Clancy's Dream Foster Guidelines (Foster applications only)
The First 2 Weeks - The Decompression Period
This is the most important part. Almost all issues happen because we do too much too fast.
• Two Week Shutdown: Keep it boring. No dog parks, no pet stores, no big family parties, no long walks in busy places. Home, yard, crate, short leash walks.
• Keep the foster dog separated from your resident dogs for the first 3-7 days minimum. Crate and rotate, baby gates, separate rooms. Let them smell each other through doors, then walk parallel on leash, no face to face in the house until everyone is calm.
• No introductions to strangers or visitors for the first week. Your job is to be the boring, safe, predictable person.
• Expect: not eating, diarrhea, peeing in the house, clinginess, or shutting down. This is normal stress. It usually passes in 3-14 days.
• Do not: free feed, let on furniture unsupervised, leave loose when you leave, or let kids crawl all over the new dog.
Daily Care
• Food: We provide or reimburse. Feed separately from other pets. No rawhides, no cooked bones.
• Crate: The dog must be crate trained or confined when you are not home and at night. This keeps everyone safe. If you need a crate, we have one.
• Exercise: Short sniff walks, not runs. A tired brain is better than tired legs. Puzzle toys, kongs, sniffing in the yard.
• Rules: Keep rules consistent. No roughhousing, no tug or wrestling games in the first two weeks. Be calm and boring.
Vetting - We Pay, We Schedule
• All vetting is paid for and scheduled by Clancy's Dream Border Collie Rescue. Do not make your own vet appointments or take the dog to your own vet unless it is a true emergency.
• The dog will come with known vetting done and a plan for what is left - spay / neuter, vaccines, microchip, etc. We will tell you the date and location.
• If you notice: coughing, diarrhea over 48 hours, vomiting, lethargy, not eating over 48 hours, limping, skin issues - text your Foster Director, do not wait.
• No flea / tick or other meds unless provided or approved by us.
Emergency Protocol - Go To ER First
• Emergency = trouble breathing, bloat / swollen hard belly, uncontrolled bleeding, hit by car, seizure over 3 minutes, repeated vomiting with lethargy, unable to urinate, allergic reaction with facial swelling.
Step 1: Secure the dog so you do not get bitten. Scared dogs bite.
Step 2: Take the dog immediately to the nearest emergency vet. Do not wait for approval - go now.
Step 3: Let your Foster Director know as soon as possible. Call and text.
Step 4: Tell the ER you are a foster for Clancy's Dream Border Collie Rescue and keep all receipts.
Step 5: For non-emergency after hours questions, text your Foster Director, do not go to the ER vet. ER vets are for true emergencies only.
Behavior And Introductions
• Introductions: All introductions on neutral ground, on leash, walking parallel. No face to face on a tight leash at your front door or gate. No gate greetings - this is how bites happen. Dog inside and secured when visitors enter. Visitors: Put your foster dog away before people come in. Let visitors sit, then bring the dog out on leash if calm.
Children - Non-Negotiable Safety Rule
• Never leave a foster dog unsupervised with children - not even for a minute, even if the dog has been perfect. All child-dog interaction must be directly supervised by an adult who is actively watching.
• No hugging around the neck, no sitting on the dog, no pulling ears/tail, no getting in the crate with the dog, no taking food/toys away, no taking food or chews from the dog.
• Teach children to be boring and gentle. If the dog walks away, licks lips, yawns, shows whale eye, or stiffens - that's the dog saying he needs space. Respect it immediately and separate calmly.
• Any growling or snap is communication - do not punish it. Separate and text your Foster Director right away.
Photos And Video
You know the dog better than we do. Good photos and honest videos are how he gets adopted.
Photos:
1. Go outside during golden hour - morning or late afternoon.
2. Get on his level. Eye level photos.
3. Clean background. No clutter.
4. One good face shot with soft eyes, one full body shot, one happy shot.
5. Use a squeaker or treat above the camera to get ears up.
6. Wipe his eyes and brush him first.
Video - 15-30 seconds max:
1. Walking nicely on leash, playing, fetching, being calm in the house.
2. No long barking videos, no jumping up videos.
BIO - Be Honest And Specific
Use this template and send to your Foster Director weekly:
1. Name / Age / Weight:
2. House trained: Yes / Mostly / Working on it
3. Crate trained: Yes / Working on it
4. Leash manners:
5. Good with dogs:
6. Good with cats:
7. Good with kids:
8. Energy level:
9. Known quirks / triggers:
10. Favorite things:
11. What kind of home would be best:
The more honest you are, the better match we get and the less likely he is returned.
What We Need From You
• Daily text update for the first 3 days, then weekly updates with photos.
• Keep him available for meet and greets with 48 hours notice.
• Do not rehome, give away, or let someone else foster without Foster Director approval. He belongs to Clancy's Dream Border Collie Rescue until adopted.
• If fostering is not working, give us 7 days notice if possible so we can find another foster. We know life happens, no guilt.
Thank you for being the bridge between homeless and home.
Clancy's Dream Transportation Guidelines (Transportation volunteers only)
General Rules
• No dog rides loose, in an open truck bed, or on the front seat with an airbag.
• Dogs must be secured by crate OR double-leash method + seatbelt tether or behind a barrier.
• Never leave the dog unattended in the vehicle. No retractable leashes.
• All drivers must be approved volunteers with valid license and insurance on file.
• No Food or Treats: Do not feed the dog or give treats within 3-4 hours before transport and do not give food or treats in the car. An empty stomach helps prevent vomiting and car sickness. Water is okay in small amounts.
Required Equipment for Every Leg of Transport
• 1 flat collar or martingale with ID tag (rescue tag)
• 1 properly fitted slip-lead (as safety backup)
• 1 regular 4-6 ft leash
• Crate if available, plus water and poop bags
Double Leash Method - Required For All Border Collies
Border Collies are flight risks. You must use two leashes at all times outside the vehicle:
• Primary Leash: Clipped to martingale or flat collar / harness
• Safety Slip-Lead: Placed high on neck, just behind ears, snug enough that it cannot slip over head but not choking
• Hold one leash in each hand OR both in the same hand with slip-lead as backup.
• When transferring from crate to vehicle, attach BOTH leashes BEFORE opening the crate door fully.
• At potty breaks or at handoff, keep both leashes on until the receiving party has both leashes secured.
• If the dog slips collar/harness, slip-lead remains on.
Loading / Unloading
• Check collar fit - you should not be able to pull it over head.
• Attach slip-lead first, then primary leash.
• Open the crate/door only 2-3 inches to get leashes out, then open fully.
• No dog-to-dog greetings during relay.
In Vehicle
• Crated dogs: Crate secured so it cannot slide, adequate ventilation.
• Non-crated: Tethered with seatbelt attachment to harness, NOT to neck. Slip-lead removed while tethered to prevent strangulation, re-applied before opening the door.
• No heads out windows.
Potty Breaks
• Only in secure, low-traffic grassy areas away from highways.
• Both leashes on at all times. Use the 2-person method if available - one holds, one picks up.
• No off-leash at any time.
Handoff To Next Driver
• Exchange in enclosed areas if possible. Do not do hand-offs in parking lots with traffic.
• The receiving driver must have both leashes in hand before the releasing driver lets go.
• Confirm dog ID, paperwork, and belongings are transferred.
Emergency
• If the dog escapes, DO NOT CHASE. Sit, toss treats, call the transport/foster director immediately.
• Report any bite, illness, vomiting, diarrhea, or behavioral concern to the transport/foster director same day.
Transportation volunteers: