Animal Welfare Professionals

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

What are your policies with regards to when/if foster parents can allow your foster dogs to interact with other dogs (dog parks, day care, playgroups, etc)?

#FosterPrograms

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Following, as also interested :)  

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Would love to know as well!  

We do not allow foster dogs to attend dog parks or dog day care. We've learned there is far too much liability in dog parks and many dogs attending have no proof of vaccination. We try to prevent unnecessary bite quarantine whenever possible! They may enter homes with other dogs after completing dog-to-dog meets with our staff. We also offer to supervise meets with neighbor's or friend's dogs they would like their foster to interact with. 

------------------------------
Taylor Nickerson
Foster Rescue Coordinator
Queen Anne's County Animal Services
DE
------------------------------

Dog parks are prohibited due to the lack of temperament testing & risk of contagions.  For doggy day care or playgroups that are at a facility where dogs have vaccine & deworming requirements and temperament testing, they just need prior approval.  But assuming our dog is dog friendly, we will allow that.  We discourage interactions with dogs belonging to a foster's friends or neighbors.  If they would like their foster to have an opportunity to socialize with other dogs, we try to connect them with an experienced foster or volunteer who can help make sure it's all done safely.  The goal is to minimize liability - both with something happening to our dog and our dog causing an issue.

------------------------------
Kim Kay
------------------------------