Foster Application

Thank you for your interest in fostering a dog for Soldiers Best Friend. Our foster program helps Soldier's Best Friend find the right dog for the right veteran.

Soldiers Best Friend (SBF) evaluates dogs from local shelters and rescue groups, and carefully selects those that exhibit potential to be trained and do the work of a trained PTSD service dog. Each dog meets specific criteria, most often with a particular veteran in mind. However, it is nearly impossible to see all potential temperament problems in a shelter environment. An Arizona Foster Home is the vital, bridging link for a rescued shelter dog between the dogs previous existence and its new life with a veteran. By housing a rescued dog for a brief amount of time (usually no more than two to four weeks), the Foster Volunteer helps the Adoptions Coordinator evaluate whether the dog is a suitable candidate for service dog training, helps calm a stressed and anxious dog, and helps train household and public manners.