The Fospice Program
Foster + hospice. A soft landing, a warm bed, and a family of their own for senior dogs in their final chapter.
What Is Fospice?
Too many senior dogs end up at the shelter after their person passes away or moves into hospice or nursing care. Many arrive with a long list of health issues that make traditional adoption unlikely — and a shelter kennel is the hardest possible place to grow old.
Fospice changes that. We move these dogs out of the shelter and into forever foster homes — families who care for and love them for the rest of their lives, whether that's a few months or several wonderful years.
While a dog is in our fospice program, Rosalie and Friends supplies all medical treatment as needed. The foster's only job is the love.
“These dogs may only get a short chapter with us — so we make it the best one of their lives.”
The heart of fospice
How Fospice Works
Four steps, one promise: no senior dog spends their last days alone in a kennel.
We Find Them
Working with the shelter and the community, we identify senior and terminally ill dogs who need out — and won't find it through adoption.
You Open Your Home
A matched forever foster welcomes the dog in as family. No time limit, no pressure — just a home for as long as they have.
We Cover the Care
Vet visits, medications, and treatments are on us for the dog's entire time in the program. Fosters never pay the medical bills.
Love Them Through It
We walk beside you the whole way — through the good days, the hard decisions, and the goodbye. You are never alone in this.
What Fospice Really Asks of You
We believe in being honest about this work — it's tender, and it's worth it.
The Time
- Fospice dogs live anywhere from a few months to several years
- Most just want naps, gentle routines, and company
- Vet visits are more frequent than with a young dog
The Heart
- Yes, saying goodbye is part of it — and it hurts
- It hurts because it mattered — that's the whole point
- The rescue walks beside you through every goodbye
The Support
- All medical costs covered by the rescue
- Guidance on comfort care and quality-of-life decisions
- We're a call away, from day one to the last day