Animal Welfare Professionals

Advice needed! I have recently pitched the Idea of a local business foster program in my town. The Idea is business owners would come to our shelter at any point in the day starting at 9am, bring a pre-screened adoption ready dog to their shop for a few hours, or the whole day, but no later than 4:30, as we close at 5. I did not want to discourage anyone from participating if they could not provide transportation during these hours. For example, if they manned their shop alone, and they close at 5:30. I suggested we reach out to our volunteer network who could help with transportation, as our town is small and getting anywhere never takes more than ten minutes.

My plan was to automate things with a google form sign up sheet asking them to give us a date and time they wanted to foster, and tell us whether or not they would need help with transportation.

My administration immediately told me that it sounded too complicated and they were worried that dogs would end up not getting picked up, and stranded there after shelter hours.

Does anyone have any good examples of where something like this has already been successful? How can I help to ease their minds and convince them any extra work would be worth it?

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Have thought of this myself especially with regard to fostering cats.  I haven't discussed it yet with my local shelter staff.  I would suggest we use real life examples where this is already being done( working cats programs) in order to present it to potential business fosters.  Since I don't have any specific examples to share, can't give you better advice.

I have done this for 2 years now with my Town Clerk's Office. I bring kittens or a cat to them every morning M-F . On occasion I will pick up at the end of the day but for the most part one of them will bring the kittens back to the shelter. They also have a sign on the door to their office stating that they are helping to socialize kittens for Animal Control and if anyone has an allergy they will come out to help them. They always have people popping their heads in looking to see if there are any cats or kittens in their office 

I haven't seen a program with businesses that includes help with transport, but maybe it would ease their minds if you tried a really small pilot-- say, 2-3 dogs at businesses that are near one another, and got a volunteer scheduled to do pick up and drop off one day a week. Asheville Humane Society has a great business fostering program: https://www.ashevillehumane.org/business-ambassadors

Love the idea!

Agree with KD.

Do a pilot/trial.

Do everything in your being to ensure its success. Many will agree to small scale tests and will then not argue with proven success.

Good luck!

Susan Murphy