Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi Everyone,
One program I am very proud of that my shelter offers is our temporary care program. This program is invaluable to our community because it makes it possible for those in need of a temporary place for their fur baby to have during difficult transitions in their life. Without this program, our cats may be abandoned or re-homed to a potentially less suitable owner. The question I have for the group is if anyone else offers this type of program and if so, how you go about spreading awareness of the program. For my part, I wouldn't be familiar with our program unless I visited the shelter and heard about it there. We also have an e-newsletter but that goes to folks who have signed up for it and are already familiar with our shelter. Any feedback is welcome!

Thanks in advance,
-Erin

#PetSupportServices*

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Erin Ellebracht
Volunteer
Cat Care Society
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That is great news! Sadly more shelters/rescues offering this type of help is needed.

We promote it on our website as well as talk to other county agencies that may be able to refer people. Not sure if you're referring to the same type of program. We provide temporary care of owned pets while their owners are unable to care for their pet(s) due to illness, homelessness, or other emergencies. One of the requirements is that they are working with another agencies. We get a lot of referrals by the case manager or social worker who is working with the individual/family.

I'm not sure what the requirements are for temporary care, I would suggest reaching out to the programs where the humans would be seeking help and letting them know that you are starting this great program. If you don't already have a relationship with the local shelter/animal control I would also recommend reaching out to them. Many go to the shelter to surrender their pet but would prefer to keep them if they knew they had an option like your program. 

If it helps we have a lot of the information on our website: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/Ownerresources/Safekeep.html

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Jen Basinger
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center
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Hi Jen, I am the director of a community organization that provides assistance for owned pets as well. We do not yet have a temporary foster program in operation. My question to you- Have you experienced cases where pet owners do not return for their pets and if so, how often does this happen and what measures does your org. have in place for abandoned pets?  Thank You.

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Stacey Lyon
Director
Paw Street Inc.
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-16-2023 06:20 AM
From: Jen Basinger
Subject: Temporary Care Program Awareness

That is great news! Sadly more shelters/rescues offering this type of help is needed.

We promote it on our website as well as talk to other county agencies that may be able to refer people. Not sure if you're referring to the same type of program. We provide temporary care of owned pets while their owners are unable to care for their pet(s) due to illness, homelessness, or other emergencies. One of the requirements is that they are working with another agencies. We get a lot of referrals by the case manager or social worker who is working with the individual/family.

I'm not sure what the requirements are for temporary care, I would suggest reaching out to the programs where the humans would be seeking help and letting them know that you are starting this great program. If you don't already have a relationship with the local shelter/animal control I would also recommend reaching out to them. Many go to the shelter to surrender their pet but would prefer to keep them if they knew they had an option like your program. 

If it helps we have a lot of the information on our website: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/Ownerresources/Safekeep.html

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Jen Basinger
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center
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Hi there!
This does happen sometimes, and that's when we are able to send them through our regular adoption process:)

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Erin Ellebracht
Volunteer
Cat Care Society
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2023 08:09 AM
From: Stacey Lyon
Subject: Temporary Care Program Awareness

Hi Jen, I am the director of a community organization that provides assistance for owned pets as well. We do not yet have a temporary foster program in operation. My question to you- Have you experienced cases where pet owners do not return for their pets and if so, how often does this happen and what measures does your org. have in place for abandoned pets?  Thank You.

------------------------------
Stacey Lyon
Director
Paw Street Inc.
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 04-16-2023 06:20 AM
From: Jen Basinger
Subject: Temporary Care Program Awareness

That is great news! Sadly more shelters/rescues offering this type of help is needed.

We promote it on our website as well as talk to other county agencies that may be able to refer people. Not sure if you're referring to the same type of program. We provide temporary care of owned pets while their owners are unable to care for their pet(s) due to illness, homelessness, or other emergencies. One of the requirements is that they are working with another agencies. We get a lot of referrals by the case manager or social worker who is working with the individual/family.

I'm not sure what the requirements are for temporary care, I would suggest reaching out to the programs where the humans would be seeking help and letting them know that you are starting this great program. If you don't already have a relationship with the local shelter/animal control I would also recommend reaching out to them. Many go to the shelter to surrender their pet but would prefer to keep them if they knew they had an option like your program. 

If it helps we have a lot of the information on our website: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/Ownerresources/Safekeep.html

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Jen Basinger
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center

This sounds like a much-needed program.  How do you handle getting reimbursed for any medical procedures that might be necessary while the animals is staying with you?  How long do you allow people to keep people at your shelter?  Thanks.

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Joseph Labriola
Executive Director
PAWS Atlanta
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We don't get reimbursed for medical. We also offer to spay/neuter the animals (dogs and cats) free of charge while in the program.

They can stay a maximum of 90 days if they continue working with a Montgomery County social worker, case manager, or allied agency.

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Jen Basinger
Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-16-2023 06:22 AM
From: Joseph Labriola
Subject: Temporary Care Program Awareness

This sounds like a much-needed program.  How do you handle getting reimbursed for any medical procedures that might be necessary while the animals is staying with you?  How long do you allow people to keep people at your shelter?  Thanks.

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Joseph Labriola
Executive Director
PAWS Atlanta
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Hi there,
we rely on donations to cover the cost of any medical needed. We let them stay as long as they need. If it becomes clear that the owners will not be able to take them back, we work with the owners to rehome the animal:)

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Erin Ellebracht
Volunteer
Cat Care Society
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-16-2023 06:22 AM
From: Joseph Labriola
Subject: Temporary Care Program Awareness

This sounds like a much-needed program.  How do you handle getting reimbursed for any medical procedures that might be necessary while the animals is staying with you?  How long do you allow people to keep people at your shelter?  Thanks.

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Joseph Labriola
Executive Director
PAWS Atlanta
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We collaborate a lot with the local human service organizations working with a lot of the same clients we encounter. It allows for much smoother hand offs and referrals and we've been able to grow a lot by word of mouth through those orgs. 

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Josh Fiala
Animal Rescue League of Iowa
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Thanks Josh! This makes a lot of sense!

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Erin Ellebracht
Volunteer
Cat Care Society
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2023 07:51 AM
From: Josh Fiala
Subject: Temporary Care Program Awareness

We collaborate a lot with the local human service organizations working with a lot of the same clients we encounter. It allows for much smoother hand offs and referrals and we've been able to grow a lot by word of mouth through those orgs. 

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Josh Fiala
Animal Rescue League of Iowa
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