as a valued member of the household.
Provide fresh water, nutritious food, daily exercise, mental enrichment, and appropriate shelter.
Never leave the dog unattended for excessive periods of time.
Immediately notify Snow Dog Rescue Society if the dog becomes ill, injured, or displays concerning behavioural changes.
3. Understanding Rescue Dogs
The foster home understands that many rescue dogs:
Have lived as free-roaming street dogs.
May have experienced neglect, abandonment, or limited human interaction.
May have never lived inside a home.
May not be house trained.
May not understand stairs, windows, mirrors, appliances, televisions, or household routines.
May have little or no leash training.
May be fearful of new people, sounds, vehicles, or environments.
May require time to build trust and confidence.
The foster home agrees to use patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement while helping the dog adjust to indoor living.
4. Training & Behaviour
The foster home agrees to:
Use humane, fair, and appropriate training methods that prioritize the dog's physical and emotional well-being.
Foster homes may use reward-based training or balanced training techniques, provided they are knowledgeable, experienced, and confident in their proper application. Any training methods used must be appropriate for the individual dog and must never involve abuse, cruelty, or excessive force.
Physical punishment, abuse, or any training methods intended to cause unnecessary pain, fear, or distress are strictly prohibited.
Understand that accidents, chewing, barking, digging, pacing, counter surfing, food guarding, anxiety, or other adjustment behaviours may occur as the dog settles into foster care.
Contact Snow Dog Rescue Society if behavioural concerns arise rather than attempting to address serious behavioural issues independently. The rescue should be consulted before implementing significant behaviour modification plans or training tools for complex behavioural concerns.
5. Safety & Containment
The foster home understands that newly arrived rescue dogs are considered high flight risks, particularly during their adjustment period.
The foster home agrees to:
Exercise extreme caution during the first several weeks after arrival.
Ensure the dog remains securely leashed at all times when outside of a fully enclosed, secure fenced area.
Use a properly fitted collar, harness, or other escape-resistant equipment approved by Snow Dog Rescue Society.
In unfenced areas, the dog must remain on a leash or securely attached long line at all times. Under no circumstances may the dog be allowed off leash in an unfenced area.
Ensure all doors, gates, and fences remain securely closed and latched before allowing the dog access to outdoor spaces.
Never leave the dog unattended in a yard unless the yard is securely fenced and approved by the rescue.
Exercise caution when encountering unfamiliar dogs during walks or outings. Foster dogs should not be permitted to greet or interact with unknown dogs unless specifically approved by Snow Dog Rescue Society and the interaction can be safely supervised.
Closely supervise introductions with household pets and follow guidance provided by the rescue.
Immediately notify Snow Dog Rescue Society if the dog escapes, goes missing, bites someone, or is involved in an altercation with another animal.
6. Veterinary Care
Snow Dog Rescue Society is responsible for authorizing veterinary care.
Foster homes must contact the rescue before seeking non-emergency veterinary treatment.
Emergency veterinary treatment should be sought immediately if necessary, with the rescue notified as soon as reasonably possible.
Foster homes agree to administer medications as directed and attend scheduled veterinary appointments.
7. Communication
The foster home agrees to:
Maintain regular communication with Snow Dog Rescue Society.
Provide updates regarding the dog's health, behaviour, and progress.
Provide photos and videos to assist with adoption promotion.
Promptly report any concerns or incidents involving the dog.
8. Adoption Process
Snow Dog Rescue Society is solely responsible for approving adopters and making placement decisions.
Foster homes agree to make the dog available for meet-and-greets, transport, or virtual introductions when requested.
Foster homes interested in adopting their foster dog must complete the standard adoption process and receive approval before any adoption is finalized.
9. Restrictions
The foster home agrees that they will not:
Sell, give away, rehome, or transfer the dog to any individual or organization.
Breed the dog.
Allow the dog to roam freely.
Leave the dog unattended in unsafe situations.
Use the dog for guarding, breeding, hunting, fighting, or any illegal purpose.
Travel outside the province with the dog without prior written approval from Snow Dog Rescue Society.
10. Return of Foster Dog
If the foster home is no longer able to care for the dog, they agree to notify Snow Dog Rescue Society immediately.
The foster home agrees that they will never:
Surrender the dog to another rescue.
Surrender the dog to a shelter or pound.
Give the dog to another individual.
Sell or otherwise transfer ownership.
All foster dogs must be returned directly to Snow Dog Rescue Society or to a location designated by the rescue.
11. Liability & Assumption of Risk
The foster home acknowledges that rescue dogs often come from unknown or limited backgrounds and that their medical history, temperament, behaviour, and previous experiences may be incomplete or unavailable. Because many of our dogs have lived as free-roaming street dogs or have had little to no experience living in a home, they may display fearful, reactive, unpredictable, or otherwise challenging behaviours while adjusting.
By agreeing to foster a dog for Snow Dog Rescue Society, the foster home voluntarily assumes all risks associated with fostering the dog, including but not limited to:
Personal injury to themselves, members of their household, visitors, or other individuals.
Injury to other animals.
Damage to personal property or the property of others.
Veterinary expenses resulting from incidents involving their own pets.
Costs associated with property damage, escape, or recovery of the foster dog.
The foster home agrees to exercise reasonable care, supervision, and caution at all times.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the foster home agrees to release, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Snow Dog Rescue Society, its directors, officers, volunteers, foster coordinators, members, and representatives from any and all claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, expenses, or legal actions arising out of or relating to the fostering, care, handling, transportation, or temporary possession of the foster dog, including claims involving personal injury, death, property damage, or injury to other animals, except where caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Snow Dog Rescue Society.
12. Foster Commitment
By signing this agreement, the foster home acknowledges that fostering requires patience, compassion, flexibility, and understanding. Rescue dogs may take days, weeks, or even months to fully adjust to life in a home.
The foster home agrees to work cooperatively with Snow Dog Rescue Society, follow the guidance of rescue representatives, and always act in the best interests of the foster dog.
The foster home confirms that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by all terms and conditions outlined in this Foster Agreement.
Thank you for becoming a foster home for Snow Dog Rescue Society. The love, patience, and stability you provide give these dogs the opportunity to heal, learn, and prepare for a successful life with their forever families. Your commitment directly saves lives and makes it possible for us to continue helping dogs from northern and remote communities find the second chance they deserve.