Contact
New Bolton Center Kennett Square, PA
Emergencies & Appointments:
610-444-5800
Directions
Ryan Hospital Philadelphia, PA
Emergencies:
215-746-8911
Appointments:
215-746-8387
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Working Dog Center fosters and Dozer

Foster a Puppy-In-Training


The Penn Vet Working Dog Center aims to raise and train detection dogs who will eventually serve our communities in the areas of Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement and public service. Select WDC dogs will participate in ongoing research studies, such as our internal research in Medical Detection and Proof of Concept studies.

Photo of Working Dog Center foster with dog Finder


How Our Program Works

  • Puppies are donated by approved breeders at 8 weeks of age and are enrolled in the Working Dog Center Puppy Foundation Program for approximately 10-18 months
  • During this time, the dogs attend school Monday through Friday at the WDC, located at 3401 Grays Ferry Avenue in Philadelphia, PA.
  • Before/after school and on weekends, our dogs live with and are cared for by their foster families. Fosters drop their dogs off at the Working Dog Center daily between 7-8:30am and pick them up between 4-6:30pm.
  • You can apply to be a fulltime Foster (commitment 12-18 months) or a back-up Foster (commitment 6 months minimum).

Support Our Work

Meet Sarah Gally

Working Dog Center Foster Program Coordinator Sarah Gally with Loki and Redd

Sarah, our Foster Program Coordinator and Skills Trainer, started at the Working Dog Center in 2020 where she completed her Drexel Co-op focused on Applied Behavior. After that, she returned as a volunteer and Kennel Lead - she is now the Foster Program Coordinator where she has the pleasure of working with all the PVWDC Foster Families. 


What it Means to be a Working Dog Foster Family

  • You must be willing to follow WDC training methods and protocols and give your foster dog new experiences to enhance their environmental and social exposure.
  • You must be willing to give up WDC Foster dog to their working career and handler at the end of their training. 
  • The WDC provides Foster Families with all the information and training necessary to be a successful Foster.
  • The WDC provides all supplies and medical care for the WDC dog you are fostering.