The policies vary from group to group. I foster for two different groups--our local shelter and a national malamute rescue. The mal group does not have a facility. The dogs are all in foster homes. I pay medical bills, but can get reimbursed later. I don't usually bother though.

The local shelter is where most of our dogs have come from. The shelter pays for food and medical only. Toys, treats and extras come from the foster parent. In my case, I don't use their food. It's decent kibble, but it's not what I feed. It's too complicated to feed the fosters different food. Medical expenses have to be preapproved before the shelter will cover them. They have an account at the local vet clinics. Again, I don't usually bother with that. I just take them in as I think they need to.

You will want to check with the group about what kind of dogs they foster out. The shelter we work with, only fosters out hard to adopt, problem dogs. Dogs that are small, young and highly adoptable don't go to foster homes. Dogs that have been in the shelter for months, have behavior problems, temperment issues or need special care go to foster homes.

Also ask about what happens if the dog doesn't work out in your home. With the shelter here, the foster parent is usually required to keep the dog until a kennel is open at the shelter again--which can be a long while sometimes!

It's important to me that I have input on potential adopters. I won't let one of my fosters go to someone I don't approve of. I have first right of refusal with all my fosters. That's how a couple of them got adopted. If I refuse an approved adopter who the shelter staff thinks is a good match for the dog, I have to keep the dog. I also have an agreement with the shelter and the new families that the dog never goes back to the shelter if things don't work out. The dog comes back to me. It's never happened yet on a permanent basis, but I dog sit several former fosters regularly.

It's rewarding and heartbreaking work all at the same time!