800.01 foster care program

1. Number: 800.01
SUBJECT: FOSTER CARE PROGRAM Page: 1
Date: 11/20/97
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/27/11
I. PURPOSE
To establish a uniform procedure for inventory control of fostered animals from OC
Animal Care.
II. POLICY
Foster caretakers shall be responsible for providing care, food, and housing for the
animals in their care. OC Animal Care shall provide medical care to animals housed in
foster homes. OC Animal Care shall not be responsible for any fees incurred by the foster
caretaker.
III. SCOPE
Applicable to all approved foster care program participants.
IV. FORMS
Foster Care Application
Foster Care Agreement
Foster Care Receipt
V. REFERENCES
Updating Foster Records Instruction Sheet
Foster Caretaker Orientation Manuel
Foster Inventory Chameleon Report
Animals Needing Fostering Chameleon Report
VI. DEFINITIONS
Foster Caretaker – any person approved to participate in the foster care program.
Orphan – puppies and kittens that are impounded by OC Animal Care without their
mother and are under the age of eight (8) weeks or under two (2) pounds.
Litter – puppies and kittens that are impounded by OC Animal Care with their mother,
but are not yet old enough to be weaned.

2. Number: 800.01
SUBJECT: FOSTER CARE PROGRAM Page: 2
Date: 11/20/97
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/27/11
Unsocialized– Animals that have potential to be good adoption candidates with further
socialization and interaction with people.
Treatable medical condition – animals that have conditions that are not contagious to
people and can be cured with reasonable treatment.
VII. PROCEDURE
A. Program Eligibility
Individuals or entities who wish to participate in the program must complete the
following steps to be recognized as a foster caretaker.
1. Public
a. Complete the Foster Care Application and receive approval by the
Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Coordinator shall create a
“foster” memo under the foster caretaker’s Person ID indicating
that the individual has been designated as an “authorized foster
caretaker”. In addition, the Volunteer Coordinator shall create a
hard copy file, which will be located in the Foster Caretaker filing
drawer located in the COT office. The Volunteer Coordinator will
also create a new record in Volgistics and assign them as a foster
caretaker in Volgistics.
b. Complete the Foster Care Agreement and comply with all rules
and regulations.
c. Read and comply with the Foster Caretaker Orientation manual.
d. Foster caretakers shall receive 24 hours of service for each day of
fostering.
2. Veterinary Hospitals
Veterinary hospitals, clinics and other shelters that have requested
to participate in the Foster Care Program are eligible and must
complete and comply with the Foster Care Agreement. Those
entities wishing to spay/neuter and place animals are eligible for
the Adoption Partner Transfer Program.
3. Employees

3. Number: 800.01
SUBJECT: FOSTER CARE PROGRAM Page: 3
Date: 11/20/97
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/27/11
a. Complete the Foster Care Application, including personal contact
information and receive approval by the Volunteer Coordinator.
The Volunteer Coordinator shall create a “foster” memo under the
foster Caretaker’s Person ID indicating that the individual has been
designated as an “authorized foster caretaker”. In addition, the
Volunteer Coordinator shall create a hard copy file, which will be
located in the Foster Caretaker filing drawer located in the COT
office. The Volunteer Coordinator will also create a new record in
Volgistics and assign them as a foster caretaker in Volgistics. The
Volunteer Coordinator will also ensure that they are listed as Staff
in Volgistics.
b. Read and comply with the Foster Caretaker Orientation manual.
c. Complete the Foster Care Agreement and comply with all rules
and regulations.
4. Eligible Animals
OC Animal Care Veterinary staff shall determine which animals to be
foster candidates. The animal(s) shall fall within the category of Orphan,
Litter, Unsocialized or Treatable Medical Condition to be eligible to
participate in the program.
B. Placing Foster Animals
1. The Volunteer Coordinator shall run the Animals Needing Fostering
Chameleon Report on a daily basis to determine which animals have been
selected as foster candidates.
2. The Volunteer Coordinator shall notify all registered Foster Caretakers by
email that there are animals available to foster. This can be done by
pulling an Excel spreadsheet of Foster Caretaker names and email
addresses through Volgistics.
3. The Volunteer Coordinator shall respond to interested Foster Caretakers
and make pickup arrangements for the foster animal(s).
4. If the Foster Caretaker agrees to foster the animal(s):
a. The foster caretaker must be able to pick up the animal(s) by the
deadline given by the Veterinary or COT staff.

4. Number: 800.01
SUBJECT: FOSTER CARE PROGRAM Page: 4
Date: 11/20/97
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/27/11
b. Based on the animal’s needs, the Veterinary staff shall examine,
treat and vaccinate the animal(s) prior to release to the Foster
Caretaker.
c. The Foster Caretaker must agree to administer any medication(s)
prescribed for the animal(s).
d. The Foster Caretaker shall agree to return the animal(s) once OC
Animal Care has deemed the animal(s) adoptable.
C. Updating Records
The Chameleon Kennel Window shall be updated by COT once an animal has
been placed with a Foster Caretaker and when an animal is returned by a Foster
Caretaker. For detailed instructions on updating the Chameleon Kennel Window,
please refer to the Updating Foster Records Instruction Sheet.
D. Foster Inventory
The Volunteer Coordinator shall review the Foster Inventory Report in
Chameleon on a weekly basis to verify that all information is current and that all
animals are accounted for. If necessary, the Volunteer Coordinator will contact a
Foster Caretaker if they have not returned the animal(s) by the required due date.