Here is the situation:

I have a friend who is 64. Last year she lost both her mother that lived with her and her poodle.

Obviously, she is very lonely and I think she would love to have another dog, but there is no way she could afford vet bills.

Since I have a 9 year old shih tzu that has cost us about $8,000 in vet bills (one back surgery alone was $5,000!), she is worried about getting a dog like mine.

So, my question is: is there such a thing as fostering dogs whereby my friend would not be responsible for vet care?

My rationale is that if people foster children, they get money to care for them. Is there a similar program for dogs?

There is here. We fostered one for a while. It was through PAWS and the dogs were at petsmart one saturday. You might want to call petsmart or the local shelters.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Did you keep the dog you fostered until it got adopted?

It would be great if my friend could foster an older dog cause I read that sometimes places have what they call "sanctuary" dogs that basically are kept fostered in a good home until they pass because they aren't readily adoptable since a lot of people only want puppies/younger dogs.

We have a program like that here too both through the local animal shelter Greenhill Humane Society and through a private shelter called S.A.R.A.

Call your local animal shelter they will have info.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I did keep him until he had a home. The deal was, unless I adopted him, I had to bring him back to petsmart every time they were there, so he could find a home.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Our local Humane Society does do fostering w/ some of their animals. Some need the socialization, some are just too old for adoption (and they are pretty much a no-kill facility--some exceptions).

Call the Human Society and/or local vets.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

There are also rescue missions for almost every breed of dog. They need homes for the animals that have been given up until they find an owner. If there's a specific breed you are interested in just google the breed and rescue mission, and see if there's one close enough to you.

My sister used to board Pekingese in Texas, and I rescued a Welsh Corgi (pictured above ♥) in Ohio.

Good luck...keep us posted.