Each of ADNI foster carers offers a puppy a home for approximately 12-14 months, giving it all the experiences to start off on the road to becoming an Assistance Dog.
Fostering takes the form of weekly puppy training class; you will learn how to develop the puppy into a balanced and social assistance dog. You will learn what it takes for these bundles of mischief to turn into a fully trained Assistance Dog. You will introduce your pup to as many different sights, smells and sounds as possible. Socialising your pup also provides you with opportunities to socialise at the same time.
We need foster carers to provide the love, and the puppy provides the fun and games! Fostering is a very rewarding role, however it requires hard work and commitment to follow through on tasks learned during the weekly training sessions.
Being able to hand your trained dog over following its all its training is difficult, particularly after putting so much time and effort into them. However knowing that the dog you helped trained is now transforming the life of a child with autism or an individual with a mobility disability is very worthwhile and inspiring. You will be kept up to date on the progress of your dog. We encourage the recipients of our Assistance Dogs to set up Facebook Pages.
Throughout the whole process you will be supported by ADNI. Although no experience is necessary, puppy foster carers are required to meet the following criteria:
- You have a fully-fenced safe and secure garden
- You are away from the puppy for no more than two hours (in the first few weeks) and 4 hours (for the remaining of the time you have the puppy ) per day.
- Have no more than two existing pet dogs.
- That you drive or have access to someone at all times that can drive you and the puppy.
- Be able to attend a puppy training class per week (usually no longer than an hour long).
- Be able to spend time every day to participate in activities to socialise the puppy. Environments that need to be covered at some time include trains, busses, shops crowed areas, café,
- doctor’s/dentists surgeries and rural areas.
- You are able to provide the puppy with regular contact with children, other dogs and cats.
- Ideally do not have children under the age of 3 years old.
Whilst in training costs relating to the puppy are paid for by the Charity including food and vet bills.
Puppy Foster Carer Role Description Click here
Penny & Michael’s Story
“I took early severance from fulltime work nearly 3 years ago and was very keen to get a dog as I was going to be at home. I saw an ADNI information stand in my local shopping centre and they were looking for fosterers for their puppies. When I read the leaflet, I knew it was something really worthwhile I could do with my time.”
JANETTE’S STORY
I first came across ADNI at Forestside shopping centre, Belfast, approximately 4 years ago.
I was drawn towards the beautiful Labrador dogs wearing purple training jackets. Impressed with the aims and vision of the charity, a visit to a training session, and after family discussions, saw the arrival of a beautiful Fox Red Labrador joining our family.
