We are also a small foster-based rescue but in the south so this has always been an issue. I will say that the reasons for returns do seem to be getting more nitpicky. We literally had a dog returned for shedding and a cat returned for clawing the carpet, both recently.
I do second the idea of working on Pet Retention programs.
Also something we started last year was a Finder Foster program. People are constantly calling us to take stray dogs or surrender their own pets so we give them the option of agreeing to foster the animal for a set amount of time (was 90 days, we just moved it to 120) or until it gets adopted, whichever comes first. The animal still has to pass our behavioral and veterinary assessments but this has given some people the option to receive the help they need from us while helping us with the resource we lack most (fosters). There is a penalty where they have to reimburse us for boarding costs if they suddenly can't foster anymore. The contract puts a cap on that at $500 but it seems to have been an effective deterrent. The biggest issue we have had so far is from the Finder Fosters that change their minds and decide they want to keep the animal. We just changed the agreement to allow them to do this if they reimburse us for all veterinary costs, etc associated with an animal and it doesn't have all the same perks as a typical adoption (though we still demand the animal be sterilized if it isn't already).
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Alexandra Mounger
Executive Director
Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals, Inc.
AR
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