This is a hard one because we're always begging for foster families. It sucks when we have to tell someone no.
Our denial is very generic, which is know is not too helpful for the applicant. However, we have two other Bulldog rescue groups in the same region. We've learned that if we tell an applicant exactly why they've been denied, they go to the next Bulldog group and lie about that particular element. For instance, if we deny an applicant for a crappy vet check, they'll apply with another rescue group and claim they don't have a pet.
Now that I write that..... maybe I shouldn't worry as much about the other group. It's really on them to determine an applicant's integrity. Oy. Again, I struggle with this one.
Here's our denial template:
"Thank you for your interest in fostering a Bulldog, but we have determined that we cannot proceed with your application at this time.
Some of the things that we take into consideration are Bulldog experience, previous pet experience and care, other animals in the home, small children, stability of the home environment, vet history and so on.
Our first responsibility is to our dogs. Many of them have had hard lives up to this point, and we need to ensure that they will have homes best suited for them.
There are other Bulldog rescue groups you may want to research for fostering, including two in the Metroplex. Each group has its own approval criteria."
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Deirdre Jack
Lone Star Bulldog Club Rescue
dfwbulldogrescue.org
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2024 10:23 AM
From: Tessha Winsch
Subject: How to politely decline a foster applicant
Does any one have a template for declining a foster applicant handy?
We have a foster applicant that per another partner organization has a history of giving away foster pets and harassing adopters. Just looking for a good way to decline that we can add to our tool kit for this situation and future times. It happens so rarely, we haven't a good template yet.
#FosterPrograms
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Tessha Winsch
Cheyenne Animal Shelter
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