Fostering Process

As shelters and rescues are increasingly unable to keep up with all the ever growing numbers of abandoned, abused, neglected, and unwanted pets, the need for foster homes has grown in addition to the task of finding permanent homes for these rescued dogs. BaRCSE is a breed specific rescue that uses volunteer foster homes for their dogs instead of housing them in a centrally located kennel facility like shelters use. In a BaRCSE foster home, the basset becomes part of the family whose kindness, love, patience and experience help the basset deal with the stress of losing their previous family and help them to adjust to a new and strange situation. The rescued hound lives with a foster family until adopted—which can be days, or many months.

​BaRCSE’s volunteer foster homes are located throughout our operating area, and are a large, very diversified group of people: some have children, some are single, some have many dogs, some have cats and other pets, and some may not have any other pets in their homes. Whatever the environment of the foster family, they are all caring people who have dedicated themselves to rescue and to helping basset hounds. Fostering is one of the most satisfying experiences one can have, as you will be making a direct impact in the basset hound’s life. While the foster dog is with you, your home is their home, your family is theirs, and they are your pet. Please consider opening your home to one of our bassets by filling out a foster application. We look forward to working with you in this heart-warming adventure.

The foster process is as follows:
1. Applicant completes an online application or prints a foster application from the website and emails to foster@barcse.org, mails to the PO Box, or faxes to fax number on the application.
2. Upon foster application receipt, the Foster Home Coordinator will interview the applicant by phone and will check their references. [Please note, if you submitted your application online or via email and your vet or other references request a signature before releasing information, the Foster Home Committee will contact you to get a signature release.]
3. If the phone interview is satisfactory, a pre-foster home visit will be scheduled by a BaRCSE member. To see what we look for in a home visit, download the home visit form. (In cases of previous fosters or adopters, this will not be necessary unless a pre-foster home visit has not been completed within five years or the family has moved). The foster home contract  will be signed at the time of the home visit so the visiting BaRCSE member can address any questions or concerns that the new foster family may have.
4. If the home visit is satisfactory and if there are bassets currently needing foster homes, Foster Home Director will send the new foster family a foster home manual and discuss the various dogs needing a foster family. Fostering will commence as soon as transportation can be arranged.
​5. Rescued basset hounds must stay in their foster homes for a minimum of two weeks for evaluation of health and temperament prior to adoption. Bassets must be kept in their foster home for a minimum of one week following major medical treatment including spay and neutering. Bassets may remain in foster care longer if deemed necessary by the foster parent or medical director.

​Notes:The responsibility of the foster home is to provide temporary housing and care for the dogs that come into BaRCSE’s program. The foster dog will live in the foster home until adoption or until alternate foster arrangements are made. Foster homes are responsible for food, shelter, housebreaking if needed, and assessing personality traits along with general socialization of BaRCSE’s foster dogs. Under special circumstances, foster homes can petition the officers for reimbursement for dog food for their foster. The first foster family will have the honor of naming the foster dog. Please check adopted BaRCSE dogs web site to avoid repetition of a name. Middle names may be used to distinguish from a previous BaRCSE dog.

​All BaRCSE dogs in foster care must be in a fenced-in yard or on leash at all times when not in the confines of a house. BaRCSE, not the foster family, is responsible for all medical expenses for the foster dogs. Heartworm prevention and flea control will be provided by BaRCSE Medical Director. If the foster home chooses to supply any of the previous items, it will be considered a donation to BaRCSE and is tax deductible. Foster homes that have BaRCSE dogs in their care will be covered by BaRCSE’s liability insurance.BaRCSE will provide the foster family with a list of BaRCSE approved veterinarians and requires the foster family to use one of our approved vets because we have financial arrangements with those vets. However, if there is an emergency with your foster dog, take the dog to the nearest emergency facility. We do ask that, depending on the emergency, please call the BaRCSE medical director before you go to an emergency vet.

​If the foster family intends to adopt the dog, they must contact the Adoption Director as soon as possible to request they be put on the dog’s adoption wait list. The order of the adoption wait list will be honored as to who has first preference to adopt the BaRCSE basset.
Fostering Application: Complete online or view as pdf.