Hi Casey,
I've included the link to our website with some resources for you to look at;
HSTT. We are a smaller facility but operate a fairly large foster program. We contract with a municipal agency and share a facility with them, so we are an open-admission shelter. With that said, we also transfer a number of pets in from other shelters that are under-resourced, underfunded, and overcrowded and our foster program is how we are able to accomplish that. We also have a live release rate of 99% on average and our foster program plays a huge part in that as well. I think the biggest reason a foster program is usually needed in most shelters is to keep the population manageable and euthanasia numbers low. Foster programs also lead to adoptions (failed fosters :)), which is such a great bonus!
Here's a link to the library resources available through Maddies;
foster program resources.
There is also HASS foster Job-Alike group that you can join for presentations and webinars. Here's the link for registration,
HASS Foster Job-Alike.
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Erin Ellis
Community Engagement Director
Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe
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Foster Program & Volunteer Management Specialist
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-02-2022 09:52 AM
From: Casey AllisonFlowers
Subject: How to start the Foster Programs
Good day; I am looking to start Cat/ Dog foster care programs with our shelter. Our shelter was a pound or kill kennel up until four months ago. Our shelter is tiny. I am a one-person operation and part-time. We have 6 dog kennels. We fill up fast and tend to stay at capacity. Our shelter cannot hold cats. So all cats that come in are adopted, sent to a rescue, or euthanized within 4 hours of arrival time. I believe Foster Programs could do fantastic things for the community and help so many more animals. I do not know where to start or what it takes to operate the foster program.
Any suggestions on how to approach my supervisor on why this is a needed service and good for the City? The pound has always been a money pit for them. No one has ever seen it as a positive or the potential it could have for the community.
#FosterPrograms
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Casey AllisonFlowers
Animal Welfare Officer
City of Lexington
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