NFRS Foster Agreement 2025
CONTRACT: This Foster Contract (“Contract”) is made effective on the Effective Date indicated below, by and between Nickens Family Rescue and Sanctuary, an Ohio non-profit corporation (“NFRS”) and (the “Foster”) as indicated in the name field above.
NFRS and Foster are individually a “Party” and collectively the “Parties” to this Contract.
Foster has agreed to foster and care for the pet described below (the “Pet”), and NFRS has agreed to release such Pet to Foster, subject to and in accordance with the following terms and conditions:
§ THE FOSTER SHALL ACCEPT AND CONSIDER THE PET AS A HOUSEHOLD COMPANION, NOT AS AN OUTSIDE PET. IT WILL PROVIDE THE PET WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, HUMANE TREATMENT, AND PROVIDE PROPER FOOD, FRESH WATER, SHELTER, AND EXERCISE.
§ THE FOSTER SHALL NOT ABUSE OR NEGLECT THE PET AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL PHYSICALLY PUNISH THE PET. THE PET WILL NOT BE CHAINED AT ANY TIME, NOR WILL IT BE PERMITTED OFF THE PROPERTY OF THE FOSTER UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A MATURE INDIVIDUAL.
§ PET SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SLEEP INDOORS AND PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS OR ADVERSE CONDITIONS. PET SHALL NOT BE HOUSED OR KEPT OUTSIDE OR IN A YARD. THE PET SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ROAM FREE OR UNSUPERVISED OUTSIDE.
§ FOSTER WILL NOT PERMIT THE PET TO RUN AT LARGE OR BECOME A PUBLIC NUISANCE. FOSTER WILL KEEP MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION ON THE PET AT ALL TIMES. IN THE EVENT THAT THE PET BECOMES LOST, FOSTER SHALL MAKE IMMEDIATE AND SERIOUS EFFORTS TO LOCATE AND CLAIM THE PET AND WILL COMPLY WITH THE NFRS LOST PET PROTOCOL. THE FOSTER WILL RETRIEVE THE PET FROM ANY POUND OR SHELTER IF NOTIFIED THE PET IS BEING HELD AT ANY LOCATION. FOSTER WILL ALSO NOTIFY NFRS IN THE EVENT THE PET GOES MISSING.
§ FOSTER SHALL NOT GIVE UP OR SELL THE PET TO ANOTHER PERSON, RELATIVE, FRIEND, OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL, OR ANY RESCUE GROUP, HUMANE ASSOCIATION, SHELTER, OR ADOPTION CENTER UNLESS PRE-APPROVED BY NFRS.
§ FOSTER UNDERSTANDS ANY FEES ASSOCIATED WITH VET CARE FOR THE PET WILL BE AT THEIR EXPENSE ONLY IF THE VET CARE NEEDED IS DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE OR LACK OF FOLLOWING PROTOCOL. ANY VET APPOINTMENT NO SHOW FEES AT FAULT OF THE FOSTER WILL ALSO BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FOSTER.
§ FOSTER UNDERSTANDS ANY DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FOSTER AND NOT NFRS. PETS ARE TO BE CONTAINED APPROPRIATELY TO AVOID DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION.
§ FOSTER SHALL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE GIVE UP OR SELL THE PET FOR ANY MEDICAL OR EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORY OR ANY ORGANIZATION.
§ FOSTER SHALL NOT ALTER THE PET’S APPEARANCE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM (EX: CROPPING, DOCKING).
§ FOSTER PERMITS NFRS TO VISIT AT REASONABLE CONVENIENT TIMES TO CHECK ON THE WELL-BEING OF THE PET. 24 HOUR
§ WRITTEN NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN UNLESS URGENT OR ABSUE/NEGLECT IS SUSPECTED. WRITTEN NOTICE COULD BE IN THE FORM OF TEXT/EMAIL/FACEBOOK MESSANGER.
§ FOSTER CONSENTS TO THE EXAMINATION OF THE PET BY NFRS AT ANY TIME AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NFRS HAS THE RIGHT TO RECLAIM THIS PET, IN NFRS’ SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION, AT ANY TIME FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THIS CONTRACT OR FOR ANY MISREPRESENTATION OF FACT MADE ON THE ADOPTION/FOSTER APPLICATION OR IN THIS CONTRACT.
§ FOSTER REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED TO NFRS AND/OR MEMORIALIZED IN THIS CONTRACT IS CORRECT, COMPLETE, AND ACCURATE.THE FOSTER HOME UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ADHERE TO ALL RELEVANT ZONING AND ANIMAL CONTROL CODES AND ORDINANCES, WHETHER LOCAL, COUNTY, OR STATE.
§ THE FOSTER HOME UNDERSTANDS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR PERSONAL PETS UP TO DATE ON VACCINATIONS AS WELL AS SPAYED/NEUTERED
APPOINTMENTS:
Foster shall coordinate and schedule all medical, veterinary, and training appointments for the Pet through the Foster Coordinator, and Foster shall be responsible for transporting the Pet to and from all such appointments. If Pet is not spayed or neutered as of the Foster Date, Foster must arrange, through the Foster Coordinator, to have the Pet spayed or neutered at one of NFRS’ approved veterinary partners.
Foster shall not breed Pet. Foster shall immediately notify Foster Coordinator the event of the Pet’s injury, illness, or death during the foster care period.
FOOD & SUPPLIES:
NFRS will provide Foster with food and or supplies necessary for the care of the Pet during the term of the foster care; provided, however, Foster shall notify the Foster Coordinator in advance regarding any expected supplies or food needed for the care of the dog.
If Foster voluntarily chooses to purchase food, supplies, or other items relating to the care of the Pet, with his or her own money, Foster should save the receipt as these expenses are tax deductible. Purchases made voluntarily by Foster are not reimbursed by NFRS.
Items provided to foster by NFRS (crate, collar, etc.) shall be kept in original condition and returned when pet is permanently placed into a new home or if foster adopts.
MARKETING & PROMOTION:
NFRS markets pets available for adoption through events, social media, our website and online adoption sites. Foster is responsible and expected to assist in marketing the Pet for permanent adoption including but not limited to word of mouth, bringing the Pet to adoption events, and/or by providing photos and a good description of Pet for NFRS marketing materials. With this, NFRS has the right to use any photos or videos provided by the Foster.
FOSTER PERIOD:
Foster understands and agrees that it is not possible to accurately estimate the amount of time required to adopt a pet, and that the foster period could take weeks or months. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Foster agrees and is committed to foster the Pet for as long as is necessary. If Foster can no longer care for the Pet, Foster shall notify NFRS and make every effort to find a suitable foster or adoptive home for the Pet. However, the Foster understands that it may take time to find the Pet a sufficient replacement foster or permanent adopter for its needs.
Foster understands that during the foster period, NFRS has ownership of Pet and that NFRS may recover the Pet from Foster at anytime during the foster period, in NFRS sole and absolute discretion.
OPTION TO ADOPT:
If Foster decides to permanently adopt the Pet, Foster shall notify Foster Coordinator and upon approval, shall follow established adoption procedures including signing an Adoption Contract and paying the Pet’s adoption fee. If Foster finds a permanent/adoptive home for the Pet, Foster shall notify NRFS and upon approval, shall follow established adoption procedures.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK; RELEASE; INDEMNITY
Foster acknowledges that that, due to the unpredictable nature of animals, there are certain inherent risks and dangers associated with the care and custody of the Pet, including but not limited to risks of injury to persons or property, Foster voluntarily agrees to assume full responsibility for all such risks and waives and releases, Nickens Family Rescue and Sanctuary and its owners, directors, volunteers, employees, and representatives from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, injury, or damages of any kind or nature whatsoever arising from or relating to the foster and care of the Pet, including but not limited to claims of bodily injury or property damage sustained by Foster or others.
Foster also agrees to be solely responsible for any actions of the Pet and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless NFRS and its owners, volunteers, employees, and representatives from any liabilities, injuries or losses caused by the Pet or any causes of actions, claims, suits or demands that arise from such injury, damages or losses.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK; RELEASE; INDEMNITY; OWNED PETS
Foster acknowledges that that, due to the unpredictable nature of animals, there are certain inherent risks and dangers associated with the care and custody of the Pet, including risk to other owned pets or animals of Foster.
Foster understands it is their responsibility to keep their owned pets or animals up to date on vaccinations, respect quarantine periods, and provide appropriate separation from owned pets when necessary.
Foster voluntarily agrees to assume full responsibility for all such risks and waives and releases, Nickens Family Rescue and Sanctuary and its owners, directors, volunteers, employees, and representatives from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, injury, or damages of any kind or nature whatsoever arising from or relating to the foster and care of the Pet, including but not limited to claims of bodily injury or death to owned pets or animals as sustained by Foster or others. Foster also agrees to be solely responsible for any actions of the Pet and owned pets and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless NFRS and its owners, volunteers, employees, and representatives from any liabilities, injuries or losses to their owned animals caused by the Pet or any causes of actions, claims, suits or demands that arise from such injury, damages or losses.
NO WARRANTY
Foster acknowledges, understands, and agrees that NFRS makes no guarantees, promises, representations, or warranties whatsoever, express or implied, written or unwritten, regarding the Pet’s disposition, temperament, and/or current or future health and personality. The
Foster agrees to take the Pet as is and with any and all faults.
Entire Agreement; Severability; Amendments; Waiver
This Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties hereto concerning the matters covered herein and supersedes all prior agreements and/or understandings, between the Parties, whether written or oral, concerning the matters covered herein; and there are nounderstandings, agreements, representations or warrants, express or implied, which are not specified in writing and signed by the Parties hereto. In the event that any of the terms of this Contract are or become illegal or unenforceable, such terms shall be null and void and shall be deemed deleted from this Contract and all the remaining terms of this Contract shall remain in full force and effect. The Parties may only amend this Contract in a writing signed by the Parties. No waiver of any provision of this Contract, nor consent to any departure by either Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Party to be charged with the waiver or consent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
GOVERNING LAW
The enforcement and interpretation of this Contract shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. Any and all disputes arising under or related to this Contract which cannot be resolved through discussions between the Parties shall be submitted to binding arbitration, by a single arbitrator through the American Arbitration Association, or any similar arbitration provider mutually agreed upon by the Parties. The arbitrator shall be selected by mutual agreement of the Parties, and in the event an agreement cannot be reached, then the arbitrator shall be selected by NFRS (or by the selected arbitration provider, as applicable). The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, nonappealable and binding upon the Parties, and it may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitration shall take place in the State of Ohio. The arbitrator shall be bound by the laws of the State of Ohio. In the event of NFRS is required to commence an arbitration concerning this Contract, NFRS shall be entitled to recover its attorneys' fees, witness fees, costs and expenses, court costs and other reasonable expenses, whether or not such controversy, claim or action is prosecuted to final award or judgment.
THIS CONTRACT IS VALID FOR ALL FUTURE FOSTERS
THE UNDERSIGNED PARTY HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT THEY HAVE READ THIS ENTIRE CONTRACT AND FULLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE
TERMS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THIS CONTRACT AND, BASED UPON SUCH, EXECUTE IT.