Dane Outreach is always looking for good, experienced people willing to open their homes to a Dane in need of fostering while awaiting adoption.  They are the most important part of Dane Outreach.  We require foster homes to have a properly-fenced backyard and experience with big dogs.  Prior to approval, potential fosters must fill out an application and then have a home visit by a Dane Outreach member.  Dane Outreach supplies the "things" involved in caring for a foster Dane:  food, vet care, crate, etc.  The foster home supplies the care and affection.

What to expect when fostering a Dane from Dane Outreach:    You need to be flexible.  The nature of rescue does not afford us much time to give advance notice. Most Danes that come into Dane Outreach need immediate assistance. 

While in your care, you will need to feed a good quality food -- one that is low in protein.  We encourage owners to bathe and treat for fleas before releasing to our program, but that does not always happen. Many dogs that come into rescue have not received adequate care from their owners, or they are from the shelter.  Not all Danes that come into rescue are housebroken!!!  You will need a crate for any foster Dane that comes into your home. If you do not have a "Dane-sized" crate, Dane Outreach will provide one. If you are not familiar with crate training, Dane Outreach can provide you with information that will help. 

While a Dane needs to be introduced to as many normal daily occurrences as possible --people coming into the house, other animals, children, etc. these introductions need to be made carefully.

A FOSTER HOME MUST CAUTION WHEN INTRODUCING THE RESCUE DANE TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR OTHER ANIMALS.  THESE DANES ARE "RESCUE" DANES AND THEIR BEHAVIOR IS UNPREDICTABLE. CAUTION MUST BE USED IN ALL NEW SITUATIONS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS A FOSTER DANE TO BE OFF-LEASH OUTSIDE OF YOUR BACKYARD.  NEVER TAKE A FOSTER DANE TO ANY OFF-LEASH FACILITY.

It is only occasionally that we will get a Dane in with full background information available. While all possible efforts are made to screen all Danes for behavior or temperament problems, we are often dealing with the unknown, so caution and common sense must be used in handling them.  As the Dane comes into your home, it will need time to adapt to your environment without the added stress of children and family pets. Please keep them separated until the Dane has had time to adjust.  Never have the Dane outside of your fenced yard without it being on leash. 

A Foster Home is like a B&B.  One welcomes the Dane and makes him or feel "at home" yet the Dane is a guest, not a family member.   A Foster Home is in the delicate position of trying to evaluate and/or train a rescue Dane without making the Dane part of the family.  A foster Dane needs to be ready to bond to its new adoptive home -- not the foster family.  A Foster Home must help him or her be keeping enough distance to help make that transition easier.  Fostering has many rewards. Watching a Dane improve under your care and love and seeing him or her go to a  new home can be extremely satisfying. You are directly responsible for the Dane's new hope in life.

*** Without the efforts of our foster homes, this would not be possible***

Some things to consider...

• Do you have the space available for a Dane-sized crate?
• If you have other pets, are you able to keep them separated?
• Can you provide adequate supervision of an extra dog?
• Do you have the time and attention needed to provide for this Dane?
• Are you able to accept that some Danes will be unable to be rehabilitated, and humane euthanasia is a viable option under those circumstances, either because of ill health or poor temperament?

Thank you for considering foster care for Dane Outreach. If you decide to pursue fostering, please contact Edie at Foster@daneoutreach.org.