Screen Before Fostering or Adopting

 

You’re screened for adopting and fostering aren’t you?  You have a right to ask questions too – PRINT OUT these FORMS and use them.  There is no charge for this service.  My reasons for making these forms available are made public on http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyfg4f/kittycatfosterpitfalls

 

Paper trails prevent “misunderstandings” or denying that a promise was made.  Signed paper holds up better than words that fade into the very air moments after being spoken.  Promises are made to be broken.   A picture is worth a thousand words – yes, keep pictures too!

 

  1. Please do your homework before fostering (especially from KittyKind & Marlene Kess who was convicted of animal abuse in NJ and is now adopting out kittens in Park Slope, Brooklyn)
  2. Read these forms and ask the questions that I’ve designed to protect you – policies are not something that should change depending on who is being recruited to foster or adopt..
  3. Be sure to get everything in writing and signed – oral promises do not hold up in court and are easily denied by the unscrupulous.

 

BE SURE TO GET THESE ANSWERS IN WRITING WITH A SIGNATURE FROM THE AGENCY’S FOSTER CARE COORDINATOR

 

  1. Length of foster care

 

                        FROM:_______________________________________

  

                        TO:__________________________________________                                                        

 

  1. Do they put a maximum on number pets per house hold
  2. If so, how many pets are too many?   
  3. How recently vaccinated and tested (get dates)

 

VACCINATED (and dates):  
            Rabies
            Upper Resp Vacc
            Other

 

            TESTED (and dates):

            FELK/FIV
            Other

 

            TEST RESULTS: (get dates)

                     

  1. Who is responsible for food & litter: 

 

 

Remember that you are doing this agency a FAVOR by providing a place for the cat to stay; by providing the necessary care and feeding the pet; monitoring for behavior and health issues and giving LOVE to the animal.  In some cases you are socializing the animal for this group who will adopt it out and collect an adoption fee plus grant money for “expenses” that they save on by fostering the pet out.         

You should not be obligated to pay for Food, Litter or Medical Costs.  They will also claim expenses to preserve their tax free status – if you spend money on the fostered animal get a letter from them for YOUR tax records.  Be sure it is dated and has the amount of money you are claiming – this line should not be left blank – it should be filled in with the correct amount.

 

 

  1. What kind of follow up will be done during the foster care period?

  

  1. Will someone deliver or pick up pet/provide carrier

  

  1. Will someone be in touch with me on a regular basis

  

  1. What vet do they use

 

EMERGENCY VET FEES

  

10.   What do they consider an emergency? Is this in agreement with what you consider an emergency?

  

11.   Who do I contact in case of an emergency (name)

  

12.   Is there a cell phone number to call in an emergency?

  

13.   What is the name/telephone number of your foster care coordinator?

 

14.   If there is an emergency and I cannot reach the contact listed above or the foster care coordinator are you prepared to reimburse me for emergency care?

 

 


15.   Does this pet currently have any contagious parasites (Fleas, Coccidia, worms, skin fungus or upper respiratory condition)

 

16.   Are there any other Medical conditions present with regard to this foster pet: (you’re giving them the opportunity to come clean with you about any other medical issues you don’t know about raising.)

 

TAKE HOME a copy of this cat’s medical files for the duration of the foster period (YOU MUST HAVE THIS IN CASE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CAT TO THE VET – THE VET WILL WANT TO KNOW THE CAT’S MEDICAL HISTORY)

 

Please protect yourselves and your household – incoming diseases and infections passed to you (ringworm) and your pets (upper respiratory etc) are usually not addressed by rescue groups.  In fact, see if their forms contain a clause protecting them from just this situation and decide if you really want to put yourself and your pets in this situation.

 

If they balk at answering your questions, signing forms or respecting your boundaries take it as a warning and RUN – don’t walk AWAY from this group.

Foster Care Form

 INFORMATION NEEDED ABOUT PET IN EVENT OF EMERGENCY CARE
A lot of this is YOUR Direct Observation at time of Foster/Adoption (Take a Picture and attach it to this file)

 

NAME OF PET

AGE OF PET AT TIME OF FOSTER

CHECK UP DONE BY:  (AGENCY/CLINIC)

 

 

 

FOOD PREFERENCES

 

 

 

CURRENTLY ON ANY MEDICATION

 

 

 

OTHER INSTRUCTIONS OR COMMENTS NECESSARY FOR CAT CARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL APPEARANCE OF CAT AT INTAKE

COAT

BONEY

COUGHING

OTHER

 

 

 

 

 

Name of Agency

Signature and Title of
Responsible Representative

 

 

 


For your records

1.      KEEP COPIES OF BILLS IN A NOTEBOOK – Never leave yourself without a copy:

2.      ANY Original BILLS HANDED OVER CAN BE “LOST”

4.      SUBMIT BILLS REGULARLY AND REPEATEDLY – This is important in case you need to go to Court

 

Name:  ______________________________________________________

 

Address:  ____________________________________________________

                ____________________________________________________

Telephone number:  ___________________________________________

 

 

Name of pet:

Date of veterinary visit OR OF MEDICAL CARE GIVEN

 

 

 

 

 

Attending vet

 

 

 

 

 

Reason for visit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cost of visit

 

Agency for whom fostering

Signature of Person who authorized vet visit: