Foster Guidelines

FOSTER PROCEDURES/GUIDELINES

Life Savers Animal Rescue (LSAR) sincerely thanks you for helping us save lives. LSAR does not have a facility and relies on compassionate people such as you to temporarily house and care for these animals that would otherwise be euthanized. The majority of animals that come into our program are “pound animals”, meaning they have been picked up by Animal Control or law enforcement for a variety reasons. Pound animals are given 3 days for possible owners to reclaim them. If they are not reclaimed in 3 days they are then euthanized. At this point LSAR steps in. If we believe the animal is adoptable, we take it into our program and the animal goes to an available foster home.

Before being placed in a foster home, every animal is assessed for health problems, temperament, and is spayed/neutered (if old enough). Because LSAR is under time constraints to save these animals, it is possible that certain health or temperament issues will not be apparent at the time of the initial assessment. This is where the foster person’s input is crucial to the life of the animal, as well as determining the type of home it will need.

The following procedures and guidelines are to aide the foster person with situations that may arise:

PLEASE... IMMEDIATELY, OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, CONTACT A MEMBER OF LSAR IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ANIMAL THAT YOU ARE FOSTERING. REFER TO YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION LIST.

1. We recommend that if you have children or animals of your own that the foster animal be kept separate from them for a reasonable amount of time until it can become accustomed to its new environment. This also allows you to get to know the animal one on one. Children should be supervised and not be left alone with any foster animal.

2. If you observe any type of illness or strange behavior with your foster animal, isolate it immediately and call an LSAR member on your contact list.

3. In an emergency, such as your foster animal being hit by a vehicle, profuse bleeding, continuous vomiting etc., use caution when approaching it. Animals can react with uncharacteristic behavior when in pain or distress. Call an LSAR member on your contact list immediately.

4. If you feel comfortable approaching and handling the animal, take it to a veterinary clinic. Please inform them that this is an LSAR foster animal and that LSAR will pay up to $50.00 to relieve the animal of any pain, or in dire circumstances, to humanely euthanize the animal. Call a member on your LSAR contact list immediately. Once contacted the LSAR member will determine along with the veterinarian the extent of illness or injury and the course of action required. LSAR wants your foster experience to be an enjoyable one for you and the animal. The majority of people who foster for LSAR have had some experience with animals and expect certain “normal” animal behavior. Please understand that LSAR cannot guarantee the health, disposition or life span of the animal you foster as LSAR is uncertain as to its background. The foster person needs to be aware that there is a certain amount of risk involved with fostering any animal for LSAR. If at any time you do not feel comfortable with the animal you are fostering or if you have questions, please contact us immediately. Thank you for helping us save lives!