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What supplies will I need?
Who pays medical expenses?
How will my foster get adopted?
Won't I get attached?
One of the greatest needs of any rescue is foster homes.  Having foster homes means we can pull a dog otherwise slated for death, providing an extra space not only for the shelter we are pulling from, but in our rescue kennel.  Foster homes give our rescues the individual attention and care each needs, and are crucial for the many we get in that have to be treated for heartworm and other special needs that require a quiet environment.  If you are interested in potentially becoming one of IAMRA's foster homes, please click on the button below.
Fostering provides us valuable insight we would not otherwise see in a dog at a shelter.  It acclimates the dog to true 'home life', our goal for all of our malamutes. 
Foster parents can tell us whether a dog is good with children or cats, has a high prey drive or challenges fences. Foster parents give us the information we need to help our dogs find   the RIGHT home, their furever homes.
Integration of the foster with your own personal dogs is not the goal of fostering. Separation will be necessary, especially when the foster is first brought into your home. IAMRA is able to provide crates and pens for your use while you are fostering. Being a foster parent is not a trial adoption period. We discourage our fosters from adopting.

Becoming a foster is not meant to be a trial before adoption. We discourage this practice because our adoption process can be long, depending on the location of the adopter and availability of all people involved. We give priority to individuals who have been approved for certain dogs.

What Supplies Will I Need?

The only items you must provide for your foster are food and water bowls, grooming supplies, and an identification tag that provides your contact information (you can even use one of your dog's extra tags).  If you have a tag made, avoid putting your foster's name on it because you might not have the foster for very long.  IAMRA will provide a collar, and if desired, a leash.  The collar and tag should remain on the dog at all times, unless there is a potential risk.  Choke chains an other training collars should only be worn during training.  We will also provide food, though you must come to the kennel or other arranged location to pick it up.  IAMRA will provide heartworm prevention.  Some optional items that you may want for the dog are toys and chew things.  Remember, a bored dog is a destructive dog.
  • Collar and Leash
  • ID Tag with Contact Info
  • Crate
  • Bowls
  • Food
  • Grooming Tools
  • Heartworm and Flea/Tick Preventative
  • Baby Gates

Who Pays the Medical Expenses?

IAMRA will pay for all medical expenses; however, any health concern must be discussed with an IAMRA representative prior to treatment, unless the concern is life threatening.  We have several veterinary clinics that are familiar with working with IAMRA, and you should use this in non emergency situations.  IAMRA will pay the clinic directly for these situations.

How Will My Foster Get Adopted?

Any individual interested in adopting must first apply through IAMRA, go through our screening process, and have a home check completed. Only those applicants we deem suitable will meet your foster,.  We then ask that you either bring the foster to the kennel (usually a Saturday), or an IAMRA committee member will meet you and the potential adopter at an agreed upon location.  This may or may not be your house, depending on the location of those meeting you or your own comfort level.

Won't I get Attached?

Most foster families will tell you stories of how they cried when their foster was adopted and sent them on their way.  However, they will also tell you that it is an amazing feeling watching a dog start to bond with their new family, knowing this will be their family for the rest of their days.

It is such a reward to be a part of this process, and an even bigger reward to get happy updates from the adoptive families, knowing you helped save a life.

More on Fostering