HOW TO VOLUNTEER

FOSTERING

Fostering a dog saves a life. If you would like to help us by fostering a dog, please fill out our Foster Application. Foster care consists of providing a safe, loving, temporary home for a dog until a permanent adoptive home can be found. All dogs are screened for health and temperament before entering our program. We can only rescue as many dogs as we have foster homes!

Foster home responsibilities:

Provide a safe, loving temporary home for the dog.
Be patient. Understand that all dogs are rescue dogs and their behavior can be unpredictable. Be prepared for some adjustment in the beginning. It can be stressful for both you and the dog to be in a new situation.
Be willing to foster your dog from rescue to adoption. The amount of time needed to find a permanent home for a dog can vary from weeks to months.
If you are working full time, provide a safe indoor place for the dog to be while you are gone. For the Love of Labs Rescue highly recommends crate training to keep both the dog and your home safe and secure.
Foster homes sign a Foster Agreement and agree to abide by For the Love of Labs Rescue policies.
Notify your For the Love of Labs Rescue contacts immediately in the event the dog is sick or lost (your foster agreement includes the names and numbers of your contacts). Take the dog to medical appointments as required.
Notify your For the Love of Labs Rescue contacts when you are going on vacation so we can provide another home for your dog to go to. Taking your foster dog with you also requires permission.
Keep For the Love of Labs Rescue informed about your foster dog’s personality, quirks, behavior, etc. Your input as well as photos, are invaluable for describing the dog on the website and to potential adopters.
Treat the dog as a member of your family.

TRANSPORT

Helping with transport is another important role in getting our rescues to their foster homes. Most "legs" are about 1 hour long and are typically on a Saturday or Sunday. If interested in volunteering to help with transport, please send your name, email & cell phone number to tracyc@fortheloveoflabs.org

MEET OUR TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS

Tracy O'Connell

Tracy has been involved in rescue for over 20 years - beginning by volunteering for a transport with her young sons, and the rest is history! She lives in CT with her rescue pups, Hank & Shep. Additionally, Tracy's "real job" is as HR Director for a large construction company. She has three sons, two of whom serve in the US Army in Infantry units around the world. Her third son lives nearby in CT and is a huge dog lover just like his mom. He has adopted 2 rescues from FTLOL. Tracy oversees For the Love of Labs, including fosters along the east coast and in the deep south. Please contact Tracy O'Connell at tracy@fortheloveoflabs.org.

Tracy Cole

Tracy Cole has been involved in rescue and fostering rescue dogs for over 20 yrs. She lives in MA with her husband Ron and their forever fosters Phin, Lucy, Carly and Dallas. Tracy oversees For the Love of Labs, including adoptions and the medical needs of our rescue dogs. Please contact Tracy Cole at tracyc@fortheloveoflabs.org.

Colleen Bost

Colleen began volunteering as a foster mom in 2010. She lives in PA with her husband, Chris and their 8 rescue fur babies. She owns and operates a dog grooming salon and volunteers her services to area shelters when they have a dog that needs some extra care getting ready for adoption by helping them to look & feel their best. She oversees the dog listings on Petfinder & Facebook and assists with fosters and adoptions as well as fundraising efforts. Please contact Colleen Bost at colleen@fortheloveoflabs.org.

For the Love of Labs Rescue