Where Their Journey Begins
Dogs come to Chance 4 Chage through many different avenues - pounds, private surrenders, and transfers from other rescue organisations. Each has their own story and journey into care.
What is Fostering?
Fostering is one of the most rewarding ways to help a dog in need. It means temporarily welcoming a rescue dog or puppy into your home and caring for them until they find their forever family.
By opening your home, you provide a safe, stable environment where a dog can decompress, build confidence, heal, and learn what is means to be part of a loving household. This vital step helps set them up for a successful transition to their permanent home.
Fostering is completely free - we provide food, supplies, and veterinary care. All you need to offer is patience, kindness, basic training, and a safe space while they wait for their second chance.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Every foster home opens the door for another dog to be rescued. Join our foster family today and be the bridge to a dog’s forever happiness. It starts with you.
Apply to Foster NowFrom Pound to Foster Care
We always do our best to assist with pound releases in the lower North Island. When two 10 week old puppies were in need of help, a social media post looking for foster homes allowed us to say Yes!
The puppies came into care via the SPCA and were taken to the vet for vaccinations and a check up, including a review of one puppy’s ear swelling. Thanks to our incredible community and quick action, this handsome pair are now safe and well on their way to finding incredible forever homes.
Privately Surrendered with Love
Meet Whisky - our stunning 2 year old Huntaway X.
Her former owners did everything they could to manage her chronic and severe skin condition, but eventually made the heartbreaking decision to surrender her so she could have the chance at a healthier, more comfortable life.
Whisky has the most beautiful nature. She’s gentle, affectionate, and absolutely loves people - including children. She gets along wonderfully with other dogs, is great with cats, and truly just wants to please. She is one of those dogs who instantly wins hearts without even trying.
Since coming into our care, we’ve already made significant progress. We’ve successfully treated the fungal aspect of her condition, which had left her skin red, flaking, bleeding in places, and carrying an unpleasant smell. After a full veterinary work up, hypothyroidism has been ruled out, so our focus now shifts to healing her body from the inside out - beginning with her gut health.
Naomi & Her Daughter
A Journey to Wellington
When Sweet Noah Rescue reached out about a litter of 7 eight week old puppies needing a safe place to land, our answer was yes - we can help. The only hurdle was getting them from Auckland to Wellington.
Thanks to Naomi and her daughter from the community, who generously drove the puppies to Wellington, this gorgeous litter arrived safely on 16 January. With Sweet Noah Rescue coordinating with the owner and our community stepping up with foster applications, this litter was able to start their new chapter with Chance 4 Change.
Nine Tiny Lives: One Incredible Rescue
On 16th December, RRR - Rescue, Revive, Rehome in the Bay of Plenty faced an urgent puppy emergency. At just two days old, the litter’s young mum was struggling and had begun rejecting her puppies. Following veterinary advice, and in the best interests of this young family, the decision was made to remove the puppies immediately to keep them safe.
With no local foster capacity for bottle-fed pups, RRR reached out to the wider rescue community - and our answer was YES. Thanks to an incredible relay of volunteers, fosters, and committee members, all nine puppies were safely transported from the Bay of Plenty to Wellington, with stops in Taihape, Paraparaumu, Pauatahanui, and Lower Hutt. Neonatal supplies were also delivered by our amazing network along the way.
So many moving pieces, so many helping hands - all for nine tiny lives who needed us. This is rescue teamwork at its very best!
"Fostering changed my life. Seeing them go to their forever home is bittersweet but so worth it."
Fostering FAQ
- Own your home or have landlord permission to foster a dog.
- Have a fully fenced section of property for the puppy or dog to safely play, explore, and toilet.
- Provide basic training.
- Transport the dog to local vet appointments.
- Provide sponsor updates (for puppies only).
- Once the dog is ready to be rehomed, provide photos and an adoption profile.
- Host adoption meetings in your home with support of a Chance 4 Change representative.
- Photograph the dog or attend a session with a professional photographer.
- Write an adoption listing.
- Review applications with a foster manager.
- Host adoption meetings in your home, with support from our team.