Foster Care Manual - Connecticut Humane Society

Transcript

FOSTER CARE MANUAL Updated October 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contact List…………………………………..3 Welcome……………………….……………..4 Preparing for Your Foster Animals...........5-6 Other Pets in the Home………………..5 Preparing the Foster Room……………6 Supplies……………………………….6 Picking Up Your Foster Animal(s)…….……7 Choosing Assignments…………..……7 Pick-Ups………………………….…...7 Caring For Your Foster Animals….….…8-11 Daily Care……………………………..8 Feeding………………………………..8 Socialization………..…………………8 Cleanliness……………………………9 Dog Walks…………………………….9 Daily Wellness Assessments…...……..9 Weighing Young Animals…..……….10 Medical Concerns………………...….10 Routine Wellness Check-Ups……..…11 Vaccine Reactions…………….……..11 Family Involvement…………...……..11 Medical Emergencies…………………......14-16 After-Hours Agreement………………..15 Unassisted Death……..………………..16 Returning Your Foster Animals……...….16-17 Promoting Foster Pets for Adoption.......16 Volunteer Adoption Policy……….…....17 Disease Control Between Groups……...17 Happy Endings…………...………..…..18 Types of Assignments……………..……....18-20 Orphaned Infant Animals…………..….18 Pregnant Animals…………………..….18 Moms with Litters………………….…19 Self-Sufficient Puppies and Kittens…...20 Animals with Medical Conditions…….20 Animals Requiring Behavior Mod/ Socialization………………………..….20 Foster Care Feeding Guidelines……….....21-22 Foster Care Agreement………………………23 Behavior…………………………......…..12-14 Encouraging Good Manners…..……..12 Behavioral Issues……………...……..12 Housebreaking……………………….13 Aggression/Bite Incidents……………14 2 Contact List If you have a question or concern about a foster pet in your care, please call us during our regular operating hours. All calls are answered by live operators who can direct your call to your foster care coordinator or another staff member that can assist you. Contact Numbers: Main Number: 860-594-4500 Operating Hours: Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat. 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM Toll Free: 1-800-452-0114 Wed. 12:00 PM-5:30PM Shelter Contacts: After-Hours Emergency Care Facilities: Newington: Kristin Judd x. 6331 [email protected] Foster volunteers should use the following facilities for after-hours emergencies when CHS is closed. Waterford: Denise McNichol x.6504 [email protected] Refer to the After-Hours Emergency Agreement on p.15 for information about handling emergencies when CHS is closed. Westport: Bliss Kern x. 6602 [email protected] Newington: Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center 730 Randolph Road, Middletown (860) 347-VETS (8387) Bolton Veterinary Hospital 222 Boston Turnpike, Bolton (860) 646-6134 or (860) 456-4298 Waterford: Pieper Memorial Veterinary Emergency Treatment Services 114 Westbrook Road, Essex (860)-443-PETS (7387). Westport: VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center 123 West Cedar Street, Norwalk (203) 854-9960 3 WELCOME! Thank you for participating in the Connecticut Humane Society’s Foster Care program. Fostering is a wonderful way to contribute to the Society and its mission by providing love and care to sick, injured, under-socialized, or underage animals. By temporarily sheltering these animals in your own home, you allow the Society to vacate cages that otherwise would be occupied by animals that are not yet ready for adoption. This allows the Society to take in more needy animals. The individualized attention you provide for your foster animals is priceless- you are making a lasting impact on their physical and emotional well-being. This manual is a guide to provide you with important information about caring for your foster animals, and will help to clarify any questions or concerns that you might have along the way. Any additional questions should be directed to the Foster Care contact employees listed below. Feel free to call or e-mail us. Our goal is to make your foster care experience enjoyable. With a little work and a lot of love, you will make a huge difference in the lives of your foster animals. If you have a friend or family member that is interested in becoming a Foster Care volunteer, please direct them to the foster contact person for your district. Again, thank you for accepting this important responsibility. We truly appreciate your commitment. Good luck and happy Fostering! 4 Preparing For Your Foster Animal(s) Before you pick up your foster animal(s), you will want to prepare your home for their stay. Other Pets in the Home Although the medical staff examines the animals prior to sending them to foster care, they may be harboring an illness or infectious disease that could be contagious to your own animals. In order to prevent disease transmission between foster pets and owned pets, you must take extra precautions if there are pets in the home. • All pets in the home must be kept up-to-date on their vaccines or vaccine titers, whether or not you plan to let them interact with your foster pets. • You must provide a separate room for your foster animals unless prior authorization is given to allow the pets to interact. The room must be completely closed off from the other animals with a solid door (not a baby-gate). This is required for the health and safety of all animals involved. • Volunteers should not take foster pets if pets in the household have a contagious illness or are suffering from a disease that suppresses their immune system. • Please follow the below guidelines to see when foster pets must be kept isolated from other pets, and when they may be allowed to interact with owned pets. Even with permission from CHS staff, allowing foster animals to interact with owned pets carries risks of disease transmission or injury. An animal that has been cleared medically may still break with an illness. Volunteers that allow fosters to interact with their own pets are doing so at their own risk. Pet Interaction Chart Foster Pets Pregnant Animals Kittens and Puppies under 16 weeks old Adult animals with kittens or puppies Contagious adult animals Healthy but injured adult animals Healthy adult animals needing training or socialization Must be kept isolated from other pets at all times. Must be kept isolated from other pets at all times. Must be kept isolated from other pets at all times. Must be kept isolated from other pets at all times. May be allowed to interact with owned pets with permission from your foster coordinator. May be allowed to interact with owned pets with the permission from your foster coordinator. 5 Preparing the Foster Room Even if you do not have other animals, you should have a designated foster room where the foster pet can be kept when you are not home. All pregnant, nursing, and young animals should be confined to a small foster room at all times. The foster room should be: • A quiet, spare room • Easy to clean and disinfect • Free from any valuables • Free of choking, drowning or strangulation hazards • Free of cleaning chemicals • Smoke-free • Able to be closed off from other animals with a solid door Tip: Covering the floor with newspaper or a tarp is a good way to prevent damage from accidents caused by kittens or puppies. Supplies CHS will provide you with the following supplies, depending on the needs of your animal: • Food/Treats • Toys Tip: Volunteers may want to • Litter (Non-clumping for kittens) invest in their own food and • Bedding water dishes, digital scale and • A crate or carrier litter pan to cut down on the • A leash, collar & ID tags amount of supplies carried back and forth between assignments. • Veterinary care • Medicine • Formula/Bottles • Food and water dishes • A litter box • Puppy pads • A digital scale and weight chart Volunteers may want to have the following supplies on hand: • Extra bedding Tip: When buying extra toys, • Old towels opt for inexpensive options. If a • Paper towels foster animal becomes very • Carpet cleaner (Nature’s Miracle is recommended) sick, all supplies may need to be • Extra toys thrown out prior to fostering the • A heating pad or microwaveable heating disk next assignment to prevent disease transmission. 6 Picking Up Your Foster Animal(s) Choosing Assignments When the shelter has animals that are in need of fostering, your Foster Care Coordinator will begin contacting volunteers to make pick-up arrangements. Detailed information about the assignment will be provided, such as: Note: Please do not agree to take a • Their species/breed foster assignment unless you can • Age keep the animals for the entire • Number of animals in the litter length of their foster period. • Approximate length of the assignment • Whether they can interact with other pets in the home or must be isolated • Whether they can be fostered in a home with other dogs or cats • Whether they can go to a home with children • Known medical or behavioral issues • Special care requirements such as feeding or medication Once you agree to an assignment, your Foster Care Coordinator will arrange a time for you to come to the shelter to pick up the animal(s), ideally within 24 hours. Pick-Ups Please arrive on time and allow at least 10-15 minutes to complete a foster pick-up. A staff member will meet with you to: • Provide you with detailed information about the animal • Go over specific care instructions • Schedule the first wellness check-up (if needed) • Give you your supplies • Give you a foster receipt and medical records Safety Note: Whenever transporting animals to and from the shelter, dogs should be on a leash or in a carrier and cats should be secured in a carrier. Do not remove animals from carriers in the lobby. Use caution when getting dogs in and out of cars so they do not get loose. 7 Caring For Your Foster Animal(s) When you first arrive home with your foster animal(s), allow them some time and space to adjust to the new environment. Daily Care Each day you will need to: • Clean the food and water dishes • Put out fresh water (except for bottle-feeding infants) • Feed fresh food (as outlined in the Foster Feeding Guidelines) • Change bedding (if soiled) Note: Young animals must be • Scoop litter pans (placed away from food) monitored during feedings to • Spend at least an hour socializing your foster pet ensure they are eating enough • Make sure your fosters are clean and dry and that their mom and • Take dogs out for walks/exercise (if appropriate) littermates aren’t preventing • Perform a wellness assessment them from accessing food. Feeding Dietary changes can cause stomach upset. CHS feeds the shelter pets a consistent diet to prevent this. For information about how much and how often to feed your foster pets, please refer to the detailed Foster Feeding Guidelines on pages 21-22. Tip: If your food supply is running low, please call your Foster Care Coordinator to schedule a pick-up of refills. We will not be able to reimburse you for purchased food or supplies unless prior authorization was given. Socialization Human contact is extremely important for the development of young animals. Socialization from a young age helps animals to become easier to handle when they are older. Every day you should spend at least an hour performing some of the following activities: • Playing • Snuggling • Petting • Brushing • Meeting new people • Desensitizing them to touch (paws, ears, opening their mouth) Note: While meeting new people is an important part of socialization for young animals, animals that are not fully vaccinated should not be taken out in public. Your friends and family may interact with your foster puppies and kittens when they come over to visit. 8 Cleanliness Foster animals must be kept clean and dry at all times. Young animals that are learning to eat are especially prone to becoming soiled with food. As needed, please: • Brush animals to prevent matting • Keep faces clean- gently wipe off excess food and “eye gunk” • Check for fecal matter that can become trapped in long fur • Bathe in warm water with mild soap if needed • Dry thoroughly with a hair-dryer set to low (careful not to burn) Dog Walks Healthy, vaccinated adult dogs need daily walks and exercise. It’s ok to: • Walk adult dogs in your neighborhood • Take dogs on leashed hikes • Take dogs jogging with you • Allow dogs to play loose in fully fenced-in areas Never: • Allow dogs off-leash in an unsecured area • Take dogs to dog parks • Allow foster dogs to interact with other dogs other than those in the household (with permission) Note: Young puppies have not been vaccinated against disease and should not be around other dogs. Puppies may be taken outside to do their business, but please keep them in your own yard. Daily Wellness Assessments Every day you must take a few minutes to give each of your foster animals a good onceover to look for any signs of illness or injury. As part of this assessment you should: • Weigh infant animals and record their progress • Look in their ears (should be clean- no odor or discharge) • Look in their eyes (should be clear and bright- no discharge) • Look in their mouth for ulcers (a sign of calicivirus in cats) • Listen to their breathing (their shouldn’t be any wheezing) • Check their skin for hair loss, scabs, dry patches, etc. • Check for fleas (look on the belly where there is less hair) • Take note of stool consistency 9 Weighing Young Animals Infant kittens and puppies must be weighed daily on a digital scale, and their weight recorded. • • • • If you do not have a scale, one will be provided for you by CHS. Kittens and puppies should gain roughly ½ ounce per day. A failure to gain weight or loss of weight indicates that something is wrong and they should be seen as soon as possible. Young animals should be chubby- not bony! Medical Concerns It is important that medical concerns get addressed quickly to prevent symptoms from worsening. Young animals are very fragile, and many medical concerns can be life threatening. Diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration which is often fatal, and even a flea infestation can lead to anemia and death. All medical decisions must be handled by our veterinary staff. Do not administer any medication without approval or attempt any “home remedies.” Immediately report to your Foster Care Coordinator any: • Vomiting • Diarrhea • Blood in stool • Sneezing or coughing • Ear odor or discharge • Eye discharge • Nasal discharge • Ulcers in the mouth • Wheezing when breathing or struggling to breathe • Loss of appetite • Failure to gain weight or loss of weight • Lethargy/change in energy level • Skin issues (dry, itchy, scabby, missing fur, oily) • Fleas or ticks • Constipation • Dehydration • Bleeding • Limping • Anything “different” Depending on the symptoms that your animal is experiencing, the Foster Care Coordinator may want to examine the animal or may ask that the animal be returned for hospitalization. Note: If the medical staff asks to examine the animal, the appointment should be scheduled as soon as possible. The veterinary team will determine how quickly the animal must be seen. 10 Routine Wellness Check-Ups Young animals must be seen by your Foster Care Coordinator every two weeks for Wellness Check-ups and routine deworming and vaccines. Our medical staff has to keep to a tight schedule, so please arrive on time for scheduled appointments and provide at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Check-ups may take up to a ½ hour or longer depending on the size of the litter. Vaccine Reactions Please monitor animals for vaccine reactions following a check-up, and contact us immediately if you notice your pet is having a reaction. Symptoms may include: • Vomiting • Diarrhea • Lethargy • Loss of appetite • Anything unusual Family Involvement Fostering is a great way for children to learn about caring for pets and helping pets in need. Children can: • Play with fosters and assist with socializing them • Assist an adult with measuring out the food Safety Note: Young children should never be left alone with foster animals. A trained adult must be responsible for: • Feedings (to ensure all animals are eating the proper amount) • Dispensing medications • Performing daily wellness assessments 11 Behavior Encouraging Good Manners It is important that you help your foster animals learn good manners. • Provide appropriate toys for cats to scratch so they don’t claw your furniture. • Make sure kittens are kept clean so they learn good grooming behaviors. • Don’t allow young animals to nibble on hands. It won’t be cute when they’re larger! • Give dogs appropriate toys to chew so they aren’t tempted to chew shoes or other inappropriate objects. • Ask dogs to sit before going out for walks, to earn their food, and for treats or pets. Many dogs know “sit” before leaving the shelter. If not, we can give you tips on teaching this behavior. • Crate dogs when they are not being supervised to keep them out of trouble. We can give you tips on desensitizing your dog to their crate so that it becomes a safe haven rather than a “punishment.” • Do not reward bad behavior, such as barking at the mailman or begging for food. Petting or talking to a dog while they are exhibiting unwanted behaviors will reinforce it because they are being rewarded with attention. Ignore unwanted behaviors, then redirect their attention by asking them to do something else, such as sitting. Note: The Connecticut Humane Society utilizes positive reinforcement training, which uses treats and praise to encourage good behavior. Volunteers must never use physical force or a raised voice to reprimand a foster animal. Behavioral Issues Behavioral issues that are left untreated may prevent the foster pet from going out for adoption when they are returned to the shelter, so it is important that any problem behaviors are reported to your Foster Care Coordinator as soon as possible. You will be given tips to correct the bad behavior before it becomes a habit. Immediately inform your Foster Care Coordinator of any behavioral issues that you are experiencing with your foster pet, such as: • • • • • • • Destructive behavior Cats not using the litter box Dogs having accidents inside Separation anxiety Fear Aggression Anything else that is of concern 12 Housebreaking We cannot guarantee that an animal is housebroken. A pet that was previously housebroken may have forgotten their training while residing in the shelter. Young animals should not be expected to be fully housetrained. You can start housetraining once they begin eating solid food at around 4-5 weeks of age, but expect accidents. Housebreaking Tips: Note: Kittens are curious and may attempt to eat their litter. Clumping litter can cause intestinal problems, so only nonclumping litter should be used for young kittens. Cats: • Litter pans should be placed away from food and bedding. • Be sure to keep the litter box clean. Some cats/kittens will not use a dirty box. • Use more than one litter box for large litters. • Use a litter box with low sides for young kittens so they can easily get in and out. • Keep kittens confined to a small room so they can easily get to their litter box when needed. • Many kittens begin using the litter box instinctively, but if they need help learning, place the kitten in the litter pan and stimulate them with a warm, moist cloth. When kitten starts to urinate or defecate, remove the cloth and allow the kitten to use the pan. Instinctively, the kitten should start scratching and burying waste. Repeat these steps until the kitten goes into the litter pan on his own. Dogs: • Dogs and puppies that aren’t housebroken should be kept in a small crate when not being supervised. They don’t like to relive themselves in a confined area where they will have to lie in their own waste. • Have a designated “potty spot” outside. Dogs like to go where they can smell their own waste. • Be observant! Figure out the signs your dog uses to let you know they have to go. • When removing dogs from the crate immediately take them straight outside to their “potty spot.” • Also take dogs to the “potty spot” a few minutes after eating. • Use a consistent phrase such as “go potty” or “do your business” to encourage them to go. • If they go, reward them with praise and treats and time out of their crate. • If they don’t go, take them back inside after a few minutes and return them to the crate. Try again in a little while. • When first housebreaking, don’t take dogs on long walks to do their business or they won’t learn to go quickly on command. Only take long walks after they have relieved themselves in the “potty spot.” • If a dog has an accident inside, do not punish or yell at them. Take the fecal matter outside and place it in their “potty spot.” • Clean accidents with a solution that will neutralize the odor. White vinegar diluted in water works well, as does Nature’s Miracle. 13 Aggression and Reporting a Bite Incident All animals will have their temperament evaluated before being placed in a foster home. Questionable or fearful animals will not be sent to a home with young children. Even the nicest animal may show signs of aggression if they are protecting their young. It is very important that all nursing moms are approached cautiously. If an animal begins to show signs of aggression, contact your Foster Care Coordinator immediately. Animals showing signs of aggression may need to be returned to CHS. If a foster pet bites or scratches anybody, contact CHS immediately to report the incident. The animal may need to be returned for a mandatory quarantine. This is for the safety of you and your family. Failure to report a bite will result in termination of your volunteer status. Medical Emergencies If your foster animal has a medical emergency, you will need to act quickly. A medical emergency is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate care, such as: • Severe injury or trauma • Difficulty breathing/blocked airway • Severe bleeding • Continuous vomiting • Lethargy/listlessness • Dehydration can also become life threatening. Signs of dehydration, such as concentrated urine and lethargy should be monitored closely. In the event of an emergency, animals should be brought back to the shelter for treatment if it is during our normal business hours and we have a vet on duty. Call ahead so that our staff can prepare. If the Connecticut Humane Society is closed or, with permission if there is no vet on duty, you will need to bring your foster pet to the after-hours emergency facility that we use in your area. A list of the clinics that we use can be found on page 3. After-hours visits can be very costly to the Society, so it is important that you follow the guidelines in the agreement below. The after-hours clinic will provide short-term care for the foster pet until CHS is open, at which point the volunteer must transfer the animal(s) back to the shelter. Volunteers may not leave foster animals hospitalized at the emergency clinic if CHS is open. It is important that you know how to get to the closest emergency clinic. Mapquest directions from your house, or program the address into your GPS. Keep your foster receipt and a copy of the emergency agreement somewhere handy so you will remember to bring it with you in an emergency. 14 Connecticut Humane Society Foster Care After-Hours Emergency Agreement Volunteer Responsibilities: 1. Foster care volunteers may only use the emergency clinics that we have agreements with. 2. Foster care volunteers may only use the emergency clinic when CHS is not open or, with permission, when there is no vet on duty. CHS is open Monday-Saturday from 9:30 am-5:30 pm, and Sundays from 11 am-4 pm. CHS is closed for most major holidays. 3. Foster care volunteers may only use the emergency clinic for true, life-threatening emergencies. Volunteers are required to call ahead to the emergency clinic so that the doctor or receptionist can assess the severity of the illness or injury over the phone. Volunteers must not “walk-in” without calling ahead. 4. Volunteers must present a “Foster Receipt” on arrival at the hospital to prove that the animal is indeed a CHS foster animal, along with the medical record for the foster pet. Receipts and medical records will be provided when you pick up an animal at CHS for fostering. 5. Volunteers must bring a copy of this agreement with them to the hospital. 6. into the Connecticut Humane Society’s account. Do not set up an account under your own name. The clinic will bill CHS directly for services. Volunteers do not need to pay at the time of the visit. 7. Volunteers do not have the authority to authorize any treatments. The veterinarian must act objectively and according to the signed agreement with CHS that is on file. 8. Foster Volunteers are responsible for notifying a CHS staff person following a trip to the emergency clinic, and for transferring the foster animal back to CHS the first thing in the morning following treatment at the emergency hospital. Please call the shelter in the morning and speak directly to a staff member. Do not leave a message on voice mail or send an e-mail. 9. Volunteers must not leave an animal hospitalized for more than one night without the express verbal consent of a CHS manager. 10. If you are unable to pick up a foster animal the morning following treatment at the clinic, you must speak directly to a CHS staff member to make arrangements for a staff member to pick up the foster pet. In addition, the doctor has agreed to: 1. Refer to the signed agreement (located in the Connecticut Humane Society’s account/file). 2. Stabilize the foster animal but refrain from performing excessive surgery/treatments that can wait until the following day. 3. Attempt to contact a CHS staff member for authorization to exceed our pre-authorized cap of $500.00 per animal. After-hours contact information is on the signed copy of the agreement that they have on file. 4. If the doctor deems it is necessary, they will have the authority to euthanize a foster animal, but the volunteer must transfer the body back to CHS the following morning for disposal. 5. The doctor will refrain from dispensing follow-up medications (i.e. Clavamox, etc.) that can be obtained by the volunteer at CHS for no cost. *NOTE: If the emergency clinic staff is not aware of this agreement, please have them reference the Connecticut Humane Society account/file. 15 Unassisted Death In the unfortunate event that a foster animal passes away at your home, please call and inform us right away. The body should be brought to the shelter for proper disposal. Our medical staff may want to examine the body to determine the cause of death. Please understand that unfortunately death is a reality when fostering infant animals. Infants do not have a fully developed immune system and may not survive despite the best care and medicine. Returning Your Foster Animal(s) All foster animals remain the property of the Connecticut Humane Society and must be returned for adoption. Most puppies and kittens are scheduled to come back when they are between eight and nine weeks old. By this stage they should weigh at least two pounds. If they weigh less than two pounds, you may be asked to keep them a little longer. When returning animals make sure you: • Have a scheduled return appointment time • Return the animals clean and ready for adoption • Have fasted the animals if they are scheduled to be spayed or neutered Remove their food the night before surgery and don’t feed them in the morning. Water is ok. • Return all food and supplies unless “swapping” right away for your next assignment • Return your digital scale • Complete a foster report card Note: If an emergency arises and you are not able to keep the foster animal(s) until their scheduled return date, call in advance to let us know the fosters will be coming back early. Do not leave fosters in the care of petsitters, neighbors or family members that have not gone through the Foster Care training. They will not know whom to contact in case of emergency. Promoting Your Foster Pets for Adoption Do: • • • E-mail up to three high-quality digital photos to your foster coordinator for use on our website. Photos should be clear, high resolution, and should not contain people in them. Provide detailed information about your pet’s personality on the Foster Care Report Card form. Let your foster coordinator know if a friend is interested in adopting your foster pet. Don’t • Promote your foster pet to friends or family until they are available for adoption. • Promise a foster pet to anybody. All adoptions are first-come, first served and must go through our application process. We cannot put a pet on hold for your friend or promise they will be guaranteed the adoption. No exceptions. 16 Volunteer Adoption Policy Please do not get too attached to your foster animals. Fostering is meant to be temporary and we cannot promise that you will be allowed to adopt your foster animal. In some cases there is already an adopter lined up for the pet prior to it being sent to a foster home. If you do decide that you would like to be considered to adopt your foster animal, let us know prior to returning the animal to the shelter. Tip: If you are thinking about adopting, ask yourself how it will affect your ability to continue fostering. As a foster parent you can help many animals each year and your foster animal will likely be adopted quickly by another family. Foster volunteers will be able to adopt if: • The animal does not already have an adoptive home lined up • The animal was kept for the entire length of the foster assignment • The animal is returned in a condition deemed acceptable by the veterinary and behavioral staff • The foster family meets general CHS adoptions policies Volunteers must complete our general adoptions process and be approved for adoption. For details about the adoptions process, requirements and fees please visit our website, www.cthumane.org/adopt. We do require that our foster volunteers pay the full adoption fee. Volunteers that have been with the organization for five consecutive years are eligible for one free adoption per calendar year, in accordance with CHS adoption policies. Mandatory training class fees may still apply. All returned fosters must be vaccinated, health checked, and sometimes spayed or neutered before they can be adopted. If you are approved to adopt, we will put the animal on hold for you and you will have 24 hours from the time the pet is cleared medically to come in and finalize the process. Disease Control between Foster Groups Foster animals may be harboring an illness that can live in the environment. To prevent disease transmission between foster groups it is important that the foster room is thoroughly cleaned between assignments. To disinfect: • Wash all bedding, soft toys and linens in the room in hot water with laundry detergent (with bleach when possible) • Soak all toys, litter pans and other hard items in a solution of 1 part bleach to 33 parts water (ex. 1 oz. bleach per quart of water) • Vacuum or mop the floor with disinfectant • Wipe down the walls with disinfectant 17 Happy Endings Once foster pets have been made available for adoption they will appear in the list of available animals in the “Adopt” section of our website. A day after the pet is adopted their name and photo will appear in the Happy Tails section of our website. To view our Happy Tails go to www.cthumane.org/adopt and click the Adoptions Success Stories link. Scroll down the page to the “Happy Tails” database. Types of Assignments Orphaned Infant Animals Fostering orphaned infant puppies and kittens is challenging, but extremely rewarding. Animals of this age (0 to 4 weeks old) are completely dependent on their “surrogate mother” for survival. • They will require specialized care and around-the-clock bottlefeeding until they are fully weaned onto solid food at around 45 weeks of age. • For detailed information about caring for these fosters, please refer to the Infant Animal Care handout. Pregnant Animals Fostering an expecting animal is a wonderful experience. You will be able to witness the miracle of life right before your eyes. Pregnant animals need extra care and consideration while they are preparing to give birth. • Confine them to a room or enclosure where they will be kept quiet and comfortable. • Provide a space for the mom to give birth, such as a box with towels in it. Animals like to hide and have privacy while they are giving birth. While most deliveries go smoothly, it is not uncommon to find that the mom has given birth to one or more stillborn infants. Signs that the delivery is not going smoothly: • Excessive bleeding • Vocalization that indicates that the mom is experiencing pain If your mom is in distress, please treat the situation as a medical emergency, and follow the emergency guidelines in this manual. Our medical staff will give us an estimate as to when the mom may give birth. If it seems that the mother is having trouble going into labor, please contact CHS medical staff. We may ask for the foster animal to be returned for a medical evaluation or treatment. Please refer to the Pregnant Animal handout for more detailed information about fostering pregnant animals. Note: For births that occur in your home, contact your Foster Care Coordinator to report how many offspring were born, and how they are all doing. 18 Moms with Litters When a mom first comes to your home with her babies, allow her to have some time and space to get used to her surroundings and reduce her stress. • • • • • • • • • • Keep moms with litters in a relatively quiet room Provide a large bed or nest box for mom and babies to nurse in Food and water should be available for mom at all times The room should be baby-proofed. Even kittens and puppies with their eyes still shut are very mobile and can easily find themselves in harm’s way Monitor nursing. If an infant is not eating enough, place them right up to mom’s nipple. If the infants are failing to gain weight, contact the Foster Care Coordinator. If the mom is neglecting the infants, contact the Foster Care Coordinator. Infants will continue to nurse up to 6-8 weeks of age, gradually introduce solid food around 4 weeks of age. Once infants are eating on their own, begin separating the mom from them during the day for gradually increasing periods of time. Always be cautious around moms with their litters. They can sometimes become protective of their babies. Watch for warning signs such as growling or hissing. 19 Self-Sufficient Puppies and Kittens Once kittens and puppies are eating on their own, around 4 weeks of age, they are considered self-sufficient. • At this age they can be kept in a small room where they can run and play. • A bed should be provided along with food and water and a litter box for kittens. • Make sure their space is completely baby-proofed and damage-proofed. • They will want to play and be held and cuddled often. • Keep kittens confined to a small room so that they have easy access to return to their litter box, and so they aren’t able to hide or get into trouble. • Puppies should only be walked outside in your yard. • Young animals are not fully immune so they must be kept away from other animals and possible exposure to disease. Animals with Medical Conditions Animals that are recovering from an illness or operation may be placed in a foster home until they are completely recovered and able to be adopted. These animals will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and the Foster Care Coordinator will make sure you are aware of all of the specific needs of the animal. • Follow instructions carefully and be diligent about medicating. • If any conditions get worse, contact your Foster Care Coordinator immediately. Animals Requiring Behavior Modification/Socialization Certain shelter animals may need to be placed into foster care for modification of an unwanted behavior or for general socialization. • Volunteers that take in these special assignments must be prepared for a little extra work and must be able to follow the instructions from our Behavior staff. • These animals will need extra time spent building their trust (sometimes through hand-feeding), and possibly some training. • These animals will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and any specific handling instructions will be relayed to you when the animal is picked up. 20 Feeding of Foster Animals Thanks to a generous shelter support program from Hills, CHS feeds all cats and dogs through the Hills Science Diet shelter feeding program. In order to maintain a consistent diet we ask that you only change a pets feeding protocol once you have received permission from your foster coordinator. Water Fresh water must be available at all times and changed daily. Kitten Feeding Weaned kittens between 4-6 weeks of age should be given ¼ cup of kibble per kitten twice a day, which should be left out for them to consume throughout the day. They should also be offered 1-2 tablespoons of wet food 3-4 times daily. Kittens between 6-8 weeks are fed ¼ cup of kitten kibble twice a day, plus ¼ can of wet food twice daily. Pregnant or Nursing Cat Feeding Pregnant and nursing cats will be fed 1/2 cup of dry kitten food three times a day as well as receiving 1 tablespoon of canned kitten food 1-2 times a day as necessary. In late pregnancy (last 2 weeks) and early nursing (first 2 weeks), dry food should be available at all times. Adolescent and Adult Cat Feeding Adolescent and adult cats are fed ¼ cup of dry food twice daily. Sick Cats Sick cats will receive 1 tablespoon canned food once a day in addition to their kibble. Puppies and Pregnant Dog Feeding Puppies under 6 months old and pregnant dogs are fed three times daily. They are fed the following quantities: Weight of Puppy 2# 5# 8# 10 # 20 # 40 # 60 # 80 # 100 # 120 # Cups of Food per Feeding <4 months 4-9 months 10-12 months or pregnant or pregnant or pregnant ¼ ¼ ¼ ½ ½ 1/3 ¾ 2/3 ½ 1 ¾ 2/3 1½ 1 1/3 1 2½ 2¼ 1¾ 3½ 3 2 1/3 4 1/3 3 2/3 2¾ 5¼ 4 1/3 3½ 6 5 4 Puppies that cannot eat dry kibble may have a small amount of canned I/D mixed into their kibble to soften it. 21 General Feeding for Adult and Adolescent Dogs Adolescent and adult dogs, excluding pregnant dogs, are fed twice daily. They are fed the following quantities: Weight of Dogs 1yr + 5# 10 # 20 # 40 # 60 # 80 # 100# Cups of Food per Feeding ¼ ½ ¾ 1¼ 1¾ 2¼ 3 Animals Requiring a Special Diet In some instances, animals may be placed on a restricted diet due to medical or behavioral needs. Unless specific feeding guidelines are noted on the foster receipt, animals requiring a special diet are fed the prescribed diet at the same frequencies and quantities identified above. Animals Not Eating/Picky Eaters If your foster animal has been eating well and suddenly stops eating, notify your foster care contact at the shelter. Animals who have been picky eaters or who have refused to eat since arrival should also be brought to the attention of your foster coordinator. Fasting Animals being returned in the morning for surgery that day should be fasted. Take away food at bedtime/midnight the night before. Water is ok. Treats Treats, when appropriate, will be provided by your foster care coordinator. Unless otherwise instructed, please follow the below guidelines. Do not feed foster animals table scraps as this can lead to vomiting or diarrhea. Some foods that people eat are poisonous to animals. If your foster pet is on a prescription or special diet, please check with your foster coordinator before giving ANY treats. The following treats are OK for normal puppies over 6 weeks old and dogs not on a prescription or restricted diet: Type of Treat Mini or small baked crunchy biscuits (2” or smaller) Medium baked crunchy biscuits Mini/training sized chewy treats (1/2” or smaller) Small chewy treats (bite-sized) Medium-sized chewy treats (Beggin’ strips, Pupperoni, etc.) Puppies over six weeks & Dogs under 20 lbs Up to 4 per day Dogs over 20 lbs Dogs over 60 lbs Up to 8 per day Up to 8 per day N/A Up to 4 per day N/A Up to 8 per day Up to 2 per day Up to 8 per day 1 per day Up to ½ per day Up to 2 per day Up to 1 per day Up to 3 per day Up to 2 per day Note: number given is total for the day. If giving multiple types of treats, decrease the number accordingly (some dry and some chewy mini treats = 2 of each, 4 total, not 8 total) 22 CONNECTICUT HUMANE SOCIETY FOSTER CARE AGREEMENT Volunteer Copy I hereby agree to participate in the Connecticut Humane Society (CHS) Foster Care Program. I have received a copy of the Foster Care Manual. I agree to follow the conditions set forth below. • Volunteers are responsible for following the guidelines set forth in the Foster Care Manual. • All animals remain the property of CHS and are to be returned to CHS as directed by the Foster Care Coordinator. Please do not make arrangements with your family or friends to adopt your foster animals. • Fostering does not guarantee that you will be able to adopt your foster pet. The Volunteer Adoptions Policy is outlined in the Foster Care Manual. • Young animals are to be returned at eight weeks of age. Animals must be at least 2 lbs. for spay/neuter surgery. • All foster animals must be kept separated from other pets in the household, unless prior authorization is given from your Foster Care Coordinator to let the animals interact. • CHS is not liable for any damage done by foster animals, including injury or illness to other pets. • All supplies (i.e. food, litter, medication, etc.) will be provided by CHS. Volunteers will not be reimbursed for expenses unless the Foster Care Coordinator gives prior authorization. • Volunteers must follow all instructions regarding medicating, bathing, etc. • Volunteers must perform a daily wellness check-up on each foster animal, and must follow CHS guidelines about brining animals in for routine exams. • If your foster animal becomes ill, contact CHS immediately. After-hours emergencies must be handled according to the emergency agreement policy. Do not take a foster animal to your own vet. CHS is not responsible for any veterinary bill incurred by you. • If your foster animal is exhibiting any behavioral issues, such as aggression, fear, litter box avoidance, separation anxiety, etc., please contact your Foster Care Coordinator immediately. • If you are bitten by your foster animal, you must notify CHS immediately so that we can comply with quarantine laws. • You agree to provide the animal placed in your custody with proper food, water, shelter, care and with adequate human contact to socialize him/her. • CHS reserves the right to examine the animal at any time, upon reasonable notice, and may require that the animal be returned at any time. 23 A Poem for Foster Volunteers There I sat, alone and afraid. You got a call and came right to my aid. You bundled me up with blankets and love. And, when I needed it most, you gave me a hug. I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold. That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold. You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend. You loved me and healed me and became my first friend. And just when I thought you'd done all you do, There came along not one new lesson, but two. First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go. I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know." Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss. Along came a new family, they even have kids! They took me to their home, forever to stay. At first I thought you sent me away. Then that second lesson became perfectly clear. No matter how far, you will always be near. And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on. I have a new home, with toys and a lawn. But I'll never forget what I learned that first day. You never really give your fosters away. You gave me these thoughts to remember you by. We may never meet again, and now I know why. You'll remember I lived with you for a time. I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine. - Author Unknown 24