The Difference between Fostering and Adopting

• Fostering: Taking care of a dog for a period of time until it finds its new owner. Fostered dogs are supported by the rescue society you are fostering for, and veterinary bills and food are usually paid for by the rescue society.
• Adopting: You pay an adoption fee and keep the dog forever as your own. Adopted dogs are entirely your own responsibility, and you have to pay all of the bills.

When a rescue society appeals for fosterers, they are looking for people who will take the dog into their own homes and look after them until a permanent home can be found. Good fosterers do this over and over again, giving numerous dogs the chance of new lives in loving homes. Fostering is a vocation. It is not a way to try before you buy.