FOSTER CARE
Our foster carers are much like child foster parents. They care for a homeless animal as if they were their own until they are adopted. The animal is able to get more individualised care in someone's home and it also gives them better socialization skills, which makes them a more well-adjusted companion.
What do foster carers do?
When your foster animal arrives we often know very little about them. For the most part the animals that come into our care have few or no real issues. They usually just lack training and have some pent up anxiety from being in a pound environment. Occasionally we take in dogs with some behavioural issues. We often know about these issues before we take them in and place the dog appropriately. There are also behaviour problems on arrival that settle within a few weeks. These behaviours can be barking, trying to escape or hyperactivity. We deal with these issues all the time and our carers have some great tips and tricks to share to help settle our foster dogs.
When we place dogs in care we do this in consultation with our carers and always try to place a suitable dog, depending on your lifestyle and circumstances. We never pressure carers to take dogs.
When the dog arrives into care we need to bath them, treat for fleas and worms and get any required vet work done. Pawsome Friends Inc. regularly receives donations of flea and worm treatments so we can often provide these to our carers. Dogs are desexed, microchipped and vaccinated as early as possible once they arrive into care. We have several preferred vets that we use for this and Mel will coordinate all appointments.
We occasionally receive donations of food and can provide this to carers when available. If not available we ask our carers to supply the food for the dog. Apart from this all we ask is for our carers to keep their foster dog safe, healthy and cared for.
When the dog arrives into care we need to bath them, treat for fleas and worms and get any required vet work done. Pawsome Friends Inc. regularly receives donations of flea and worm treatments so we can often provide these to our carers. Dogs are desexed, microchipped and vaccinated as early as possible once they arrive into care. We have several preferred vets that we use for this and Mel will coordinate all appointments.
We occasionally receive donations of food and can provide this to carers when available. If not available we ask our carers to supply the food for the dog. Apart from this all we ask is for our carers to keep their foster dog safe, healthy and cared for.
When will my foster animal be ready for adoption?
Once the dog has been in care for two to three weeks we make them available for adoption. This two to three week period gives our carer a chance to get to know the animal in their care. We may ask our carers to provide us with some good quality photos of their foster animal along with a description of their personality and any issues they may have. We then use this information to advertise our foster animals on the Pet Rescue website and our Facebook page. At this stage some dogs are adopted out very quickly, usually within 2 weeks of first being advertised. Other dogs and cats can take longer and in this case we actively work with the carer to improve the animal’s chance of being adopted.
Who pays for veterinary care?
All necessary veterinary care is paid for by Pawsome Friends Inc. If a foster animal is ill or injured while in care vet visits must be approved by Mel prior to attending our preferred veterinary clinic. Pawsome Friends Inc.
Who provides me with support if needed?
We have a secret group on Facebook for our foster carers and volunteers. We use this group to share our foster stories, coordinate our rescue efforts and provide each other with support.
How long will I keep a foster animal?
It's impossible to predict how long an animal will remain in foster care. Some animals may take longer than others and in this case we actively work with the carer to improve the animal’s chance of being adopted. If, under any circumstances, you feel that you cannot continue fostering the animal we ask that you give Pawsome Friends Inc. at least two weeks notice to enable us to find another foster carer.
What if I get attached?
Getting attached to your foster animal is normal. After all, we do this because we love animals! The most common question, we as foster parents are asked, is how we can give them up? The answer is simple. It saves lives. It is hard to say goodbye to an animal we've fallen in love with but you get the satisfaction of helping a previously lost and unwanted animal find a loving forever home. That makes it all worth it. The trick is to get attached with Velcro and not glue. If you do decide that you can't give up an animal, foster carers can go through the adoption process and pay the adoption fee just like any other adoption applicant.
How do I become a foster carer?
If you live in Victoria and would like to come on board please complete the questionnaire below.