TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Animal fostering is the providing of custodial care of an animal that belongs to another. All our foster animals are the property of the organisation and have been surrendered to the organisation either by owner, surrender, custodial transfer, or through the legal transfer of custody of the animal from a jurisdiction’s animal shelter to the organisation.

In all cases, animals fostered by Volunteer Foster Custodians of the rescuer/organisation remain the property of the rescuer/organisation throughout the duration of the fostering process, until the fostered animal is either adopted to a third party, adopted permanently by the VFC, or transferred by the rescuer/organisation to the custody of another rescue organisation.

A foster home is defined as temporary housing for any animal(s) within the rescuer/organisation’s custody, while it is recovering, maturing, and/or being screened and approved for permanent adoption. As the Volunteer Foster Caregiver, you represent that you have reasonable knowledge regarding the proper care and handling of the type of animal(s) you will be assigned by the rescuer/organisation to care for while in foster care.

REGARDING QUALITY OF CARE:

1. Foster agrees to care for the foster animal as if it is their own pet, providing lots of love, attention, and positive reinforcement. If at any point, rescuer/organisation has concerns regarding the level of care that the foster animal is receiving, rescuer/organisation reserves all rights to remove the animal from the foster home.

2. Only authorised foster volunteers may care for foster animals. Foster animals must not be left under anyone else’s care without authorisation from rescuer/organisation.

3. Foster agrees not to alter in any way the appearance of the animal being fostered without permission of rescuer/organisation This includes declawing and cropping of ears or tails.

4. Foster agrees to provide adequate food, water, shelter, and kind treatment for said animal(s) at all times. In addition, the foster volunteer must adhere to all state and local animal laws. The foster volunteer agrees to follow all additional written instructions from rescuer/organisation.

5. Foster agrees to keep foster animals indoors. Our foster cats are indoor cats unless explicitly stated otherwise in this contract, and should NEVER be let outside. Supervision should be provided when the cat is in the backyard, and cats traveling outside the home and backyard for any reason must be in a secured carrier.

6. Foster agrees to notify rescuer/organisation immediately if the foster animal goes missing or becomes sick.

7. Foster agrees to administer flea, tick and deworming, and preventative on a monthly basis or quarterly basis.

REGARDING OWNERSHIP RIGHTS AND ULTIMATE PLACEMENT:

8. rescuer/organisation retains all rights and ownership of any animal in the Foster Program, and rescuer/organisation has the right to recall any fostered animal to rescuer/organisation at any time.

9. All adoption inquiries about foster animals in your care must be directed to rescuer/organisation. Do not make any promises to any interested parties about placing the foster animal in their home. {rescuerName} will handle the vetting and approval or denial of all adoption applications.

10. If the foster wishes to adopt said animal, the foster must go through the adoption program screening process. rescuer/organisation reserves to determine final disposition of the animal.

11. The foster volunteer on this contract is agreeing to be the primary caregiver for the foster animal at the address on this contract. Foster caregiver will notify rescuer/organisation in the event any change occurs in the address or telephone number listed.

12. Foster caregiver understands and acknowledges that he/she does not have any right or authority to keep the foster animal, place the foster animal in other homes or place with other individuals unless permission is given in writing by rescuer/organisation.

13. In the event that a foster caregiver is going out of town overnight and cannot care for the animal, the foster will contact rescuer/organisation as soon as possible so that other temporary arrangements can be made.

Foster animals cannot be placed in temporary boarding facilities or given to friends/family to temporarily care for without explicit written permission rescuer/organisation.

REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PET AND STAYING IN TOUCH WITH {rescuerName}.

14. Foster animals must be returned to rescuer/organisation as soon as possible upon request by rescuer/organisation.

15. The foster agrees to respond to inquiries from rescuer/organisation regarding the foster animal as soon as reasonably possible. Failure to respond to an inquiry within 24 hours can be grounds for repossession of the animal.

16. rescuer/organisation or designated representative may visit a foster home at any time providing that the foster volunteer is given reasonable prior notice (typically 24 hours). Prior notice is not required for the repossession of an animal when a foster volunteer fails to bring the animal back to rescuer/organisation as requested or fails to respond to inquiries from rescuer/organisation.

17. Foster agrees to notify shelter as to any behavioral or health problems of the animal. Rescuer/organisation reserves the exclusive right to determine the proper course of action to take upon such notification.

18. Foster agrees to be reasonably accommodating in scheduling meet and greets between the foster pet and potential adopters. Meet and greets may be scheduled to occur at the foster home or at rescuer/organisation shelter facility, depending on the animal and the situation.

19. The foster agrees to stay in touch with rescuer/organisation on a weekly basis at minimum. The foster will send an email/Whatsapp each week on your assigned day with any news about the foster animal. Failing to send an email/whatsapp on your assigned day is cause for concern and may result in removal of the foster animal from the foster home.

REGARDING CURRENT PETS ALREADY IN THE HOUSEHOLD:

20. All cats belonging to the foster volunteer must have up-to-date FVRCP and rabies vaccines and be spayed or neutered.

21. The foster volunteer must isolate foster animals from existing pets in the household as long as indicated by rescuer/organisation.

22. Following the advice given and steps to follow are exhausted and the pets do not get along well or there are any concerns, you must inform rescuer/organisation. 

23. rescuer/organisation is not responsible for any veterinary bills for resident pets. The foster caregiver assumes responsibility for any veterinary bills that result from resident pet becoming ill or injured due to exposure to a foster animal.

REGARDING VETERINARY CARE:

24. Foster volunteers must contact rescuer/organisation first for all foster animal care needs and questions.

25. Foster animals should not be taken to any veterinarian unless authorised by rescuer/organisation in advance.

26. No veterinary expenses will be reimbursed unless authorised in advance by rescuer/organisation, upon providing a signed and stamped receipt from the clinic. 

27. In the case of a life-threatening medical emergency, get the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Inform rescuer/organisation as soon as possible that a medical emergency is in progress and that necessary steps are being taken.

28. Depending on the age and health status of the foster animal, veterinary appointments may be approved by rescuer/organisation for routine vaccinations, check-ups, spay and neuter appointments, etc. Foster agrees to transport the foster animal to these appointments as necessary. If necessary transport cannot be made due to scheduling conflicts, foster must contact rescuer/organisation as soon as possible to make other transportation arrangements. It is extremely important that foster pets keep their scheduled veterinary appointments.

REGARDING SUPPLIES:

29. rescuer/organisation will provide a feeding plan for your foster pet. Foster volunteer agrees to feed the type of food dictated in the amounts dictated, and will not change food for any reason. Food plan changes will be made by rescuer/organisation only, in consultation with a veterinarian as needed. The food brand and type that must be fed and the food plan are noted in the supplemental page of this contract.

30. rescuer/organisation may sometimes provide foster homes with as many supplies for the foster animal as possible, including toys, bedding, a crate, etc., as needed for the animal. These must all be returned back at the end of the foster term. This clause is not applicable if you are outside of the UAE. 

31. Any supplies borrowed from rescuer/organisation must be returned when the animal is removed from the foster’s custody. Supplies borrowed from rescuer/organisation at the time of the signing of this contract. 

REGARDING FOSTER CAT SOCIALISING AND TRAINING:

32. Foster recognises that appropriately training and socialising a foster cat helps to make that cat much more adoptable and attractive to potential adoptive families. Foster caregivers will make every effort to train using positive reinforcement techniques and patience.

33. Foster caregivers will NOT socialise the foster cat with other cats until the foster cat has ALL required shots and vaccinations. Depending on the age of the cat, the foster animal may already come to the foster home up-to-date on required vaccinations, or may be too young to have received any. Foster parents will not socialise the foster animal with any other animals until all required shots and vaccinations are completed.

34. Positive reinforcement training techniques are necessary. Please speak to the rescuer for advice.

CONCLUDING STIPULATIONS:

35. Foster is undertaking these obligations with no said claim, now or in the future, to any type of compensation or reimbursement for caring for said animal, and the further consideration for undertaking this obligation and caring for said animal is that the foster is receiving satisfaction and enjoyment from undertaking this obligation of his or her own free will and because he or she wants to do so and derives satisfaction from doing so.

36. Foster agrees that accidental animal bites or other injuries to humans and other animals do occur, and agrees to hold harmless and indemnify, and protect rescuer/organisation, from any claim or suit filed by anyone as a result of such an incident. In addition, rescuer/organisation will not be responsible if an animal should damage or destroy property belonging to the foster, or shall transfer any disease or internal or external parasites to other animals belonging to the foster.

37. This agreement is the entire agreement of the parties, and there are no oral promises or representations made in addition to this contract and it may only be changed in writing signed by both {rescuerName} and foster.

38. I agree that if I'm unable to foster the cat(s) anymore that I will return the cat(s) to the rescuer and try to give the rescuer a 2 week period to try and find another suitable foster for the cat(s).

Acknowledgment

I understand that rescuer/organisation reserves the right to examine and make inquiry about the foster animal at any time. If I fail to keep the animal in accordance with the terms of this agreement, if I deny rescuer/organisation’s right to examine, if I fail to respond to any of rescuer/organisation’s inquiry, or if I have made any misrepresentation of fact, rescuer/organisation or a designated representative may retake custody of animal. Additionally, any costs associated with such retaking of custody shall be my sole responsibility. If any medical care is required as a result of any intentional or negligent act of mine, any costs associated with said medical care shall be my sole responsibility. 

It is the expressed intention of rescuer/organisation and the foster caregiver that the release provided for in this paragraph is designed and intended to protect the rescuer/organisation (and/or designated representative) from the consequences of any accident, injury, illness, negligence, attack, aggressive or destructive behavior or other action by animal, and from the consequences of any act or omission, or negligence on the part of the rescuer/organisation (and/or designated representative) in obtaining custody of animal, in providing care for animal, or in failing to provide timely or adequate warning to any person concerning animal. rescuer/organisation (and/or designated representative) will use all reasonable efforts to provide accurate information about the animal, but as with all living things, there are no guarantees. 

Caregiver understands that rescuer/organisation (and/or designated representative) makes no warranties (express or implied) or representations as to the health, fitness, demeanor or well-being of animal. The foster caregiver accepts animal “as is.” Because of this, the foster caregiver understands that rescuer/organisation (and/or designated representative) accept no responsibility if animal should die after being released to caregiver, or if the animal should bite, scratch, injure, or cause the death of any person or animal, or cause damage to property after being released to the foster caregiver’s custody. 

I {fullName20} fully understand my rights and obligations as described above (plus an addendum if applicable) and that failure to comply with these obligations will be considered a breach of contract. Said breach of contract gives the rescuer/organisation (and/or designated representative) the rights contained in this contract and any and all rights afforded by law to terminate any ownership of animal, and thereby the legal right to reclaim the animal without refund, and recover any and all expenses associated with the enforcement of this contract. 

By sending this electronically, I {fullName20} acknowledge that I have completely read these terms and conditions and comprehend it fully.

I {fullName20} understand that applying does not ensure approval and that untruthful answers or failure to comply with the requirements of this application can result in the forfeiture of any Cat fostered by me.

I {fullName20} certify that the above information is correct, and I understand that the information will be verified.