Frosted Fling

You can make a difference with just a two-week commitment by having a Frosted Fling and caring for one of our Frosted Faces in your home. The goal is to increase the senior's visibility to potential families, create engaging marketing material through videos and photos, and enrich the Frosted Face’s life in a loving home environment.

Requirements:

  • You must be willing and able to bring the Frosted Face to Frosted Faces Foundation for scheduled medical and adoption appointments.

  • You will to provide at least 10 clear photos, 2 engaging videos, and complete a questionnaire about the Frosted Face at the conclusion of the Fling.

Short-Term Fosters: A Win for Shelter Dogs

Research shows that brief stays away from the shelter like our Frosted Fling program can benefit dogs without negatively impacting them. Short-term fosters provide a break from the shelter environment, helping dogs relax, socialize, and experience life in a home.

Learn more about the research:
Read the MDPI Study
Check out Maddie’s Fund Findings

MDPI Study: The Influence of Brief Outing and Temporary Fostering Programs on Shelter Dog Welfare

  • This study looked at a large sample of U.S. shelters and measured outcomes for dogs who experienced either short outings or temporary foster stays vs. those who stayed in the shelter the whole time.

  • For many dogs, even a short stay in a home, a night or two, reduced stress (as measured by behavior, rest patterns, physiology) compared with remaining in the shelter, where dogs typically rest and sleep less.

  • Dogs who had a foster stay or outing were much more likely to be adopted than those who did not: temporary fostering increased adoption likelihood significantly (in some cases 14× compared to shelter‑only dogs).

  • Participation in these programs was also associated with significantly lower risks of euthanasia or being transferred out compared with dogs staying in the shelter.

  • Importantly: while short-term interventions don’t “fix” every problem, they increase chances for a positive outcome (adoption or rescue) — which supports the idea that programs like short‑term fosters truly help senior and shelter dogs get a better shot at a forever home.

Bottom line from MDPI: Temporary fostering or brief home stays improve welfare in the short term and significantly increase the likelihood of adoption and live outcomes.

Maddie’s Fund Research: “Short‑Term Foster Sleepovers”

  • According to this research (and press summaries from shelters participating in sleep‑over/foster‑sleepover programs), a 1‑2 night stay in a home significantly reduces stress in shelter dogs and increases their rest, often improving behavior and overall well‑being.

  • These short-term fosters give dogs a much-needed break from the shelter environment, which is often stressful and unpredictable, allowing them to decompress, socialize, and show more of their true personality. This often helps them stand out to potential adopters.

  • While the data on long‑term outcomes (adoption, retention) is less plentiful than for temporary welfare measures, many shelters report that “sleepovers” improve adoptability, help dogs decompress, and may contribute to live outcomes.

Bottom line from Maddie’s Fund / Sleepover‑program data: Temporary stays/home sleeps significantly improve dog welfare short-term (less stress, more rest), which supports their mental and physical health and may increase their chances of adoption.