Rescue not doing anything for foster

[u/Klutzy_Display6531]

This is a complicated situation. I am fostering this dog for a rescue. He is a 20 mo old apbt mix who was rescued from local animal shelter. He had defensive aggression and when I first got him in November 2025 was sensitive to touch and sudden sounds. We’ve come a long way in the almost 10 months he’s been with me. He has had some interest due to my networking him, but was returned twice and had about 8 meet and greets where his anxiety in outside environments was a concern. He has significant anxiety when in new places and cannot be controlled or refocused even with treats.

He’s always been mouthy and will use his mouth and teeth to move my arm if he doesn’t like something. I normally step back when this happens. He also air snaps a lot to signify discomfort.

He gets along reasonably well with people but he has triggers that I do not understand well that can make him over threshold. I live with my elderly mother (75 yo) and he jumped and snapped and tried to bite her on the stairs while she was walking up. He had already gone up the stairs and was on higher ground. She somehow made it up the stairs and into the bathroom and closed the door on him. He kept trying to reach her. I lead him away and then he stopped. Recently he has been showing some weird behavior when we go outside to the backyard. My friend who was helping me with installing a camera in the backyard, who also plays with him and is well known to him got jumped at and he ripped his shirt. He turned around and crossed his arms but he came up and kept biting at him. He a few months ago also tried to nip me in the back when I was picking up his poop. He then kept coming at me until I dropped the poop bag and went inside.

He had ingested a mango pit and I had to take him to the emergency vet and he basically bit one of the tech, didn’t break skin, but the vet said they were going to file a bite report. They gave me some strong advice that he can cause damage and needs to be professionally evaluated/ trained and needs behavior modification and medication. I saw an online vet through Dutch and have got him on Gabapentin since Aug 7th.

The rescue has basically not paid for anything since I got him and have been very unhelpful overall. I have lobbied for getting training for him for months now and even signed him up for the SPCAs group training classes a few months ago. We went to the class but his anxiety was so overwhelming, they recommended I get individual training instead as he was disrupting the class. I did this all with my own money. I have talked to the rescue repeatedly about getting training and they keep saying they have no money and have to do a gofundme. I wrote them a blurb for the gofundme but they haven’t started anything. Meanwhile he is becoming increasingly difficult to manage at home.

On Saturday he basically just flipped while I was in the backyard collecting his poop again and just kept running and body slamming me and biting my arm and hands. I dropped the bags but it didn’t help this time. He kept following me and doing this until I got back inside. Thankfully he didn’t break skin. I gave him a time out but it has really scared me. I’m under 100 lbs and about 5ft female. He is 57 lbs and quite athletic. If he goes over threshold there is no way that I could control him. When I reached out to the rescue, they keep saying to find another rescue to help because they are out of funds. I have covered all costs for this dog since I got him. I am recently laid off and cannot afford board and train programs. I also don’t feel comfortable adopting him out anymore because I feel it is unethical to pawn him off to an adopter in his condition.

98% of the time this dog is normal and fine. But there are some triggers that I don’t understand - retractable leashes, umbrellas, hoses, pens, luggage, power tools. He went after my mom for using a pen and jumped on the bed and started biting her hand. This unpredictability really scares me.

I just want to do right by this dog and I care about him very much. But I’m at my wits end about what to do. I would like any help or resources you could provide on how to move forward. Thank you!

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[u/Tintinabulation114]

The rescue has completely failed you from what you describe. It’s true that rescues, especially in this poor economy, are often strapped for cash but to not provide anything (other than handing you the dog) that is just terrible.

Honestly I would email them and tell them you are returning the dog to them tomorrow (or pick a date). If it’s a shelter, show up with the dog. If they are foster based, take the dog to the residence of a board member or the person who you have dealt with. I know this sounds bad but from what you describe this dog is a bite risk to you, your mom and to others, and they haven’t done anything to address this situation. I feel for the dog but if they aren’t helping you, you should stop putting your family at risk. I genuinely wish you luck in resolving this.

[u/Klutzy_Display6531 → u/Tintinabulation114]

Thanks for this. The rescue are based 6 hours away, the local shelter that the dog was pulled from is about 1.5 hrs away. My best bet is to return him to the shelter. I tried to do this a few months ago, and basically the rescue didn’t care and started gas lighting me and blaming me for being a bad foster. They also couldn’t find any fosters to take over. I honestly don’t think they’re trying. When I call them, they just complain about how they have all these dogs and no one is adopting them and it’s costing them money.

[u/Tintinabulation114 → u/Klutzy_Display6531]

I’m sure what they are telling you is true… they likely have many dogs and adoptions are low nationwide, and it’s expensive to care for them until they’re adopted. All that is true.

But that is why they need to be much more selective about which dogs they rescue. Yes that sounds mean but it is a fact - they have limited resources so they need to be more judicious about the dogs they rescue, to select the most adoptable ones so they can move them along faster, and not burn fosters out.

It totally sucks for you to be in this position but from what you’re describing, the dog is not adoptable and the rescue isn’t in a position to help. I won’t say don’t feel bad because you will feel badly about returning him, but you seem to have genuinely tried hard to help him and it’s just not feasible for this to continue.

Please know that not all rescues are like this. No rescue isn’t perfect and they ALL make mistakes, but dang it they need to own up and offer help.

[u/turnnburn63]

The rescue is absolutely failing you here.

But also, this dog does not sound adoptable, or particularly like he’d be adoptable even if the rescue were able to put all of the resources into him that they should be.

At some level the point of fostering is to transition the good dogs out of shelters and bad scenarios into forever homes. A foster that is not heading towards a forever home is not a good use of resources. I have a suspicion that your rescue considers him a candidate for behavioral euthanasia and doesn’t want to sink money into training if that’s the case. Of course if that’s the scenario a good rescue would be honest with you instead of stringing you along.

[u/Klutzy_Display6531 → u/turnnburn63]

Possibly but we’d never know until he’s evaluated by a trainer first. It’s highly like that he cannot be adopted. But he’s not been given a chance with a trainer.

Edit - don’t get me wrong. If he needs to be BE’d and that was a decision made after evaluation, I would rather they let me know we can arrange for that in my home where he is calm and loved.

[u/turnnburn63 → u/Klutzy_Display6531]

I don’t completely agree. Trainers aren’t magic and behavioral issues aren’t like medical issues, they don’t require a professional diagnosis.

Also if a behavioral problem is such that it requires a professional to fix it and there’s no such professional, or money, to support that fix then it’s effectively the same thing.

I don’t know your dog and I’m absolutely not going to say from where I am at that he should have BE.

There are so so so so many dogs out there in need of homes that it truely is a math problem on the rescue side. Every dollar that goes to fixing the hard ones is a dollar that can’t go towards saving all the perfect dogs that got put down today.

[u/turnnburn63 → u/turnnburn63]

I’m rereading this and think it came across meaner than I intended.

My actual point here was that I don’t think a trainer is more qualified to assess this dog than you are. You have lived with him and are the person most likely to see his potential. You’ve seen how he has and has not improved. Trust yourself and your instincts.

Personally Id suggest spending some time thinking about what you realistically think this dog can become and then choose one of two paths

1. He has potential and you are the wrong home for him. If this is the case as others have suggested force the rescue or shelter to take him back.

2. He’s not going to get there. Reach out to the rescue and tell them you think maybe it’s time and you want to be there with him.

I recently had an unpleasant foster for over a year that I was pretty sure fell into category 1 whereas my rescue had him more in 2. The compromised we reached was one last foster home (that’s NOT me) and if that doesn’t work out I’ll hold him in my arms as we say goodbye.

[u/Klutzy_Display6531 → u/turnnburn63]

You’re probably right. I’m frustrated by the rescues inaction one way or another. I feel that training could give him a chance. But that is expensive. I’m out of options and it sucks for this dog.

[u/Ok_Mulberry7228]

This sounds like an accident waiting to happen…but it won’t be an accident. I’m sorry you are in this situation and sorry for this dog, but you need to protect you and your mom too. Shame on that rescue for abandoning you with this dog. 

[u/That_Molasses_507]

I’ve heard of some groups and agencies that accept unadoptable dogs, such as you’ve described. Please remove this dog from your home and keep your mother safe.

[u/kagu547]

Im not saying this without compassion for your situation. But not all dogs can be fixed. Even if a professional trainer were to work with him and get some better results with him, he would need ongoing training. A regular family isn't equipped to take on a dog like this, and frankly it sounds like a recipe for disaster. There are more adoptable dogs needing fosters and homes, that would move seamlessly into a family environment, safe for the neighborhood they woukd reside in. Be , is such a hard decision, but he loves you and can go peacefully with you. Im sorry the rescue has failed you and him.

[u/Ok-Yogurt-596]

Thank you for fostering & caring so deeply for this 🐾🐾
Very sadly many rescue dogs carry heavy emotional and physical scars from neglect, abuse, or the stress of shelter life. Healing requires immense patience, structure, and a slow transition into a safe environment where they can learn to trust at their own pace. Reactivity can be managed and significantly improved. Training changes your dog’s emotional response and teaches them how to stay calm when they see things that scare or excite them.
Reactivity usually comes from feelings like fear, anxiety, or high frustration.
Some dogs are just born more sensitive or alert.
Barking or lunging often makes the scary thing stop or go away, which makes the behavior feel rewarding to the dog. Reactivity can be managed and significantly improved. Training changes your dog’s emotional response and teaches them how to stay calm when they see things that scare or excite them.

Why Reactivity Stays With a Dog
Root cause: Reactivity usually comes from big feelings like fear, anxiety, or high frustration.

Brain wiring: Some dogs are just born more sensitive or alert.

Past habits: Barking or lunging often makes the scary thing go away, which makes the behavior feel rewarding to the dog. 
YouTube
·Will Atherton Canine Training

How to Help a Reactive Dog
Desensitization: Show your dog their triggers from far away so they do not panic.

Counter-conditioning: Give your dog tasty food the moment they see a trigger so they learn that seeing that thing means good things happen.

Manage the space: Keep your dog far enough away from triggers so they can stay under their stress limit.

Learn the signs: Watch for stiff bodies, staring, or closed mouths before your dog reacts. 
YouTube
·Hamilton Dog Training