Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary

YAMNUSKA
WOLFDOG
SANCTUARY
FOSTER PACKAGE
C O N T E NTS
01 READY FOR AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY?
02 How Our Foster Program Works
03 QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
05 Frequently Asked Questions
04 Bringing a Wolfdog Home
05 APPLICATION
We are so happy you’re interested in being a foster
parent for one of the many wolfdogs that we rescue.
A big part of what we do is provide the rescue and safe sanctuary to wolfdogs
that have been neglected, abandoned, or otherwise displaced.
The sanctuary houses many wolfdogs of differing wolf content. The
degree of wolf content in a wolfdog ultimately dictates whether they
can be a good companion animal or not. Therefore, it is only our low
content wolfdogs (meaning wolfdogs that have a fairly small degree
of wolf content in them) that we will look for foster homes for .
Due to various rescue situations, many low-content wolfdogs that first come
to us can greatly benefit from being in a home environment to receive oneon-one socialization and rehabilitation.
Our foster families make it possible for us to to match wolfdogs with the
right home environment, and provide that wolfdog with a highly specific
rehabilitation program to follow. Meanwhile, the families check in with us to
let us know how the wolfdog is doing, and we can relate that information to
potential adopters during the pre-screening process.
In the following pages of this package, you’ll gain an understanding of what
our foster program looks like and how it works.
We look forward to your application!
Wild at Heart
How Our Foster Program Works
Step One: We Review Your Foster Application
When your foster application arrives, we review it closely to determine whether you would be a suitable foster home for one of our rescued low content wolfdogs. If so, we then determine which wolfdog
would best suit your home, schedule and lifestyle. Our goal is to ensure a smooth introduction of the
foster animal into your home. (The link for the foster application is found at the end of this PDF.)
Step Two: When a Match is Made, the Wolfdog Comes to Stay With You
As a volunteer fosterer, you are responsible for providing the wolfdog with a safe environment for its
rehabilitation. This includes daily exercise, mental stimulation, positive socialization, and love.
Every week, we ask that you fill out an online progress report that is automatically sent to the sanctuary for review. This progress report will ask you to rank how the wolfdog is doing in a number of areas,
including different training tasks, socialization, etc. This not only allows us to review how the wolfdog is
doing in a home environment and provide you with regular support in the rehabilitation process, but
it helps us keep the wolfdog’s adoption profile up-to-date and as accurate/transparent as possible.
It will also be your responsibility to transport the wolfdog to/from vet appointments, help coordinate
meetings with potential adopters, and to participate in some adoption events within your area at the
request of our team.
How Our Foster Program Works
Step Three: When a Potential Adopter is Found, You Help the Adoption Process
When we receive an adoption application for the wolfdog you are fostering, we forward it to you for
your review: you are in the best position to screen the applicant based on your experience with the
wolfdog.
If you feel it may be a match, you will work with Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary to coordinate meetings
with the potential adopter—as well as help determine whether the adoption should be approved.
Qualifications & Requirements
To be considered for our foster program, there are certain qualifications and requirements you must meet.
• You must provide a safe, loving, stable environment for
the foster wolfdog.
• You must be honest in your application so that we may
be sure to match you with the appropriate animal.
• You must understand that while we do the best we
can at matching you to the right animal, many of these
animals have endured major traumas and their temperaments may change as the animal gets more comfortable
in its new environment. This includes issues like house
manners, housebreaking, and energy levels.
• You agree to help arrange and carry out meetings with
potential adopters. You also agree to provide a thorough
and fair analysis of the potential adopter’s match for the
wolfdog in your care.
• You agree to transport your foster wolfdog to and from
our Sanctuary, vet appointments, and adoption events as
needed.
• You must provide us with weekly progress updates on
how the animal is doing, temperament and training via
easy online progress report.
• You must provide pictures of your home, family and pets
(since we bypass home checks that way) upon the completion of your foster application.
• You agree to contact Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary with
any and all concerns, issues, questions you may have.
• You agree that all foster wolfdogs remain under the
ownership of Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary and must be
relinquished to the Sanctuary upon request.
• You must be able to provide proper containment for
wolfdogs.
Bringing a Wolfdog Home
Choosing to foster a wolfdog is a wonderful, selfless decision. You will be playing a key role in this wolfdog’s
rehabilitation—being its first introduction to home and family life.
Often, wolfdogs that require fostering have strong tendencies
with one or many of the following behaviours:
• Being possessive
• Being territorial
• Timid/shyness
• Destructive behaviours
• A high prey drive
• Being excellent escape artists
Although many of these “undesirable” behaviours will never disappear completely, they can be dampened with consistent training.
Therefore we encourage our fosterers to be ready and willing to
work with their foster wolfdog on a daily basis.
Adequate Containment
Wolfdogs are master diggers and climbers and when given the
opportunity, they will escape. Containment requirements vary
from wolfdog to wolfdog, however enclosures should generally be
a minimum of 6 feet tall. Many wolfdog will also require containment with dig guards.
Exercise
Most wolfdogs require more than only one on-leash walk per day.
They crave freedom and independence, so we encourage adopters to off-leash train their low content wolfdogs as soon as they
feel comfortable to do so.
Mental Stimulation
Wolfdogs are highly intelligent and need positive ways to explore
that intelligence. Training and problem solving are two activities
that help keep your low content wolfdog engaged, mentally stimulated, and hopefully out of trouble.
Time and Companionship
Every low content wolfdog needs dedicated time and companionship from their new family. Often, having another well-adjusted/
balanced dog at home can be a benefit.
Walking Nicely on Leash
A good skill to have, and a skill that takes wolfdogs patience and
work to get right.
When we have a wolfdog to place into foster care, we usually have
a good idea of where the wolfdog stands with its temperament
and level of obedience. We make every effort to place the right
wolfdog with the right fosterer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long does a wolfdog need fostering?
A wolfdog may be fostered for only a week to many months. It
depends on the wolfdog’s adoptability, as well as the time you can
dedicate to fostering. We are flexible with your availability.
Q. What are the costs associated with fostering a wolfdog?
We cover all necessary costs and provide all necessary supplies.
This includes food, kennels for crate training, toys, and other
needs discussed prior to placing an animal in temporary care.
Q. What if the wolfdog requires veterinary care?
You will be notified of known veterinary requirements at the time
of foster placement. If the wolfdog has no identified veterinary
needs prior to placement, we are available to discuss all health
concerns that may come up during the foster period.
If an emergency comes up and the animal can be taken to our
veterinary clinic, the cost of care is added to our account. If our
vet is too far or closed, and the wolfdog is taken somewhere else,
you will need to pay the bill and we will reimburse all costs.
Q. What happens if we go on vacation?
We will arrange for temporary care if the wolfdog cannot join
you on your holiday. Simply contact us, and we’ll discuss options.
Often, we arrange for the wolfdog to stay at the sanctuary until
you’re back.
Q. What happens when a potential
adopter is found for the wolfdog I’m
fostering?
If we find a match for the wolfdog you’re fostering, we forward the
adopter application to you for your review. You will be involved in
helping to coordinate meetings with the potential adopter, and
help determine whether it’s a match.
As a fosterer, you are in the best position to know if the adopter
is the right fit of the wolfdog in your care, and we will take your
opinion in consideration. You’ll receive further details once you’re
signed on as an official Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary Fosterer.
Q. What if a behavioural problem begins to show with the
wolfdog?
If there are behavioural problems that you are not comfortable
with handling, please contact us immediately. If we cannot provide you with a step-by-step way of targeting the behaviours (and
we often can), we will have the wolfdog return to the sanctuary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many wolfdogs can be fostered at once?
This depends on your wolfdog behaviour and handling experience, containment available, time frame, and comfort level.
Q. What if we want to adopt the wolfdog?
Then you are what we call a “foster failure”—and that’s awesome!
You would contact us the moment you and your family have
decided you want to keep the wolfdog, and we would begin the
adoption process immediately.
Q. I work a full 8 hour day. Can I still foster a wolfdog?
Many of our low content wolfdogs are perfectly fine to be kept at
home while you are away at work as long as their needs are being
met. This includes containment needs, mental stimulation needs,
and—of course—their physical stimulation requirements.
Q. Do I need to have access to a vehicle in order to foster a
wolfdog?
Yes. A vehicle is required to foster a wolfdog in order to transport
them whenever necessary. This includes vet visits, trips to the dog
park, etc.
Q. I live in an apartment. Can I still foster?
No. Wolfdogs require a lot of space to be happy and usually love
being outdoors. Often times, wolfdogs can be destructive when
left unattended indoors, especially if not
given the appropriate amount of exercise.
Q. I don’t have a fenced yard or a dedicated containment
area. Can I still foster?
Wolfdogs are master escape artist and if given the opportunity
will choose to wander. A fenced yard of at least 6 feet is a MUST
in order to be considered for fostering. The well being and safety
of our wolfdogs is of utmost importance to us.
Ready to Apply?
Here are the next steps:
• Visit www.YamnuskaWolfdogSanctuary.com/foster-application and fill out the form entirely.
• Be sure to have photos of your home ready to share, as we often use the photos to bypass home checks.
• We’ll review your application and be in touch if we feel you are the right match for a wolfdog foster.
• Once accepted, we will provide you with all important and necessary information to make this a fun, rewarding expereince for you
and the wolfdog!
Let’s do this!