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  • 1.  Foster to Adopt logistics

    Posted 04-28-2023 11:16 AM

    If your org has a Foster-to-Adopt program that you think runs smoothly, I have a few questions:
    1. How much time does the foster have to decide whether they want to adopt?
    2. What is the foster pet's status while they are in Foster to Adopt?
    2a. Does this ensure they do not show online so that the foster doesn't receive adoption inquiries during their trial period?
    3. Do you waive adoption fees for Foster-to-Adopt?
    3a. Do you waive adoption fees for other types of foster?

    Thanks!


    #FosterPrograms

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    Katie Pemberton (she/her)
    Marketing & Communications Supervisor
    Memphis Animal Services
    katie.pemberton@memphistn.gov
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  • 2.  RE: Foster to Adopt logistics

    Posted 04-28-2023 11:56 AM

    Hi,

    We charge full adoption fee for foster to adopt because we had twice problems of getting the fee from FTA that kept the dog. 
    $100 are nonrefundable.
    They have up to 10 days to decide. 
    If they decide not to adopt we refund less the 100.
    Repost the dog
    They foster the dog until new foster or adopter found 



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    Tammy Fabian
    Executive Director
    Friends For Life Animal Rescue
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Foster to Adopt logistics

    Posted 04-29-2023 03:58 AM

    I wouldn't say ours runs smoothly, we tried having it for the general public, but it was very time-consuming to train someone to be a foster for them to only foster one dog. But they were still responsible for vet visits, assessments, etc. Now we pretty much do this only for current fosters. We did allow up to a month for the decision. In our software, AnimalsFirst, we created a status of Foster-to-Adopt, which removed the animal from the website and PetFinder and Adopt-A-Pet feeds. If the Foster decided against adopting, we changed the status to Available, and they are immediately on the website and feeds. We did not waive fees, as the transportation and vetting costs are the same to the organization.



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    Linda Lea
    Big Bones Canine Rescue
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Foster to Adopt logistics

    Posted 04-29-2023 04:24 AM

    Any animal on our adoption floor for at least 10 days is eligible to go home as a foster to adopt. We will do it earlier for our behavior and medical dogs and on case by cases basis based on manager approval. 

    The time frame is 2 weeks up to 4 weeks or longer for those behavior and medical dogs.  Our adoption coordinator follows up at 24 hours in the home, 72 hours, and every three days after. 

    We mark these animals as foster to adopt which removes them from our website. When they adopt, we do it all over the phone and the fee is not waived specifically for foster to adopt. 

    We haven't had a foster for missing with any of our animals. I attribute that to our counseling before the animal leaves and the immediate follow up we do. 

    For fosters in our program who work through our foster team, they get one free adoption a year just like our staff. However, we have a great group of fosters and I can't recall the last time anyone actually adopted. It's a first for me! 



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    Stephanie Lewis
    Behavior Manager
    Humane Society Naples
    Naples
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Foster to Adopt logistics

    Posted 04-29-2023 08:24 AM

    We're a small cat rescue group. This is what I've been doing. 

    For people that find cats and want our help vetting them that foster to adopt, we don't list them for adoption and we do charge them the vetting. 

    For people that answer our pleas for fosters and help us get cats.off the streets and help get their preventatives done, we don't list them for adoption either and we waive the adoption fee. 

    We do also offer two week trial adoptions for anyone wanting to adopt to make sure it's a good fit and reduce our return rate. The full adoption fee is due after two weeks if they decide to finalize. 

    So far this has worked pretty well for us 



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    Amanda Gray
    Truly All Cats Trapping and Rescue
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Foster to Adopt logistics

    Posted 05-01-2023 08:06 AM

    Hiya!  Nonprofit shelter here, in Houston, TX.  We have had 100% success rate with our FTA program.  We started it several months ago.  Here are some of our SOPs....

    The animal must meet the following qualifications to be considered for the program:

    • Only cats and dogs are eligible.

    • The animal must be over 4 months of age.

    • The animal must be fully vaccinated, altered, and microchipped.

    • Only animals that have been available for adoption at the shelter for longer than 3 weeks are eligible.

    Foster to Adopt Policies

    • Participants are only allowed to Foster to Adopt up to 3 animals per year, regardless if the animals are a mixture of both cats and dogs or only one species. The year will renew on the date they took home their first Foster to Adopt animal.

    • Participants are only allowed to take home one animal at a time unless the animal chosen is clearly defined as part of a bonded pair. 

    • Participants are allowed to foster the animal for 72 hours, beginning the morning after the animal has been picked up from CAP, to determine if the animal is the right fit for them. They must return the animal to the shelter after the alloted 72 hours to either complete the adoption process or return the animal to be placed back up for adoption. 

    • If the participant decides they do not want to complete the adoption process, they must fill out a personality profile and email any pictures or videos they may have of the animal to Foster Care's email, fostercare@cap4pets.org. They also must return the animal through foster care and not incoming. 

    • If the participant decides they would like to complete the adoption, they need to bring the animal back to the shelter for a final exam and to process the adoption.

    • All participants are required to pay a $25 processing fee that must be paid before the animal is released to them. The fee is non-refundable and cannot be credited toward the adoption fee of an animal .


    Let me know if you want additional info.  This is only the beginning of the policy.  Email me at smercado@cap4pets.org.



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    Sandi Mercado
    Shelter or rescue director
    Citizens for Animal Protection
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    Original Message


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