Foster Open House
Saturday, October 24 • 1:00–4:00 PM
Schlep’s Resort • Plainwell, Michigan
FREE EVENT • RSVP REQUIRED
Great Lakes Golden Retriever Rescue desperately needs foster homes. We’re looking for committed foster families who are willing to help dogs who may need extra patience, structure, training, decompression, or support.
GLGRR is dedicated to rescuing Goldens in need. Our foster homes are at the heart of what we do. Without foster families who are willing to open their heart and home, we cannot help the dogs who need us.
Fostering isn’t just providing a place for a dog to stay. It’s giving us the opportunity to learn who that dog really is, help them heal and grow, and ultimately find the right forever home.
Some foster dogs settle in quickly. Others don’t. Some arrive confident and happy. Others may be frightened, confused, overwhelmed, or unsure of what comes next. Some may have behavioral challenges. Some may need medical care or medications. Some may simply need time to learn how to be a dog again.
When you foster with GLGRR, you become part of a team committed to helping you and your foster dog succeed. We want you to understand what fostering really involves, ask the questions you’ve been hesitant to ask, and learn what support you’ll have if things get challenging.
What You’ll Find at the Open House
This isn’t a sit-down presentation where you’ll be expected to listen to someone talk for three hours.
Instead, you’ll be able to move through different stations at your own pace, talk with experienced foster volunteers, meet members of the GLGRR team, ask questions, and see real-world situations demonstrated with dogs.
Explore stations covering topics such as:
- 🐾 Your First Week as a Foster: Decompression, routines, settling in, and common challenges.
- 🤝 Application & Mentor Process: Learn how to become a foster, how dogs are matched, and the support you’ll receive.
- 🏠 What Does a Foster Need? Supplies, time commitment, resident pets, work schedules, and preparing your home.
- 🩺 Veterinary Care: How medical care works, what expenses are covered, medications, emergencies, and who to contact.
- ❤️ Adoption Process: Learn how foster families help us understand their dog’s personality and find the right forever home.
- 💬 Ask a Foster / Q&A: Get honest answers from experienced foster volunteers about the rewarding, and sometimes challenging, reality of fostering.
You’ll have the opportunity to meet GLGRR volunteers, ask questions, enjoy some sweet treats, and see real-world situations demonstrated with dogs.
Whether you’re ready to foster or curious about what it involves, come learn, ask questions, and discover how you can help a dog in need.
Enter for a Chance to Work With Our Trainer!
We’re opening up a limited number of spots for attendees who would like to bring their dog for a 30-minute, one-on-one training demonstration with our trainer from Whatadog.
Your dog’s real-life behavior can also help us educate others. During the demonstration, our trainer will work with you and your dog while showing attendees how to approach a real-world behavior or training challenge that a foster family may encounter. It’s a great opportunity to get some individual guidance while helping others learn what they can expect, and how they can respond, when fostering a dog.
How It Works:
- Enter for a chance to be selected for a live training session by October 11, 2026.
- Selected dogs will receive 30 minutes with our trainer from Whatadog during the Open House.
- Your dog can be any breed, age, or size.
- You’ll want to have a specific behavior, challenge, or training goal you’d like to work on during your session.
- If selected, the cost is $20.
- All participating dogs must be current on required vaccinations.
What Could We Work On?
Your session might focus on things like:
- Leash pulling
- Jumping or over-excitement
- Reactivity
- Basic manners
- Impulse control
- Greeting people or dogs
- Settling and focus
- A behavior you’re simply not sure how to handle
Interested?
Complete the form below to enter your dog for a chance to participate.
Is Fostering Right for You?
You don’t have to be an experienced foster. You don’t have to be a dog trainer. You don’t have to know everything about dogs. But fostering does require commitment, patience, flexibility, communication, and a willingness to learn.
This event is for you if:
- You’ve been thinking about fostering but don’t know where to start.
- You’re wondering whether your home and schedule could accommodate a foster dog.
- You’re interested in helping dogs who may need extra patience or support.
- You want to understand the commitment before applying.
- You’re nervous about the challenges and want honest answers.
- You’re an experienced dog owner who wants to learn more about rescue fostering.
- You’re ready to become part of a team that helps dogs find their way home.
Not sure you’re “experienced enough”? Come anyway. You don’t have to make a decision at the door. Come learn. Ask questions. Meet experienced fosters. See what we’re all about. You may discover that fostering is exactly what you’ve been looking for, or you may discover that it’s not the right fit for your household right now. Either way, you’ll leave with a better understanding of how you can help.
FAQs
No! This event is designed in part for people who have never fostered before. We’ll walk you through the process, expectations, challenges, and support available to foster families.
No. There is no obligation to apply or commit to fostering. Our goal is to give you honest information so you can decide whether fostering is right for you.
We’ll have small desserts and water available for attendees.
Yes! The Foster Open House is completely free to attend. We do ask that you RSVP so we know how many people to expect.
Yes! This is an open house, so you don’t have to arrive right at 1:00 PM or stay for the entire event. Stop by anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 PM that works for you.
Explore the different foster stations at your own pace, talk with our volunteers, ask questions, watch live training demonstrations, and learn more about becoming a foster. We’ll have information and activities happening throughout the afternoon, so come when you can and stay as long as you’d like!
Yes! We’ll have live training demonstrations with dogs so attendees can see real-world situations and learn how foster families may work through common challenges. Our volunteers may also bring their Goldens as well, as rescue dog ambassador. We will not have Goldens who are available for adoption.
Please do not bring your dog without prior approval. Attendees can enter for a chance to have their dog selected. If selected, you’ll work with the trainer on a specific behavior, challenge, or training goal while the session also serves as a real-world demonstration for other attendees. Please complete the form above to be entered. Any additional questions can be emailed to glgrr2003@gmail.com.
You’ll be able to explore stations covering the first week with a foster dog, the application and mentor process, preparing your home, veterinary care, behavior and training, the adoption process, and the realities of fostering. You’ll also have opportunities to talk with experienced foster volunteers and ask questions.
Just yourself, your questions, and an open mind! If you’re interested in becoming a foster, feel free to bring anyone from your household who would be involved in the decision.