My Nonprofit Reviews

I was a foster parent for a beautiful girl for several months for Silicon Valley Pet Project. She required medical treatment and training. I appreciated Silicon Valley Pet Project making sure my foster dog was in great health and set her up for training. I made myself available for whatever would help my foster dog get adopted by taking her to medical appointments, taking her to training class, working on training homework, participating in adoption events, etc. I had a wonderful foster coordinator who made herself available at all hours to answer any questions I had. It was nice to feel 100% supported and appreciated. My foster girl was adopted by the perfect family and I was so happy to be part of her journey.

Fast forward several months after her adoption, I was approached by the President of Silicon Valley Pet Project to foster another dog for them. I am always happy to help, but had already offered to foster a different dog for a different rescue and I was waiting on confirmation before I could commit to Silicon Valley Pet Project's foster request. The President responded by notifying me that Silicon Valley Pet Project would not sponsor the rescue of the other dog and asked me again to foster their dog for them. I found the President's approach to be off-putting. I did not ask Silicon Valley Pet Project to sponsor any dog. The President initiated contact with me and I had committed myself elsewhere prior to her contacting me.

I felt uncomfortable when the President mentioned the training they paid for me to go to with my first foster dog as if I owed Silicon Valley Pet Project. The training class the President referred to was for my foster dog to work on some unwanted behaviors. It was not a training class for me to become an expert in dog training. I was not paid to foster for Silicon Valley Pet Project, but the President made me feel like I was her employee and had to follow her rules.

My experience with Silicon Valley Pet Project was a rewarding one because I had the pleasure of caring for a wonderful dog that was so deserving of a happy life. I am grateful to them for taking her into their rescue. However, I did not appreciate being made to feel like I was indebted to them and could only foster one of their dogs. My experience with the President of Silicon Valley Project motivated me to find other rescues to foster for and I will not be fostering again for this organization.