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Foster

Foster

What is a Foster Home?

A foster home is one which provides a safe, temporary living situation for pets in our program while we help them find their forever home. The foster family provides accommodations, food, water, regular appropriate exercise, love and attention. The foster family will be able to share valuable information about the animal’s temperament, health and overall well being. Adoptions can take place directly from the foster home by an HPA! representative approved adopter or at an adoption event. The number of animals that we can save from the shelter depends entirely on the number of people who open up their homes and hearts to foster them.

Why Foster?

Every day we receive a list of animals, from the county shelter, who are at risk of being put to sleep in less than 24 hours. The only way that we can save these animals is with the help of foster homes. Young kittens and puppies need to stay in foster until they are old enough to be spayed and neutered, at which time they are ready for adoption.  Older pets who are ill or injured may need to stay in foster care until they are well enough for adoption.

Being a pet foster family has rewards that extend beyond helping an animal find a home. All of the animals in our program would have been put down at the county shelter without dedicated fosters. By fostering one of our animals, you are quite literally saving their life. Becoming a foster gives you the chance to experience having an animal companion without a lifetime commitment, or to try new companions for an existing pet.

What can I expect when I foster a HPA! animal?

Typically, when the animal is medically and behaviorally ready for adoption and proper marketing has been done (bio on websites and attending regular adoption events), it takes about 3 – 6 weeks for the pet to be adopted. Some pets need more time due to age, illness, injury or behavioral issues.

What are the responsibilities of being a Foster Family?

  • Provide a safe, clean, caring environment
  • Provide food, water, litter, toys/enrichment, and shelter
  • Provide exercise and socialization as appropriate
  • Monitor any medical and/or behavioral problems
  • Transport to/from any necessary vet appointments
  • Transport to/from offsite adoption events
  • In certain cases, especially for cats and bottle baby kittens, the foster pets require isolation from other animals in the home for 10-14 days or longer, if the foster pet is sick

FOSTER NOW

  • Contact Information

  • Pet Information

  • Home Information

  • If renting, please provide name and phone number of landlord:

  • HPA! needs foster homes to care for unweaned kittens This requires round-the-clock care as kittens need to be bottle-fed every couple of hours. We will provide training.

  • Agreement

  • By agreeing to foster in partnership with Houston Pets Alive!, I agree to the following:

    Pet's Health and Disposition
    Houston Pets Alive! Center cannot guarantee the health or disposition of any foster animal. We do not have past records for these animals and there are some risks associated with taking in foster animals. Family pets will be current on all shots and foster pets will be kept isolated from family pets, for a minimum of 7 (10-14 for cats), days for the protection of all animals. I agree to be fully responsible for the safety and well being of the foster pet. I will provide a safe, loving, humane environment with adequate food water and shelter at all times. I will not declaw, crop ears, or crop tail of fostered pet. I will adhere to all state and local animal laws and all foster animals will wear a collar with identification. I will promptly notify Houston Pets Alive! of any signs of illness, behavioral issues or concerns, an inability to continue to foster, if the pet become lost, and/or if the pets bites someone.

    Transfer of Animals
    Animals cannot be transferred to the custody of another person, shelter, humane society, SPCA, or other entity without prior consent and permission of Houston Pets Alive! I agree to not place this pet in another home without the written or verbal authorization from HPA, whether it be temporary or permanent.

    Return of Animals
    All the pets in the Houston Pets Alive! foster program are the property of Houston Pets Alive! and must be returned within 24 hours of request. I agree that I am fostering this pet for Houston Pets Alive! and that I do not have any right of ownership over my foster animal. I further agree that Houston Pets Alive’s! rights in and to my foster pet are superior to mine. I agree to provide the Authorized Representative, or his/her designate access to my home and property to check on my foster pet, at any time while I am in possession of my foster pet.

    Personal or Property Damage and/or Injury
    I agree that accidental animal bites or other injuries to humans and other animals do occur, and agree to hold harmless and indemnify, and protect Houston Pets Alive! from any claim or suit filed by someone as a result of such incident.

    Volunteer:
    I have been provided and will abide by the mission, rules, regulations, policies and programs of HPA! while I am a volunteer. I understand and agree that all services performed by me will be performed on a strictly voluntary basis, and that I will receive no remuneration, pay or compensation of any kind. I understand and agree that I will not be an employee of HPA! and will not receive any benefits normally available to employees of HPA!. I understand and agree that HPA! shall incur no liability of any nature as result of my volunteering for HPA!. I assume all risks of loss or injury, including death to myself or damage to my property while on the property of HPA! and elsewhere, while participating in the volunteer program.I agree to be supervised by an HPA! Manager or designee and will work as a team member with all volunteers. I will treat all animals, other volunteers, and the general public with dignity and respect. I have accurately and truthfully completed this Foster Application and Agreement.

    In addition, Houston Pets Alive! will not be responsible if animal should damage or destroy property belonging to Foster Caregiver, Foster Caregiver household, or others, or if the animal shall transfer any disease, internal or external parasites to other animals and people in Foster Caregivers household.

    I understand that if I am approved for fostering, this declaration represents a legal contract between me as the foster home caregiver and Houston Pets Alive!. I understand that if I am approved to foster an animal, I must abide by this agreement and that this agreement applies to any and all animals that I foster with Houston Pets Alive!

    Accuracy of Information By signing below, I acknowledge that the information provided on this application is correct to the best of my knowledge. If at any time the information I have provided changes, I will provide the updated information to the Houston Pets Alive! Foster Care Program.
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