The purpose of foster care is to allow a dog or cat to live in a home environment while awaiting permanent placement, permitting the Foster Family to evaluate the pet and to work with the pet to reincorporate him or her back into a home environment. A home environment is less stressful on the pet than a boarding facility or shelter. The exposure the pet gets from being treated as "one of the family" (walks, outings, etc often speeds up the adoption process.
Lowell Animal Shelter considers our Foster Families to be essential to the welfare and proper placement of our pets and wishes the experience to be enjoyable and free from misunderstandings. Please note that we have the following guidelines:
The Foster Family will follow all relevant procedures and guidelines of Lowell Animal Shelter regarding the pet placed in the foster home and will not make decisions or take actions regarding the pet's veterinary care or placement without prior approval from Lowell Animal Shelter.
The veterinarians working with Lowell Animal Shelter bill Lowell Animal Shelter directly for approved medical services provided to our pets. In the event the Foster Family expends funds for pre-approved veterinary care, Lowell Animal Shelter will reimburse the Foster Family.
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 will provide the pet with necessary exercise and will not keep the pet chained or restrained.
The Foster Family agrees to provide the pet with adequate food, water, shelter, affection, socialization, exercise, medical assistance, and to strive to increase the adoptability of the pet. If assistance with food is needed, Lowell Animal Shelter will provide food upon request. If the pet cannot be kept by the Foster Family, the Foster Family shall notify Lowell Animal Shelter immediately. The pet shall not be sold, abandoned, relinquished to a shelter or pound or any third party without the prior approval of Lowell Animal Shelter. The Foster Family understands that Lowell Animal Shelter and its representatives have limited information regarding the temperament of the pet or its habits. The foster family will take all reasonable precautions to ensure the pet does not run loose, become a nuisance, destroy property, injure or be injured by another animal or injure or be injured by any person.
The pet is and shall remain the property of Lowell Animal Shelter and may be removed by Lowell Animal Shelter from the Foster Family at any time and without prior notice. 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. In the event the Foster Family wishes to permanently adopt the pet, a Lowell Animal Shelter Adoption Contract must be submitted to and approved along with the requested adoption fee.
The Foster Family should ensure that all of their pets are up to date on their vaccinations (including, without limitation, bordatella, parvo, corona, rabies, distemper) prior to bringing the pet into the foster home.
I have read the foregoing and acknowledge the policies therein. I further certify that the answers I have given are complete, true and not misleading in any way. I am authorizing you to contact landlords and veterinarians. I am also aware that the Lowell Animal Shelter cannot guarantee the health and temperament of any animal at this facility.