BAWA FOSTER PROGRAM

Fostering means temporarily caring for an animal that belongs to BAWA. Animals most in need of fostering are those who are young, recovering from an illness or injury, or may need further socialization or time before they are ready to be promoted for adoption. Fostering saves and improves animal lives by bringing them into your home. 

All of the animals under the care of BAWA have come from rescue situations. BAWA will be open about the known health, condition, and temperament of your foster animal and will inform you of any ongoing treatment plans. It must be understood that your foster animal may have latent issues or problems that develop while under your care. You are expected to directly inform BAWA about any concerning health or behavior developments in BAWA foster animals and maintain ongoing treatment plans.

 

Foster if you love animals and want to help them. Foster if you have space and time to care for an animal now, but are not able to adopt permanently. Foster to keep vulnerable animals out of clinics or shelters. Foster if you can assist special-needs animals or those who are recovering from an injury or surgical procedure. Foster to give an animal the dedicated attention and love needed to help them heal and grow.

We at BAWA make every effort possible to keep animals comfortable and happy while they are under our care, though shelter environments can still be stressful and overwhelming for some. When this happens, the animals isolate themselves and fail to interact with people, resulting in them being passed up by potential adopters. Fostering can help prepare animals for adoption by giving them a chance to live in a home where they can fully express their personality. There is no greater reward than to be a part of the positive transformation of your foster animal. 

Fostering is important for many reasons, including because it helps reduce overcrowding in shelters and may open up space for another animal to be saved.  

We find it is easiest for everyone when roles and responsibilities are clearly stated and agreed upon in advance. 

Please take time to read all information thoroughly so we can count on you to care for our animal and you can count on BAWA to manage medical decisions, assume care for your foster animal at the end of your foster period, and to handle the future adoption process. 

BAWA'S ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• BAWA will be open about the health, condition, and temperament of the animal so you can foster with all of the information that BAWA has.
• BAWA will inform you about medication or treatment needs for your foster animal. 
• BAWA will coordinate with you regarding routine vaccinations, deworming, and sterilization at a BAWA facility or at selected vet clinics with pre-approval. 
• BAWA is responsible for the cost of routine vaccinations, deworming, and sterilization. Though as a small non-profit, any financial contributions that you choose to make towards these expenses are welcome and appreciated. 
• BAWA is available to advise on medical or behavioral concerns.
• BAWA is responsible for re-homing or re-absorbing the fostered animal at the end of the foster date which you've chosen.
• BAWA screens all potential adopters internally and makes decisions about adoption placement.
• For any foster animals requiring bottle-feeding, BAWA supplies initial packages of formula, bottle, hot water bottle, instructions, and support. 

 

 

FOSTER CARER ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Unless otherwise agreed upon, the minimum commitment to foster an animal is 1 month. Longer periods of availability appreciated! You are welcome to extend your initial foster period unless the animal is adopted.
• It is OK to return a foster animal if it is not working out. You do not have to put up with the animal no matter what, and there are always other animals you can foster.
• If it becomes necessary for you to return your foster animal before the agreed end date, you must provide at least 48 hours notice. Please plan to transport the animal to the designated location, which BAWA will specify.
• You must have written permission from your landlord / property owner for animals to be on the property. The yard must be maintained fully enclosed at all times unless you are fostering neonates.
• If you are unsure, please check that there have not been any sick animals in your home in the last year. Please disclose any known illnesses to BAWA.
• You are responsible for the safety of your foster animal. At all times, you must keep your foster animal safe inside of your property until they are fully vaccinated and healthy. There are a number of highly contagious viruses that lurk all around Bali which animals are quite vulnerable to until fully vaccinated. 
• Your foster animal must never be allowed to free-roam or spend unsupervised time outside of the safety of your home. 
• BAWA operates on limited resources and relies on foster homes to provide supplies while the foster animal is in your home. You are responsible for food, water, bowls, shelter, and something for your foster animal to sleep on. If you will foster neonates (bottle-fed baby animals) BAWA can provide special neonate supplies.
• You must not give your foster animal to other people without pre-approved consent from BAWA.
• You must agree to monitor the health and well being of your foster animal and should send photos and updates to BAWA weekly or as needed.
• All medical concerns and notable behavioral changes should be reported directly to BAWA for advisement on the next steps for medical care approval. Please allow BAWA to make all medical decisions for the foster animal unless there is a life-threatening emergency.
• Plan to schedule veterinarian appointments for deworming, vaccinations, and sterilization with BAWA, either at a BAWA facility or a pre-approved clinic visit. BAWA has accounts with a few vet clinics in BAWA but not every vet clinic. Should you choose to contribute towards the expenses of routine medical expenses, this is warmly welcomed and greatly appreciated.
• Should illness or injury occur as a result of environmental exposure while under your direct care (such as road accidents, ingesting of poison, or suffering an animal bite), it is kindly asked that you cover medical expenses. BAWA is here to advise but please get in touch as soon as needs arise.
• Once your foster animal is ready to be promoted for adoption, we need your help to make this happen! Great photos in natural settings make a huge difference in attracting potential adopters. If you are willing, we'd appreciate your help to promote your foster animal on Bali-based social media platforms. More information can be provided on this as the time approaches. 

We are eager to have your help if you can uphold all the above foster carer responsibilities.

In our ongoing commitment to improving rabies awareness, BAWA foster carers are required to sign a rabies information acknowledgment at the start of the foster period, which includes the following information:

Rabies continues to be prevalent across Bali. BAWA urges all current foster carers to be pre-vaccinated for rabies. The World Health Organization (WHO) standard for people is now two injections over one week. 

All animals should be rabies vaccinated when 3 months old. If the animal was rabies vaccinated younger than 3 months, then a second rabies vaccine is required either at 3 months of age or 1 month after the first rabies vaccines, whichever date is later.

When animals are vaccinated against rabies, it is still possible that exposure may have happened before vaccination. IF an animal is incubating rabies, they may develop symptoms at any time. There is no reliable way to test live animals for rabies. For this reason, please be aware and vigilant about looking for possible signs of rabies in animals under your care. 

Rabies is spread through animal bites or transfer of saliva from an infected animal to open wounds, into the eyes, nose or mouth.

Take care to avoid being bitten. Do not let animals lick you on the mouth, in the eyes, in the nose, or allow saliva to come into contact with open wounds or broken skin. 

Although BAWA is responsible for the medical care and vaccinations of the animals, we do not take responsibility for your personal vaccinations, nor any potential post-exposure treatment. You agree to take full responsibility for your own vaccinations and any necessary treatment in the event of a bite.

The rabies virus does not always present the same symptoms in every animal. If you notice any behavior out of the ordinary, including any of the following, contact BAWA immediately.

• Vicious biting for no reason
• Paralysis
• Difficulty swallowing
• Barking with a strange sound
• Drooping of the lower jaw
• Foaming at the mouth
• Seizures
• Seeking dark places

If you have broken skin from a dog bite, follow WHO protocols as follows:

Wash the wound for 15 minutes with soap and running water and apply betadine/iodine and seek medical advice immediately.

More detailed information about rabies here: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies