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Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

  • 1.  Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-13-2023 04:05 PM

    Hello all!

    This has come up a couple of times where I work now and would like to get some opinions. Does anyone have a minimum amount of time an animal must be in foster care before they are put up for adoption? We are a foster based organization and hold dog adoptions every Saturday and only on Saturday. For an example, if you took in a dog on Tuesday that was otherwise healthy, would you put them up for adoption that Saturday or wait a week and bring them the following Saturday? I would also like to know why you would adopt them that week or hold them for the next.

    Thank you!


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
    #FosterPrograms

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    Nicole Ryan
    Operations Manager
    Las Vegas Valley Humane Society
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  • 2.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-13-2023 04:58 PM

    We hold cats and kittens at least 2 weeks due to panleukopenia. We've thought about reducing, but it'd be a nightmare for everyone if we adopted a kitty out that came down with panleukopenia after. 



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    Sharyn Berg
    Animal Allies Florida
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  • 3.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-13-2023 08:28 PM

    We generally have a minimum of 2 weeks (we are completely fostered based and 99% dog intake, mostly from commercial breeders and transfers from rescue partners) Even with our puppies that are going out with a neuter/spay contract we have to get them into a vet for their rabies/well visit and they are usually booked out for at least 1 week, then by the time we post them for adoption, collect the responses and review, call references and complete vet checks, do a home visit and a meet and greet we are often at least 1 week after theyve been posted! 

    We feel its more important to at least have an idea of the pups ideal furever home is, and giving them less than 2 weeks to settle in to figure that out may give us the wrong impression as they may still be adjusting!



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    Shelby Rader
    Zoe's House Rescue
    Reading, PA
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  • 4.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-17-2023 06:12 AM

    We are revisiting our puppy protocol with an emphasis on socialization and behavioral health.   After the 2 week hold, what is the minimum age that puppies and kittens are available for adoption?   For puppies, do you require that litter mates  be kept together? 



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    Annette Agner
    Director of Operations
    Pet Haven
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  • 5.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-17-2023 06:17 AM

    If the puppies are at least 8 weeks they can be adopted after the two week hold once vetting is completed.  We never adopt litermates due to chances of litermate syndrome.



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    geri golonka
    Foster/Volunteer
    Tiny N Tall Rescue
    St. Charles, IL
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  • 6.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-17-2023 09:06 AM

    Thank you for the update.   I wasn't thinking about adopting littermates,  I was curious if you try to keep litter mates together in foster care.  Thanks for the feedback.  I appreciate it.



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    Annette Agner
    Director of Operations
    Pet Haven
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  • 7.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-17-2023 09:45 AM

    If we get puppies we try to have fosters at least take 2 if we get a liter, its not mandatory though.  



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    geri golonka
    Foster/Volunteer
    Tiny N Tall Rescue
    St. Charles, IL
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  • 8.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-20-2023 06:46 AM

    We try to keep them together for two sets of vax and then let go to other foster or foster to adopt



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    Sandy Cole
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  • 9.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-14-2023 06:32 AM

    We generally dont make anyone adoptable for 2 weeks, as long as they are already spayed/neutered, vaccinated etc.  If not they dont even get presented to the public until that is all done.  We also require a minimum 2 week fostering before qualifying to adopt.  Now, we are a special need rescue, so we do that because we want the adopter to live with that pet and get to know the care involved with special needs before committing. 



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    robyn feaganes
    Founder
    CH Lives Matter Rescue, Inc
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  • 10.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-14-2023 08:17 AM

    Our rescue has a 2 week minimum hold before adoption, however, if the dog is healthy and vetted (no puppies unless they have 2 rounds of shots) can attend events for people to see them, we do not adopt on site, this is only to see dogs since they are in foster homes.



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    geri golonka
    Foster/Volunteer
    Tiny N Tall Rescue
    St. Charles, IL
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  • 11.  RE: Length of Time in Foster Care Before Adoption

    Posted 02-15-2023 10:02 PM

    With all animals,   we believe in waiting at least 2 weeks in order to make assessments of behavior/health, and held as if quarantined to make sure all is good.  Safety for the animals AND preventing outbreaks is the key factor in this. There is several things that can be re-emerging from dormancy that show up due to change , stress or  other factors (for instance URI/giardia and other).  We personally do not believe in adopting out any unaltered animals and do the adoptions past the 2nd booster shots for the kittens and puppies.



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    Jody Beskin(i)
    President/Founder
    Dove Road Sanctuary and Safe Haven
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