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    • Home
    • Adoptables
    • Donate
    • Adoption Application
    • Apply To Foster
    • Foster Resources
    • Adopter Resources
  • Home
  • Adoptables
  • Donate
  • Adoption Application
  • Apply To Foster
  • Foster Resources
  • Adopter Resources

Dark Horse Dogs ~ Foster Resources

Apply to Foster!

Whether you want to foster long term, foster to adopt, or vacation foster, we welcome apps! Just tell us as much as you can about your family, home, lifestyle, and we will do our best to make a match.

Foster Application

Foster Contract/Agreement

Pursuant to the Illinois Animal Welfare Act, your signature on this contract officially licenses you as a  Dark Horse Dogs foster home. The Illinois Department of Agriculture reserves the right and has the  authority to inspect any and all licensed foster homes. By signing here you acknowledge this law and  agree to cooperate with any home inspection requested by the IL Department of Agriculture or Dark  Horse Dogs. 

Foster Contract/Agreement

Two Week Shutdown

 TWO WEEK SHUTDOWN – THIS IS IMPORTANT – DECOMPRESSION IS KEY!!! 

Shut It Down

Choosing Your Foster

Picking a dog that fits your home, family, and lifestyle...is important.

Choose for success

Training Agreement

 Dark Horse Dogs, NFP does not condone or promote any use of aversive training methods or tools. We do not allow any dogs that are fostered or adopted through Dark Horse Dogs to be subjected to them. This includes trainers that may call themselves “balanced” trainers, the use of choke collars, prong collars and electric (shock) collars. We want to promote and enforce “force free” training. We do not believe dogs can have long term success and trust when using fear or painful methods of training. Let’s train our dogs by teaching them what we want them to do, not punishing what we don’t want them to do.  

Force Free Training Agreement

Training Recommendations

This is an extensive list of force free trainers that have real credentials. Training matters.   

Choose wisely. 

Trainer Recommendations

Closed Foster/Volunteer Page

If you're a current foster, interested in fostering, volunteering, or helping to transport supplies or dogs, we have a closed Facebook page where we make requests.  This is where we post for transport help, vacation fostering or anything in between. If you're requesting to join, please note that we do anticipate offers to help.  If you're not interested in fostering or volunteering, you don't need to join this page. Those who do not engage will be removed at our discretion.

Join Volunteer/Foster Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions about fostering?  Check out the FAQs.

DHD FAQs

Foster Obligations/Liability/Duties

Legal information regarding your duties and obligations as a foster parent. You too, are responsible for safety.  Safety of your foster, your family (humans and animals), the public, and anyone you allow your foster to have interaction with. Whether it be intended or unintended interaction. Be smart, and be safe.

Obligations/Duties

Training FAQs

Help for common questions/challenges.

Training FAQs

For Active DHD Fosters

Adoption bio help?

Decompression help?

Ideas for enrichment? 

Simple training tips and tricks? 

Help for our fosters

Foster Supply Request - Active DHD Fosters Only

Running low on supplies for your foster?  Fill out a request and our team will work on filling it. 

Supply Request for active fosters
  • Apply to Foster
  • Dogs in need of foster
  • Other Ways to Help
  • Owner Surrender Form
  • Adoption Fees
  • Adoption Requirements
  • Rehoming & More
  • Low Cost Veterinary Care
  • Local Animal Controls
  • Dark Horse Dogs FAQs
  • Buy Dark Horse Dogs Merch
  • Privacy Policy
  • Training Recommendations

Dark Horse Dogs, NFP

Chicago, Illinois, United States

(630) 446-0169

Copyright © 2025 Dark Horse Dogs, NFP - All Rights Reserved.

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