Now, I need help with a shelter I promised to foster one of there big dogs, sticky situation, HELP?

Question

I need to break it down to the shelter that I'm no able to foster there large dog maggie, but I'll foster there smaller dog Charlo. The transport hasn't happened yet, there arriving next week Wednesday. My friend couldn't find anyone to take care of her large dog while she's going on vacation and she gave the dog to me. Now that I have her large dog, i can't foster Maggie the big dog, since my friends dog is intimidated and scared by large dogs. But i don't want to give up my duty since I had offered to foster and I want to keep it that way so I'll foster a smaller dog at her shelter named Charlo.

How do I write this in a polite way to the women at the shelter?

Answer 1

Being truthful is better, than lying. Tell them why and they will understand . Things like this happen.  

Answer 2

Please don't worry, situations change it's a fact of life. Animal shelters are committed to the animals welfare and they want to make the most suitable/best match between dog and foster home, for the sake of both!

Therefore I honestly don't think they will mind at all that you are letting them know that your circumstances have changed and that you are no longer able to offer a suitable foster home to Maggie, but that your situation would work well for Charlo! This is also made slightly easier because Maggie hasn't been moved to your house yet.

If I where you I would either write/phone the shelter (it may be better to phone so they have more notice of the change, depends how fast the mail system is there). All you have to say is something like this:

"I know I was arranging to foster Maggie for you but unfortunately my situation has changed and I now have a friends dogs staying with me who is scared of large dogs. Therefore I am really sorry but I am afraid that my situation wouldn't be suited to giving Maggie the foster home she needs and deserves at the moment. However, I still really want to be part of the fostering scheme and I was hoping that maybe it would be possible for me to foster a smaller dog at the moment? I know that there is one smaller dog at the centre at the moment called Charlo who needs a foster home, perhaps my situation would suit him? Once my friends dog goes back home it will of course be possible for me to foster a larger dog if it was required. I'm really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but I wanted to let you know as soon as possible."

Hth, and don't stress about this, these things happen and it's much better to sort it out now before Maggie is moved to your house!

Answer 3

You need to call them up and tell them ASAP.  I wouldn't send a letter, I'd call them, and I'd do it today!  They will need to find another home for Maggie and the more time they have to do so the better.

I would call them up and ask to speak to whomever your foster contact is.  Tell them that your situation has changed and you are just unable to take in Maggie right now and tell them why.  Ask them if you can take in Charlo or if there is something else you can do to help since you can't put your friend's dog and Maggie in that situation in good concious?  You made two commitments, so you really ought to try to do your best to meet both as best you can.

Answer 4

Go ahead and tell them your story, and they will understand.  Since you are not keeping your friend's dog permanantly, you may just need to postpone the dog's arrival until your friend comes back from vacation.  

If you do want to go ahead and foster a dog right away, you can offer to foster Charlo, but just lay it all out there and they won't be too upset. Like another poster said, these things happen, so they will understand.