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  • 1.  In the current economic climate, how do you entice people to foster

    Posted 09-05-2024 02:46 PM

    We are a new rescue organization; we currently have a limited number of fosters in a small rural community. we currently offer Food and supplies, vet care and transportation to and from vet visits. not sure what else we can offer or maybe a different way to recruit. what are others doing?

    Thank you

    Jack Cassady


    #FosterPrograms

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    Jack Cassady
    Marketing Director
    Cass County Animal Rescue
    IL
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  • 2.  RE: In the current economic climate, how do you entice people to foster

    Posted 09-06-2024 04:35 AM

    We are facing the same things. We are a govt shelter (dog only) so recently I reached out to another local nonprofit who  takes care of the cats in our area and asked them if we could work together sharing foster lists. 
    Something else we have done recently is when people are interested in a certain dog but then seem on the fence,  we ask if they would like to take them home for a "trial" and then discuss fostering. Make sure you know what length of time they're comfortable with, such as a weekend, a week, two, etc. People feel less pressure when they know there is an end date.
    When I first started fostering, I only took dogs who just needed a brief place to land before leaving for rescue, adoption, etc.  It was easier for me to commit to a weekend or a few days during a week (physically and mentally) and then with time I started doing medical, long term, palliative, etc.



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    Devon Avery
    Head Volunteer
    Hart County Animal Shelter
    KY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: In the current economic climate, how do you entice people to foster

    Posted 09-06-2024 06:22 AM

    I think you have a great list of things you cover for fosters! I don't have many suggestions but a couple other things we include: 

    • Volunteer hour credit for fostering (we get a lot of requests from families whose kids need hours for school, scouts, etc.) I just give them 1 hour of volunteer credit per day fostering (but you can of course adjust that)!
    • LOTS of reminders that fosters get "first dibs" to adopt, and same for their friends and family who might be interested. The friends and family still do our normal adoption process. I'd say about 50% of our puppy fosters have adopters lined up before they have a chance to be posted online as Available. 
    • My current facility doesn't do this, but a previous one I worked at had discounted or waived adoption fees for fosters who decide to adopt! 


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    Erin Dams
    Community Relations Coordinator
    Roanoke Valley SPCA
    Roanoke VA
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    Original Message


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