04/08/2026
🚨💙💛 URGENT: We need foster carers in Victoria — right now 💛💙🚨
RGRV is experiencing a surge in Golden Retrievers coming into care, and several of our regular foster carers are currently unavailable. Without more foster homes, we simply cannot say yes to dogs who desperately need us.
Could you open your home to a Goldie in need?
Every dog that comes to RGRV goes through a foster home first — for rest, rehabilitation, and a safe place to be themselves before finding their forever family. We don't have a shelter, so foster carers are the heart of everything we do.
Please read this bit carefully before you apply:
Many of our Goldies come from tough circumstances — puppy mills, neglect, or sudden upheaval in their family's life. Even the sweetest Golden Retriever can arrive anxious, confused, or unsettled, and it can take time for their true personality to come through. That might look like destructive chewing, house training accidents, separation anxiety, pulling washing off the line, or other behaviours you wouldn't expect from a "normal" Goldie. This isn't the dog being "bad" — it's trauma and adjustment, and it's completely normal.
We need foster carers who can:
🐾 Go in with realistic expectations, patience, and a sense of humour about the occasional chewed dog bed
🐾 Follow RGRV's health and behaviour instructions closely, and use positive reinforcement only — never physical punishment
🐾 Reach out to us straight away if something's going wrong, rather than waiting until it feels like a crisis — we're here to help you work through it, not just to take the dog back
🐾 Have time available to work on a foster dog's training and behaviour management, especially in those early settling-in weeks
What’s involved day to day:
🐾 Provide love, time, basic training and socialisation, and get your foster Goldie to vet appointments as needed
🐾 Treat them like one of the family — daily feeding, grooming, and a comfy, safe home environment
🐾 Welcome them inside the home — our foster Goldies are not outdoor-only dogs
🐾 You don't need to already own a dog to foster — some dogs actually do best as the only pet for a while
How long will they stay?
The length of time a Goldie is in foster care can range from around three weeks to several months, depending on the dog's needs, veterinary treatment, and readiness for adoption
What we ask of your home:
🐾 A securely fenced and enclosed yard (dogs must not be able to escape)
🐾 Any resident pets fully vaccinated, with certificates available if requested
🐾 No entire (non-desexed) dogs residing at the property while fostering — any resident dog must be calm, chilled, and desexed
🐾 Renters will need landlord/agent permission for a dog
🐾 You're comfortable with a short home check so we can make sure it's a safe fit
The perks of fostering:
🐾 The joy of watching a dog learn to trust again and rediscover that the world can be a safe place
🐾 Endless tail wagging, goofy Goldie smiles, and the satisfaction of seeing them relax into family life
🐾 Being part of their journey from scared and uncertain to confident and happy — and then seeing them move into their furever home, knowing you helped make that possible
What RGRV covers:
🐾 Food, veterinary care, collar, lead, ID tag, worming and flea treatment — all costs covered by us.
Whatever you can offer, our team is with you every step of the way — you are never on your own.
If you can commit to this with an open heart, please apply now via our Foster Carer Application Form at rgrv.org.au/foster and we'll be in touch to chat further.
Please share this post — you never know who's just been waiting for the right nudge to say yes.
