Volunteer Foster Home
Become a foster
Foster a Diabetic Alert Dog: Make a Difference with Early Alert Canines
At Early Alert Canines, we believe that dogs thrive and perform their best when they are surrounded by warmth and affection. That’s why every dog in our program goes home with a foster family each night instead of staying in kennels. We adapt to fit your schedule and provide comprehensive training, while you offer a loving and secure home.
Our dogs undergo specialized training in scent work and alerting to become skilled Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADs). As a small organization, we often have several dogs awaiting their training classes. To ensure more people can benefit from the life-changing and life-saving support of a Diabetic Alert Dog, we are continuously seeking additional foster homes.
By becoming a foster, you play a crucial role in preparing these remarkable dogs for their future roles. If you’re interested in offering a warm and nurturing environment to help these dogs succeed, we’d love to hear from you!
Types of fosters
Foster Opportunities with Early Alert Canines
Short-Term Fosters: Typically, short-term fosters live within 15 miles of our facility and bring the dog to our training center daily during our open hours (Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 3 PM). This arrangement can be for weekends only, weekdays only, or a combination of both.
Long-Term Fosters: These placements can range from a week to several months. Long-term fosters are responsible for maintaining and enhancing the dog's service skills. While being local is not a requirement, long-term fosters must be able to transport the dog to and from our facility as needed, either before training begins or while awaiting class placement.
Transitional Fosters: This role is ideal for households with at least one person with type 1 diabetes. Transitional fosters provide a crucial 6-8 week placement where the dog’s performance is monitored through logging blood sugar levels and alert responses. This step ensures that the dog meets necessary alerting standards before being paired with a permanent partner. Each dog typically undergoes training through three to four transitional homes.
If you're interested in any of these fostering opportunities, please reach out to us! Your involvement is key to helping these dogs become exceptional Diabetic Alert Dogs.
General Requirements
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Provide a Loving and Safe Home: Ensure the dog receives a nurturing and secure environment.
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Attend Foster Training: Participate in a training course at our Concord facility to prepare for your role.
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Transport the Dog: Handle transportation of the dog to and from our facility as required.
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Follow EAC Guidelines: Adhere to Early Alert Canines' rules and protocols to ensure the dog's well-being and training progress.
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Pets in the Home: Having other pets may be permissible, subject to staff approval and individual assessment.
Thank you for considering becoming a foster with Early Alert Canines. Your commitment is crucial to our mission and the success of our Diabetic Alert Dogs!
