You can make a difference! 

Foster a Great Dane!

The more foster homes we have, the more Danes we can save.

What is fostering?

A foster is an individual or family who provide temporary housing for a GDROC Dane while we search for their perfect new forever home.  Great Danes come to rescue for a variety of reasons.  They do not do well in a kennel environment, so we rely solely on private foster homes to take care of the Dane until it is adopted. 

How long will my foster stay?

Our experience has been that fosters usually find their adoptive homes within 8 to 12 weeks of being placed in a foster home, but this can vary.

What if my foster does not work out?

Because of unknown history on some of the Danes we take in, sometimes things don't work out.  If this
turned out to be the case, you would not be stuck with the Dane.  We will move the Dane to another
foster within a few days of notification.   

What if I want to adopt my foster Dane?

The foster home always has first right to adopt their foster Dane.  The adoption fee must be paid and an
adoption contract signed.  Often foster homes become what we call "foster failures" and end up falling in
love with and adopting their foster Dane.  This is not a bad thing!

What is required of the foster family?

We ask that you provide shelter, food, structure and guidance for your foster Dane while in your care.  Depending on current donations, we sometimes have dog beds, collars, leashes to provide for the foster but not always.  We ask that the foster family bring the dog to public meet & greet events when appropriate, understand and follow the foster guidelines, and be available for visits with potential adoptive families. 

1.  GDROC will not place a foster Dane in a home to be kept outside, nor in a home who currently houses dogs outside. GDROC Danes must be housed inside only.

2.  Foster homes must have a fenced in yard;  invisible fences are not acceptable as the only means of containing a GDROC foster.

3. Foster homes will be responsible for appropriately training each foster Dane. All foster Danes will be crate trained with the exception of those who are already reliable when left loose in the house.  We will help guide you to how to crate train a dog and/or other basic obedience.

4. Foster homes are responsible for transporting their foster Dane to and from the vet and making themselves or the Dane available for meet and greets and adoption events.

5. Foster homes will provide food, toys, appropriate collars and leads (except when donations are available) and all the love and attention each GDROC Dane deserves.

6.  GDROC will not place Danes in foster homes with children younger than age 5.  This is for your safety as well as the Dane's.

7.   If you rent your property, we require a written letter and contact information from your landlord giving
permission for you to foster/own a Great Dane.  Please include this with your application.  (please email letter to gdrocva@gmail.com)

8.   GDROC retains the right to refuse foster/adoption to anyone for any reason and at any stage of the application process.  We must look out for the best interest of the Danes.  We take placement very seriously.

Interested in applying to be a foster family?

Be sure you have read the information above.

Please fill out the online foster application. 

You will hear from one of our volunteers within a few days and we will begin to review your application.