Animal Welfare Professionals

Hello,

We have a temporary housing program which is used for people that are not looking to surrender their animal but need a place for the animal to stay temporarily. It's mainly used for domestic violence situations, temporarily homeless, fires, floods, etc... The program is intended to be for a maximum of 2 weeks, and we provide medical care (vaccines, preventatives,  spay/neuter, ). The problem is more often than not it turns into 3 or 4 weeks or they come back after a short period of time. It doesn’t seem to make a difference if we have them work through an agency or on their own.

Does anyone else run a program like this? Do you have any insights on how to make this run smoother? They do sign a contract stating that the animal must be picked up by an end date and time or the animal will be placed for adoption or humanely euthanized (although we have never euthanized an animal in this program).

#FosterPrograms

Our shelter also has this program, and to be honest, when dealing with people who are in a crisis mode, there is nothing the shelter can do to make it "smoother".  Some people handle crisis better than others, and for most it is an eye opening experience.   I know for me, I had a hard time understanding how long it can take to "get back on your feet". I've never been in that type of situation. After having some talks with clients in these situations, I found that services for them can move at a snails pace.      For some clients, its the first time they have gotten counseling for whatever crisis has befallen them and it's a lot to deal with, and their pet may have to move down the list of their priorities.   More than half of our emergency housing situation end up being more than the 10 days we offer.

 

#FosterPrograms

Surprisingly it's not the people who have had a flood or fire that are staying longer than the time allowed.

#FosterPrograms

A local group we work with who runs a successful program like this will only accept animals if there is a case worker assigned to that case. That may be a social worker, counselor, county services worker, or in one case a veterinarian who is managing a pet owner's return to a stable situation with the goal of the person reclaiming their pet. The program manager checks in frequently with the case worker on steps needed to get the animal home. 

#FosterPrograms

Our Temporary Care Program allows pet parents in crisis keep their pets at our shelter for up to 90 days. Often people say, wow, 90 days is a lot but really, 90 days can go by in the blink of an eye when you are dealing with any government agency. We very rarely offer extensions on the 90 days so the people using our program have to have a plan B in place. Every client must check in with us at least once a week via email, phone, or come into the shelter. If they are not following the rules we will send them a reminder and if they still don't contact us then we send them a 7 day notice. It's a great program when it works like it is supposed to but sadly some people never come back We are dealing with people who are in some pretty bad situations and sadly the pet is last on their long list of personal issues.

#FosterPrograms

Hi Tracey, I know this thread is from some time ago, but I'm looking for some guidance from other agencies. When you take these animals in for temporary housing, are you listing them on your shelter's monthly/annual reports? We currently log these animals as "service in" on Pet Point but we are unclear on whether or not we should really include them as an "intake". Thanks!

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Sarah Schertel
Training and Behavior Specialist
Little Traverse Bay Humane Society
MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-07-2018 06:10 AM
From: Tracey Varga
Subject: Temporary Housing

Our Temporary Care Program allows pet parents in crisis keep their pets at our shelter for up to 90 days. Often people say, wow, 90 days is a lot but really, 90 days can go by in the blink of an eye when you are dealing with any government agency. We very rarely offer extensions on the 90 days so the people using our program have to have a plan B in place. Every client must check in with us at least once a week via email, phone, or come into the shelter. If they are not following the rules we will send them a reminder and if they still don't contact us then we send them a 7 day notice. It's a great program when it works like it is supposed to but sadly some people never come back We are dealing with people who are in some pretty bad situations and sadly the pet is last on their long list of personal issues.

#FosterPrograms

We list them as intakes and when, and IF, their owners return we list them as returned to owner. Sadly, I'd say about 90% of the time they generally do not return to get their pets back or contact us and we grant multiple extensions only to have them surrender the animal about 5+ months. 

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Cheryl Koenig
Volunteer Executive Director
Sullivan County Humane Society
NH
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-03-2024 03:34 PM
From: Sarah Schertel
Subject: Temporary Housing

Hi Tracey, I know this thread is from some time ago, but I'm looking for some guidance from other agencies. When you take these animals in for temporary housing, are you listing them on your shelter's monthly/annual reports? We currently log these animals as "service in" on Pet Point but we are unclear on whether or not we should really include them as an "intake". Thanks!

------------------------------
Sarah Schertel
Training and Behavior Specialist
Little Traverse Bay Humane Society
MI

Original Message:
Sent: 07-07-2018 06:10 AM
From: Tracey Varga
Subject: Temporary Housing

Our Temporary Care Program allows pet parents in crisis keep their pets at our shelter for up to 90 days. Often people say, wow, 90 days is a lot but really, 90 days can go by in the blink of an eye when you are dealing with any government agency. We very rarely offer extensions on the 90 days so the people using our program have to have a plan B in place. Every client must check in with us at least once a week via email, phone, or come into the shelter. If they are not following the rules we will send them a reminder and if they still don't contact us then we send them a 7 day notice. It's a great program when it works like it is supposed to but sadly some people never come back We are dealing with people who are in some pretty bad situations and sadly the pet is last on their long list of personal issues.

#FosterPrograms

We have this same type of program. We only take in cats from emergency situations - like a fire, flood, or medical emergency. We also take in pets at the request of law enforcement when the owner is in jail/rehab. If we have room we can take in pets due to eviction/temporary housing issues. When the animals are brought into the shelter the owners are required to sign a contract stating that they have 30 days from the drop-off date to pick up their animals. If they don't, they agree that they become the shelter's property. We occasionally have people who have to go beyond the 30 days, and depending on the circumstances we may or may not charge them board after the 30 days are up. But the contract gives the owners more "motivation" to pick up their pets before the 30 day period, since they know up front that they've already signed away their rights to the pets if they don't pick them up in time.

#FosterPrograms

HI Samantha, I know this thread is from some time ago, but I'm looking for some guidance from other agencies. When you take these animals in for temporary housing, are you listing them on your shelter's monthly/annual reports? We currently log these animals as "service in" on Pet Point but we are unclear on whether or not we should really include them as an "intake". Thanks!

------------------------------
Sarah Schertel
Training and Behavior Specialist
Little Traverse Bay Humane Society
MI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-10-2018 10:27 AM
From: Samantha Maurice
Subject: Temporary Housing

We have this same type of program. We only take in cats from emergency situations - like a fire, flood, or medical emergency. We also take in pets at the request of law enforcement when the owner is in jail/rehab. If we have room we can take in pets due to eviction/temporary housing issues. When the animals are brought into the shelter the owners are required to sign a contract stating that they have 30 days from the drop-off date to pick up their animals. If they don't, they agree that they become the shelter's property. We occasionally have people who have to go beyond the 30 days, and depending on the circumstances we may or may not charge them board after the 30 days are up. But the contract gives the owners more "motivation" to pick up their pets before the 30 day period, since they know up front that they've already signed away their rights to the pets if they don't pick them up in time.

#FosterPrograms