This Foster Agreement (hereinafter “The Contract”) is made on the date listed above by and between D&A Animal Rescue (the Rescue) and 

(The “Rescue” and the “Foster” are known collectively as the Parties). This agreement is valid for any current or future animals (hereinafter “Pet”) in Foster’s care on behalf of the Rescue. The Parties hereby agree to the following:

a) Foster shall accept and consider the Pet as a household companion, not as an outside pet, and will provide the Pet with a safe environment, humane treatment, and provide proper food, fresh water, shelter, and exercise. Foster agrees this Pet will not be abused in any manner. The Pet will not be chained at any time, nor will it be permitted off the property of the Foster unless accompanied by an adult. Pet shall not be used in any aspect of animal fighting. Pet shall not be the subject of or subjected to any biological, chemical, psychological, or other experiment. 

b) 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. 

c) Foster shall immediately notify the Rescue if Pet is lost or stolen, and shall make every reasonable effort to recover the Pet. 

d) 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 preapproved by the Rescue and agreed to in writing. 

e) Foster shall not under any circumstance give up or sell the Pet for any medical or experimental laboratory or any organization. 

f) Foster shall not alter the Pet’s appearance in any way, shape or form (ex: cropping, docking. 

g) Foster permits the Rescue to visit at reasonable convenient times to check on the well-being of the Pet. Foster agrees to provide timely text message updates to the Rescue as requested, including but not limited to photos, videos, and general welfare reports of the Pet.

h) Foster agrees the Pet will always wear a collar with an identification tag. The Rescue shall remain the primary contact on the Pet’s microchip until adoption is finalized.

i) Foster agrees the Pet shall not be left unsupervised with small children and must be supervised at all times around visitors or other animals.

a) Foster agrees to take the Pet to a licensed veterinarian within the first week of possession for a wellness exam and to initiate heartworm prevention. Flea collars are not recommended and should not be used. Approved flea/tick preventatives should be discussed with and approved by the Foster Coordinator prior to administration.

b) If Pet is not spayed or neutered at the time this Contract is signed, Foster must arrange, through the Foster Coordinator to have the Pet spayed or neutered. Foster shall not breed Pet.

c) Foster shall immediately notify the Foster Coordinator in the event of the Pet’s injury, illness, or death during the foster care period. Foster will seek immediate veterinary care for the Pet and will be responsible for these expenses. If the Rescue cannot be reached, Foster may authorize emergency treatment necessary to prevent unnecessary suffering.

d) Foster understands that euthanasia decisions related to the Pet’s injury, illness, or severe suffering shall be made only by the Rescue, unless an extreme emergency requires immediate action to prevent unnecessary suffering.

a) Foster will provide supplies or food needed for the pet(s) at Foster’s expense.

a) Foster shall allow a reasonable amount of time for the Pet to adjust to new surroundings. 

b) For the safety of Foster's household and other resident pets, Foster is required to place Pet into a 2-week introduction period. Pet must be crated and/or separated from all other animals in the household for the first 3 days. Slow introductions are required for each Pet and this—in turn—will create a more balanced transition period for Pet.

a) Foster understands the commitment they are making by agreeing to foster Pet and that there is a 3-week period after which Foster needs to finalize adoption with an adoption contract. Foster understands it may take up to 10 days for the Rescue to find accommodations for the dog in case the adoption doesn’t work out. 

b) If Foster can no longer care for Pet, Foster shall notify the Rescue immediately. The Rescue will do everything possible to place the Pet accordingly. However, the Foster understands that it may take time to find the Pet a sufficient home for its needs. 

c) Foster understands that during the foster period, the Rescue has ownership of Pet. The Rescue may recover Pet from Foster at any time during the foster period. 

d) Foster agrees to take the pet to transport if pointed by the Rescue so the dog can be transported back to the Rescue.

a) Health Certificate fee, Adoption fee, and foster to adopt contract need to be paid and signed respectively before the dog be sent on transport to Foster. 

b) If Foster decides to permanently adopt the Dog, Foster shall notify Foster Coordinator and follow established adoption procedures including signing an Adoption Contract. This must occur within 3 weeks of the Foster taking possession of the Pet. 

c) Foster agrees and fully understands that the Rescue will continue to be the sole owner of the dog during the foster period and until adoption contract is completely executed by the Parties and accepted by the Rescue. 

d) In the case of intact dogs, the adoption contract is not considered completely executed until AFTER proof of spay/neuter procedure is provided and verified by the Rescue. 

e) Only after the adoption contract is fully executed and accepted by the Rescue, will the microchip be changed to adopter name. 

f) Failure to follow the specific requirements of the agreement, will result in Foster/adopter to lose any and all fees and relinquish possession of the dog to the Rescue earliest convenience.

g) The adoption fee is refundeble within three weeksif yoy keep the dog safe until we find a new home. If a volunteer fosters teh returned do, no refund wil be issued. Transport and health dertficate fees are non-refundable. If the dog needs to return to Texas, teh adoption fee will cover the cost.

a) The Rescue makes no guarantees and/or promises regarding the Pet’s disposition, temperament, and/or future health, and personality.

b) Foster agrees to foster Pet at Foster’s own risk, and indemnify and release the Rescue, its founder, board of directors, and volunteers from any and all liability arising from damages to person(s) or property caused by the Pet.

c) In the event the Foster does not comply with the terms of this Contract, at the reasonable discretion of the Rescue, the Rescue may recover the Pet(s Upon demand by the Rescue, the Foster shall relinquish Pet to a recue representative within 24 hours of the demand by Rescue for the return of the Pet(s) and Foster is relieved of duties as a foster to the Rescue. If the Pet is not returned in this time period, and the Rescue seeks legal counsel and/or files a lawsuit for the return of the Pet, Foster agrees to liquidated damages of $2,500.00 for the return of the Pet and to pay for the Rescue’s attorney fees, expenses and costs of court for the return of the Pet. Foster agrees that any dispute regarding Pet will be determined in Harris County, Texas which will be the venue for any lawsuit.

d) Foster acknowledges that he or she has READ THE “Two weeks give them a break” and agrees TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS AS THEY ARE WRITTEN.

a) Foster will not start the dog on training sessions during the foster to adopt period unless authorized by the Rescue, and ONLY by trainers that use POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT and never physical punishment.

b) The use of the trainer CARLOS ROSADO and/or HARMONY TRAINING and/or any other trainers associated with him or that use his training techniques or are associated with him and his training business IS COMPLETELY FORBIDEN during the foster to adopt period AS WELL AS after adoption.

a) Foster will not board the dog during the foster to adopt period unless authorized by the Rescue. If boarding is authorized by the Rescue the Foster will provide name and numbers of the facility and give time for the Rescue to authorize this before the dog can be dropped off. The Foster will pay any boarding expenses and/or any other expenses related to the boarding of the dog if authorized.

The Foster hereby acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agrees to all terms of this Contract with D&A Animal Rescue.

These are some tips to help give a new dog time to adjust to you and your family and resident pets in the new environment. Why the Two-Week Shut Down? New adult dogs come into our home on “a journey into a new and scary world.” By giving the dog a “time out” the dog can learn its new world, its new people and begin to relax and blossom under the care of the new caregiver. Just like a newborn baby we wouldn’t rush out and pass the baby from person to person, we set up a stable and save environment, our new dogs are just like that, our newborn baby. We give the rescue dog a bit of time to heal, mentally and physically. Step back for a minute and think how you might feel if you were expected to live with new people who didn't understand your language. It's very likely that you'd feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and ready to retreat but really have no place to go to. You might begin to act out and yell at people for coddling you and insisting that you do this and do that.

HOW TO TWO-WEEK SHUT DOWN: For the first two weeks, (sometimes even longer depending on the dog) a dog takes in the new environment and who are the top persons and dogs. A great way of thinking of this time is "this is the dating period NOT the honeymoon" By shutting down the dog, it gives the dog TIME to see you, meet YOU, hear and take in the new sounds and smells of your home in a safe way.

• DO NOT have the dog leave your home or yard, AT ALL. No car rides, no human guests, no other dogs (see below for resident pets), no pet stores, no WALKS, nothing but you, your home, your yard during the 2-week shutdown.
  
  
• Crate the dog in a room by itself if possible.
  
  
• Don’t go crazy petting and handling the dog. Allowing the dog time to absorb and the decision to come to YOU for pets and affection can do a lot in taking pressure off a new dog.
  
  
• Leash. This also teaches the new safe zone for the dog is around you and the humans in the home. Leash the dog right to your belt or under a piece of furniture. And this also stops the dog from reacting if you have to get him off of something like the couch, you are not reaching in and grabbing onto him, just tug gently on the leash, say "come on" and there you go. no conflict!
  
  
• Exercise – but in your yard! All dogs need to burn off energy. Do fun toss the ball games in your yard or on a lunge line if no fence. Remember to just have fun, let the dog run and explore. No obedience-like training at all for the first 2 weeks.
  
  
• In the house have the dog out only for about 20-40 minutes post exercise/yard times. And ALWAYS on a leash. Then PUT THE DOG AWAY. Let it absorb and think. Even if just for a little bit. If the dog goes to his crate on his own, he is telling you “I need a time out” allow him this time.
  
  
• If you have resident pets, NO meeting resident dogs or cats for at least 3-4 days. AFTER 3-4 days install a SECURE dog gate between their separate areas and only allow them to interact through the gate for a few days more. See our Pack Introduction Article for further instructions on how to integrate your new dog into your pack.

• Understand that walks are stressful because there is so much coming at a new dog. By doing the shutdown, the dog looks to YOU as its new leader. Then on walks you will see the dog look to you when he sees something like a kid or a dog to see what your reaction, lessening his mind about having to defend or control the environment. Gently distract your dog from meeting new dogs and humans while walking beyond the 2-week shutdown if necessary.
  
  
• Ignore Bad behavior - Ignore crying and/or barking. If you run to the dog each time they bark, whine, or cry, you are teaching the dog that doing those things gets your attention. The dog must learn to be secure when you are not there. Use the leash to correct jumping, exploring counters, etc.
  
  
• Praise Gently Good behavior – ex. Dog is sitting nicely next to you, touch or softly pet the dog “good boy/girl” let them know you appreciate GOOD behavior. This makes naughty behavior not so fun if you ignore THAT but praise the good! Literally in two weeks you will begin to see its honest and true personality. So, please, if nothing else for your new dog, give it the time to LEARN YOU as you are learning who they are.

The “Two Week Shutdown” was created by Stacie Sparks and revamped by Bella-Reed Pit Bull Rescue.