Fostering & Adoption
At WD4C, we look for shelter, rehomed, and career change-dogs with the drive, focus, and enthusiasm to excel in conservation work —regardless of breed.
We believe that every dog is a great dog, but we also know that not every dog excels in the conservation working dog environment, and that’s okay! Some prospective conservation dogs we add to our pack decide this work isn’t for them, and when they do, we listen!
When a prospective or candidate dog isn't the right fit for our program needs, we are committed to finding them an excellent placement option, even if that's outside of our organization. High-energy, high-drive dogs can require someone with certain experience or special training, so we take the time necessary to ensure every dog we are seeking placement for finds the right environment that suits them best.
FOSTER OR ADOPT
Below are the dogs currently in need of placement or foster care. If you’re interested in fostering or adopting, please email us at foster@wd4c.org. A meet-and-greet with the dog and our team is required before approval.
ADOPTED: ZOEY HAS MET HER MATCH!
In the sweetest twist of timing we could never have planned, we are so thrilled to share that retired conservation canine Zoey has officially been adopted! An adoption match made during our Giving Tuesday match promotion week!? A play on words we couldn't resist.
Zoey came to us years ago as a stray following Hurricane Harvey. During her time with us, she helped detect large carnivore scat for genetic analysis and even invasive plants. Zoey is smart, sensitive and absolutely adores people (and a cozy couch). She’s also a bit “dog-selective,” so when it was time for her to retire, we knew she would do best as the only dog in a home that could give her the extra space, comfort, and attention she loves most.
After a successful foster trial stay, Zoey is now happily retired as the only dog in her new family, receiving undivided attention, including her own heated blanket on the couch to contentedly supervise holiday decorating. Her new family isn’t a goodbye for us - it’s simply an addition to our extended WD4C family! Just one more way we honor the promise we make to every dog in our pack. Thank you for making stories like Zoey’s possible for every conservation canine at WD4C, from rookie to retiree.
ADOPTED: THE HAPPY ‘TAIL’ OF FROST
We are happy to report that Frost has been adopted!
Finding high-energy and high-drive dogs homes can be a challenge, and not every dog can be a conservation dog forever. While his nose was sharp, Frost’s sensitivity to other dogs and cautiousness around new people made fieldwork more stressful than joyful for him. So, with his well-being in mind, we retired Frost - and set out to find the right match that could continue to support his unique needs. Thanks to our amazing partners, including national nonprofit Petco Love, and our tight-knit community, we found an excellent match. Frost now lives on a ranch with Erica and her family on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Erica monitors soil samples for heavy metals that could affect tribal bison herds, and Frost keeps her company, always on the lookout for bison and the odd invasive plant. Some dogs just can’t help but keep working!
We’re so proud of all Frost has done and even more excited for what lies ahead for him: wide open spaces, plenty of toys, and a kid who thinks he’s the coolest dog on Earth.
ADOPTED: JACK HAS FOUND HIS NEW HOME
Jack was successfully adopted!
An intense and hyper-focused black lab, Jack started as a conservation canine at WD4C after coming to us from a shelter in Utah. We soon noticed that our intended path for him was not the best fit for his personality, but we knew this high drive dog needed another job. We're thrilled to have found a great match for him where he still gets to use his nose and thrive in a home setting. He has bonded with his person deeply, and he's earned the nickname "Shadow" for always wanting to be close to his family around the home. Jack and his handler/owner Cassandra now train to be a human remains search and rescue K9!s search and rescue K9!
ADOPTED: JAX’S NEXT CHAPTER IS A GOOD ONE!
Another successful adoption!
Jax is a Belgian Malinois that loves his toys, and most importantly, loves to be a goofball. He came to WD4C as a career change dog and worked on a few conservation projects. He decided that living an active pet life was his true calling though. We were thrilled to find Jax a great home, and now he even has a Malinois sibling. His new owner reports that Jax has changed his life, sharing that "this guy is an absolute blessing”. Awwww - we're pretty sure Jax feels the same way!