Guidelines

The purpose of foster care is to allow a dog or cat to live in a home environment while awaiting permanent placement. A home environment is less stressful on the pet than a boarding facility or shelter. The role of the foster family is to evaluate and work with the pet to reincorporate him or her back into a home environment. The exposure the pet gets from being treated as “one of the family” (walks, outings, etc…) is critical to the pet and often speeds up the adoption process.

Our foster families are essential to the welfare and proper placement of abandoned or abused pets. NAC intends the foster experience to be enjoyable so we have developed the following guidelines to for foster families:

General Care

• The Foster Family must follow all relevant procedures and guidelines of NAC regarding the pet placed in the foster home and shall not make decisions or take actions regarding the pet’s veterinary care or placement without prior approval from a NAC Foster Care Coordinator.

• The Foster Family will provide the pet with humane care and maintain the pet in accordance with all current state, county and municipal laws and ordinances while the pet resides with the Foster Family.

• The Foster Family must provide the pet with adequate food, water, shelter, affection, socialization, exercise, and strive to increase the adoptability of the pet. If assistance with food is needed, NAC will provide food upon request. NAC will strive to assist with other necessary or requested items as available through donations.

• NAC will provide the following items to the Foster Family upon delivery of the Foster Pet(s) or within the same day: Collar, leash, NAC ID tag for dogs; special needs care items (e.g. medication, bottle feeding supplies for bottle-fed kittens, etc.); food; and cat litter, if requested.

Foster Home

• For the protection of the pets in the Foster Family home, Foster Families are required to ensure that all of its pets are current on their vaccinations (including, and without limitation: bordatella, parvo, corona, rabies, and distemper) prior to bringing the Foster Pet into the Foster Home.

• The Foster Home must be “pet friendly” and free from conditions dangerous to pets. Most dogs will require a secure, fenced yard and must be allowed inside to be part of the family. Kittens, mothers and kittens, and special needs animals may require a place to be separate from other animals where they can feel relaxed and secure. The Foster Program Coordinator will determine any specific requirements for the Foster Pet.

Reimbursement Policy

• NAC will provide the Foster Family with dog and cat food and cat litter upon request. Foster Families may alternatively choose to provide these items at their expense as a tax-deductible gift to NAC. Foster Families agree to provide other care items (e.g. toys, treats, shampoo, litter boxes, bedding, etc.) and may receive a tax-deduction for these expenses.

• NAC will reimburse the Foster Family for PRE-APPROVED expenses within 30 days of the request. The request must be accompanied by a receipt.

Medical Care

• The Foster Family agrees to provide the pet with medical assistance as determined and pre-approved by NAC. The veterinarians working with NAC (“NAC clinic”) bill NAC directly for approved medical services provided to our pets. In the event the Foster Family expends funds for pre-approved veterinary care, NAC will reimburse the Foster Family in accordance with the Reimbursement Policy. NAC cannot reimburse for medical expenses that were not pre-approved by the NAC Foster Care Coordinator or person designated by the NAC Foster Care Coordinator.

• Life-threatening emergency: If an animal in foster care receives an injury or illness that requires immediate medical treatment and the Foster Family is unable to reach the Foster Care Coordinator, or any alternate person designated to assist in such an emergency, NAC will reimburse for emergency care at a pre-approved NAC clinic to the extent reasonably necessary to stabilize the animal until approval for further treatment may be obtained and to the extent funds are available. NAC will determine if the services received prior to the approval meet the reasonably necessary criteria.

• NAC will provide any necessary and pre-approved medication or reimburse the Foster Family for the cost of medical expense in accordance with the Reimbursement Policy.

• NAC will provide vaccines to the foster pet as soon as practicable after the animal has entered the NAC Foster Program. Cats receive their vaccines at the NAC vaccine clinic held Friday nights; dogs will receive their vaccines at a NAC clinic designated by the Foster Care Coordinator.

Replacement

• The Foster Pet is and shall remain the property of NAC and may be removed by NAC from the Foster Family at any time and without prior notice.

• If the pet cannot be kept by the Foster Family, the Foster Family shall notify NAC immediately. The pet SHALL NOT BE SOLD, ABANDONED, RELINQUISHED TO A SHELTER OR POUND OR ANY THIRD PARTY WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF NAC.

Adoption

• The Foster Family agrees to assist NAC in providing reasonable opportunities for the foster animals to meet potential adoptive families (e.g., transport to and from a mobile adoption; allow access to the animals, provide details regarding the pet’s likes, dislikes, personality, etc. for the online pet biography).

• The Foster Family agrees to be courteous, helpful and honest to potential adopters and to fully cooperate in accommodating those who wish to see the pet.

• The Foster Family may take applications for adoption of a pet. However, NAC reserves the right to review all Adoption Applications and determine the appropriate placement for the animal. The Foster Family may not relinquish the pet to a potential adopter unless the Foster Family receives prior written approval from the NAC Foster Coordinator. The Foster Coordinator will act on behalf of NAC in contracting with the chosen adoptive placement and receive the required adoption fee.

• NAC will strive to find a permanent home for the Foster Pet through advertising on the NAC website and other available and appropriate internet forums (e.g. Craigslist, petfinder.com, etc.), NAC newsletters, and other communication materials, as well as through mobile adoption events, when suitable for the animal. If the Foster Family has the capability, NAC may ask the Foster Family to provide a digital photo of the pet for the websites. The NAC Foster Coordinator or the mobile adoption event coordinator will contact the Foster Family regarding adoption opportunities for the pet. The Foster Family may be asked to transport the pet to an event and will be asked to provide the Foster Pet Report Card with the pet for the event.

• Channel 2 “Pet of the Week” features NAC Foster Pets. If a Foster Pet is chosen by Channel 2, the Foster Care Coordinator will notify the family of the arrangements.

• In the event the Foster Family wishes to permanently adopt the pet, the Foster Family will receive a $15 discount on the regular required adoption fee. A NAC Adoption Application must be submitted and considered with any other Adoption Application for that pet. If the Foster Family is chosen as the Adoptive Family, an Adoption Contract must be entered into with NAC, accompanied with the required discounted adoption fee.

Authority

• The Foster Pet belongs to NAC and not to the Foster Family and all decisions regarding the care and placement of the Foster Pet are to be made solely on behalf of NAC by the Foster Care Coordinator or a NAC volunteer designated by the Foster Care Coordinator.

• All contact with NAC regarding your Foster Pet’(s) care, the general program, or interpretation of these Guidelines, shall be through the Foster Care Coordinator or a person specifically designated by the Foster Care Coordinator. NAC will not be responsible for any action approved by someone other than the Foster Care Coordinator or a person designated by the Foster Care Coordinator.

• The Foster Care Coordinator may exercise discretion in implementing these Guidelines as necessary to serve the needs of a Foster Pet.

Thank you for helping us Make a Difference for Animals Today!