|
|
|
|
|
|
Available for Adoption
Adopted!
|
FOSTERING FOR HART Frequently Asked Questions - What kind of animals
is HART trying to place in foster homes: adult dogs, puppies, adult cats, or
kittens? HART is primarily looking
for foster homes for adult dogs and cats, although we do sometimes need foster
homes for puppies and kittens.
Fostering puppies and
kittens: We do not break up litters and the foster family must be
willing to bring the babies to adoption events every weekend. When puppies and kittens are so young and growing so fast,
even skipping a week can make a big difference in our
ability to find them adoptive homes.
If
you are very seriously considering keeping your foster, then sometimes we allow
foster-to-adopt situations, but with puppies or kittens, we only allow one week
for you to make that decision. - What is expected of
me as a Foster parent concerning adoption days? We encourage you to bring your foster to as many HART adoption days as possible, but you must bring him/her to at least two events each month. Without adoption day visibility, it would be almost impossible to locate permanent homes for the animals.
We ask that you bring your foster charge to the adoption day and
then stay with him to show him to potential applicants.
Your first-hand knowledge of your foster is an invaluable tool in helping
HART locate a successful placement.
Adoption days are usually held on Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays,
from 12 to 3 at one of our area pet stores. - How long should I
expect to have a Foster pet? The length of stay in
foster care varies. We try to leave
the animal in the same foster home until he/she is adopted, but if the foster
parent must relinquish him/her earlier, we can work with that. Our desire is for the foster parent to prepare the animal for
life in a "real" home. Some
of our dogs and cats have never had that experience. - If I go on vacation,
can I board my Foster pet with HART? HART will make every
effort to work with you when you must go out of town on business or vacation;
the key is planning ahead. Space in
facilities is not always available, so the situation is handled on a
case-by-case basis. Work with the
HART Foster Program Coordinator to see what arrangements can be made. - What if I find that
I am no longer able to foster? HART prefers that you
foster the dog or cat until we locate a permanent home, but if that is not
possible, we will work with you to meet your needs and find other accommodations
for the animal. - What happens if my
foster needs to go to the vet? Other than in cases of
extreme emergency, HART must approve vet visits, but HART pays for any approved
vet visits while the dog or cat is in foster care. - What if my foster
has not been spayed or neutered? If the animal is old
enough, you may be asked to have it spayed or neutered while under your care.
HART will pay the medical expenses. - If I have the foster
for a longer period of time, what do I do about monthly medications such as
heartworm preventative? HART will provide these
medications. Work with the Foster
Program Coordinator to learn how to obtain them. - If my Foster dog is
having behavioral issues, is there someone I can contact for guidance? Yes.
Initially, contact the HART Foster Program Coordinator.
She will provide you with assistance or refer you to an appropriate
resource. -
What do I do if I decide to keep my Foster dog permanently? If you are fostering with
the intent to adopt, please make sure HART is aware of it.
If you are fostering and later decide that you want to adopt, inform the
Foster Program Coordinator and she will work with you to initiate your adoption
request. Although it cannot be
guaranteed, HART makes every effort to allow foster families to adopt the foster
animals HART has entrusted in their care. Do I have any say in
who adopts my Foster dog? HART takes
the desires of the foster parent into consideration when placing animals into
new adoptive homes. While two board
members have to sign off on any adoption, the views of foster parents are given
great weight in placing the animal and especially in turning down a potential
adopter. HART wants the people who
know and love the animal best to be absolutely confident it is going to a good
home. - What if I have a
friend or neighbor who is interested in adopting my Foster dog?
Do they need to come to adoption day? They need to go through
the normal adoption process (application, interview, and homecheck) and
sometimes going to adoption day expedites that process.
HART will, of course, make every effort to take the foster parent’s
wishes for placement into consideration. Sometimes
it is possible to fill out an application via e-mail and/or have an interview
done over the telephone. - What if my Foster
dog gets lost? Follow the steps outlined
in “What to do if Your Pet is Lost.” This
document is available on the HART web site.
Also, immediately contact the HART Foster Program Coordinator.
|
| ||||||||
Memorials
Contact Information