Volunteer Department 157 West Grand Avenue Chicago, IL

Transcription

1 Volunteer Department 157 West Grand Avenue Chicago, IL Lydia Krupinski Manager of Volunteer Services (312) x 330 FOSTER VOLUNTEER MANUAL

2 WELCOME Dear Friend of The Anti-Cruelty Society, Thank you for opening your home to help the animals of The Anti-Cruelty Society. Your generosity and dedication make a significant difference to our organization and, more importantly, to the dogs and cats in our care. Last year, The Anti-Cruelty Society came to the aid of approximately 27,000 animals through various programs and initiatives. These include the animal shelter, our high volume adoptions, veterinary services including a public spay/neuter program, cruelty complaint investigation, animal rescue, and animal behavior and training programs. These results would not be possible without the passion and participation of hundreds of animal lovers like you, who selflessly donated over 30,000 hours to help the animals in our care. You are joining us at a very exciting time, when your assistance is particularly critical to creating a brighter future for our animal companions. Since The Anti-Cruelty Society is now finding homes for all adoptable animals that come to us, we are further turning our attention to assist pets that are not yet adoptable through our rehabilitation centers. Just imagine how many additional animals can be rehabilitated and placed in loving homes with your help! Equally exciting, The Anti-Cruelty Society is performing record numbers of spay/neuter operations, with over 13,000 surgical procedures projected for the coming year. Conducted in the home of Chicago s oldest and largest low-cost spay/neuter clinic, this amazing number of sterilizations prevents the birth of tens of thousands of unwanted kittens and puppies for whom there are just not enough loving homes. Whether you are helping with adoptions, in the veterinary clinic, with special events, in the office, or by opening your heart and home as a foster parent, you can take great pleasure in knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of the animals at The Anti-Cruelty Society. We hope that your volunteer experience with us is as rewarding to you as it is to the animals you are caring for. Without the help of each and every one of you, our work assisting animals would not be possible. Thank you again! Sincerely, Robyn Barbiers, D.V.M President Lydia Krupinski Manager of Volunteer Services

3 THE ANTI-CRUELTY SOCIETY FOSTER PROGRAM By becoming an Anti-Cruelty Society Foster Volunteer, you provide a vital lifeline for cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies who are not ready for adoption room placement. The individual love and care you provide gives animals an opportunity to flourish in a home rather than in the shelter environment. Foster periods may vary from a couple of weeks to several months - but the impact on the person and pet last a lifetime. Being a foster parent for homeless animals is a rewarding and gratifying experience. With the extra attention and socialization, animals that are fostered are more likely to be adopted into permanent, loving homes. Thanks to volunteers like you - we temporarily housed over 350 animals in 2012 and this number continues to grow! In an effort to better the Foster Volunteer experience we have created the following manual to best serve your needs. In it we address questions and concerns that you may have while fostering with The Anti-Cruelty Society. The contents also include specific information regarding animal care and shelter policies please be sure to review these carefully. As a foster parent you will also enjoy many personal benefits. These include rehabilitating a sick or under-socialized animal, receiving a 10% discount in our shelter store, discounts to School of Dog Training classes, and access to continuing education lectures by staff and field experts. Once again thank you for joining us in this incredible and important program - we couldn t do it without you! ABOUT US OUR MISSION Building a community of caring by helping pets and educating people. The Anti-Cruelty Society shall: Provide compassionate care for any animal in need Attempt to find a home for every healthy or rehabilitatable dog and cat that comes to us Intervene to prevent cruelty to animals Partner with the community to educate on animal issues and inspire compassion and respect Provide low or no cost spaying or neutering VALUES We will provide the best quality animal care through: Collaboration only through partnerships and relationships can we achieve our mission Excellence - we will strive to have a best practice model in all that we do

4 Professionalism we will act with integrity and in an ethical manner Leadership we will plan for the next generation of issues that will impact our organization, our community and pets Communication we will fearlessly outline and communicate our commitment to being advocates for animals Transparency we support the Asilomar Accords and proudly and publicly report our statistics PHILOSOPHY At The Anti-Cruelty Society we believe: In an open door policy we will not turn away any animal in need There are no time limits placed on any animal in our care That no healthy or rehabilitatable pet should be euthanized The key to pet overpopulation is sterilization That education can prevent cruelty, abuse and neglect and promote responsible pet ownership If an animal s quality of life is severely compromised, euthanasia is the humane alternative SINCE The Anti-Cruelty Society has been committed to serving the needs of companion animals and the humans who care for and about them. Since 1999, the beginning of our second century of caring, we have found loving permanent homes for more than 40,000 pets, spayed or neutered more than 61,000 animals and taught messages of compassion and caring for the animals to more than 225,000 school-aged children and community groups POLICIES OPEN ADMISSIONS POLICY: All animals that come through our doors receive the most humane treatment possible. No animal will be turned away, whether they are sick, injured, illtempered, young, old, feral, not wanted, or a stray. Maintaining an open admission shelter allows The Anti-Cruelty Society to take in animals that might otherwise be abandoned, neglected, or abused. While the adoption guarantee organization is performing a valuable service, in many communities it is not enough. These shelters are limited admission facilities that only accept animals that are highly adoptable and on a space-available basis. The Anti-Cruelty Society recognizes the limitations of these low-capacity shelters, and for this reason has always implemented an open-admission policy. As a foster volunteer, you play an important role as a source of information about these, and other issues, for the potential adopters.

5 EMOTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: Fostering animals can become emotionally exhausting at times. Whether caring for an animal who is sick or parting with an animal upon their foster return, there are many emotional considerations to keep in mind when working within the Foster Program. Whether you feel overwhelmed by an animal s lack of house-training or find out that one of your fosters may have a fatal illness, it s important to focus on the positives and what you can personally do to make an impact in each animal s life. Whether they are with you for a short period of time, are transferred out to one of our partners, or euthanized, you have a unique opportunity to care for that pet during their foster stay with you. If you should ever find yourself struggling to cope with the emotional aspects of fostering, please contact our Volunteer Department for additional resources and assistance. We are here to help you make the most of this experience. EUTHANASIA: The majority of the euthanasia performed occurs to animals undergoing tests and evaluations by the clinic and staff, prior to placement in the foster or an Adoption Room. Sometimes pets will undergo reevaluation for health and temperament after placement in foster care or the adoption center, and may be deemed unadoptable. In these circumstances The Anti- Cruelty Society exhausts the following options when appropriate before euthanizing an animal: Medical treatment and placement in our rehabilitation suite. Relocation to foster home for the treatment of an illness and/or socialization. Placement with a rescue organization if available If these options are not feasible, the shelter may decide to euthanize the animal in question. With this in mind, please note that there is no time limit on a cat that is up for adoption and that as long as they remain healthy and psychologically sound, they will remain in the Adoption Room until an appropriate placement is made. We ask that all staff and volunteers show consideration to the designated personnel who are directly involved with the making of these difficult decisions. FOSTER PROGRAM GUIDELINES LICENSE: The State of Illinois Department of Agriculture requires that every foster parent obtain a license that recognizes them as a foster household. The State and Anti-Cruelty Society have the authority to inspect each foster home. The annual fee for this license is $25 and is collected by the shelter for payment to the State. The Anti-Cruelty Society will pay the fee in subsequent years, should you remain an active foster parent in good standing. If you become inactive in the Program for a twelve month period, you will be required to regain state licensure and pay the $25 fee if you wish to resume fostering.

6 OWNERSHIP: Foster animals remain the legal property of The Anti-Cruelty Society while in foster care. Foster volunteers must return the animal to The Anti-Cruelty Society when requested. CONTACT INFORMATION - The Volunteer Coordinators must be advised of any name, address or telephone number changes as soon as they occur. SCHEDULE - We ask that you do not have any planned vacations or business trips on your calendar when contemplating a fostering period. You will be advised of the recommended length of the foster stay, but you should allow yourself an extra week or two. We understand that personal or professional emergencies come up from time to time. If this does occur, we recommend the following: A friend, neighbor or relative may tend to the animal(s). However, the Volunteer Coordinators MUST be advised of the name, daytime and evening telephone number of the person. Anti-Cruelty Society animal(s) in foster care should not be placed with Veterinary Clinics, Animal Hospitals, boarding facilities or the like without permission from The Anti-Cruelty Society. In any situation, animal(s) should be returned directly to The Anti- Cruelty Society if no other arrangements can be made. OTHER PETS: For health reasons, it is better to foster an animal of another species than your resident pet(s). Most common dog and cat diseases are not transferable from one species to the other. We still urge you to keep the foster animal segregated from your resident pet(s).you should always wash your hands between handling a foster animal and your resident pet. Finally, check with your veterinarian to make sure that your own animals are up to date on their vaccinations. The Anti-Cruelty Society will not reimburse you for medical attention for your own resident pets. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDS: Foster animals should not have any access to plants or flowers, electrical cords, or other hazardous materials. Survey the area where foster animals will be housed. Anticipate that as foster animals grow, or are rehabilitated, their capabilities may change (e.g. jumping over pet gate). Never allow foster or your own animals to ingest chocolate, or other human foods, as many can have negative health effects. Visit the following website for a comprehensive and continually updated list of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: SAFETY: If you have children, they should be supervised at all times when in the presence of a foster animal. Should anyone be bitten or scratched (where the skin is broken) by the foster animal, the Volunteer Coordinator must be notified immediately. Be certain you scrub the affected area with hot water and soap. You should also seek the consultation of your health care provider as soon as possible. A bite report may need to be completed by the authorities, depending on your community. The animal should be returned to the Shelter as soon as possible for observation and will be examined by an Anti-Cruelty Society Veterinarian and Behaviorist.

7 LOST FOSTERS: Should an animal become lost or stolen, The Anti-Cruelty Society should be notified immediately. A police report should be made for any stolen animal. FOSTER DEATH: If a foster animal should suddenly die which in your care, please return them to the Anti-Cruelty Society as quickly as possible. This will be helpful in ascertaining the cause of death, and will also help in determining time frames or special disinfecting instructions before your next foster animal. Please also call ahead and notify the Foster Coordinator and Customer Service desk before bringing in a deceased foster. BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: Our Behavior Specialists are available to foster parents each day of the week. Whether it s help potty training or getting advice on how to socialize a shy pet this team of residents experts wants to help you help your foster! Contact the Foster Coordinator or the department directly if you would like to speak with someone from the Animal Behavior & Training team. Their contact information is found at the end of this manual. BITE REPORTING: If you are bitten by a foster animal immediately wash the wound thoroughly and follow-up with your health care provider. The foster volunteer must also notify the Foster Coordinator to complete an incident report and schedule a time for the animal to be returned. After notification that an animal bite has occurred, Society staff complete a Cook County bite report form which is required by law. For post-bite management, The Society follows the guidelines in the most current Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. If no testing is to be done, The Anti-Cruelty Society coordinates pre- and post-observation with one of our veterinarians on site for the legally mandated period of time. Once the quarantine period is over the pet is reassessed by a behavior specialist and, if appropriate, may be placed up for adoption. EMERGENCY POLICY: Any excessive vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, loss of appetite and lethargy that occur in a kitten or puppy, or for more than 24 hours in an adult pet, may be a sign of serious illness. In these events it is important that Foster Volunteers contact a medical professional at The Anti-Cruelty Society as soon as possible by calling the main shelter number and dialing 0. The Anti-Cruelty Society cannot reimburse Foster Volunteers for charges incurred at other facilities or clinics, so it is important to recognize these symptoms early, and to contact a member of the staff or clinic before our phone lines close at 7:30pm. ADOPTIONS: Animals must be at least eight weeks of age and weigh at least two pounds before becoming eligible for the adoption room placement. Once these criteria are met and all obvious symptoms of any illness or injury have disappeared, a foster animal is ready to return to the ACS.

8 The Anti-Cruelty Society reaches out to a diverse community of both animals and people. Because of this, we intake animals from various backgrounds in ranging conditions into the shelter. Some animals who find their way to The Anti-Cruelty Society may be too young, underweight, ill, or temperamentally unstable and therefore not ready adoption room placement. SELECTING YOUR FOSTER: We keep an up-to-date list of animals awaiting foster care on our website. Included in the information provided will be the animal s identification number, age, breed, weight, foster reason, and estimated length of stay. The foster list can be found on our main website under Current Volunteers. When choosing an animal to foster, you will want to pay particular attention to the suggested foster length of stay as well as the reason for foster. You know your own availability best and can choose which animal/s is right for you. When selecting a foster, only choose animals who you feel confident in sheltering. If you have little experience dealing with older dogs with behavior issues, perhaps a puppy is a better fit. A litter of kittens that needs to be bottle fed six times a day may not be suitable for someone who works 8-10 hours on weekdays. In addition, fosters marked as high risk should only be fostered by experienced Foster Volunteers, as these animals may be more susceptible to complications or death. All fosters also run the potential of developing a communicable illness such as Bordatella or Upper Respiratory Infection even if sent out for age, weight, or socialization. Keep all of these factors in mind when choosing who to bring home. We have found that most young foster animals do better in pairs. If you re considering fostering a kitten or puppy who is amongst a litter, think about taking a sibling in as well. Many times young animals gain valuable socialization from their litter mates and provide round the clock companionship for the animal. Once you have chosen your foster animal/s, contact the Volunteer Coordinator and indicate who you are interested in and when you are available to pick them up. SAFE PROGRAM: The Anti-Cruelty Society has a special program called SAFE which temporarily houses animals whose families are in a crisis situation. After qualifying for the program the owners bring their pets to our facility where they are updated on vaccinations and have a spay/neuter surgery performed if they are intact. If the animal is a good foster candidate we will indicate their availability in the weekly announcements. Foster Volunteers are always encouraged to work with these pets. FOSTER INFORMATION: The day you pick up an animal(s), you will be given a copy of a Foster Contract for each individual animal. It is important that you keep this in your possession and available when calling the Society with any concerns that you may have. You will easily be able FOSTER PROGRAM STEPS

9 to reference the animal(s) identification number, age, sex, breed, etc. This will enable us to respond to your concerns on a more comprehensive level. When you return the animal(s) after the foster period, it will also help the Receiving Department book your return in a more timely fashion. PICK UP: Our Customer Service Department, which assists fosters during pick-up, is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. seven days a week. When you arrive at the shelter, check-in with the Customer Service team in the Adoption Center Lobby. A staff member will ask for your name and will confirm the number of animals you are signed up to foster. They will print out one contract per animal for you to sign, and will also provide you with copies. Please keep these files for reference during the entire length of the foster animals stay. Once the contracts are signed a staff member will bring the animal/s to the front desk. Unless the animal is too young, they will be microchipped and will be wearing a collar with their unique Anti-Cruelty Society tag number. When picking up litters it is important to keep these collars on the animals to ensure proper identification during clinic visits and returns. If you do not bring a carrier with you, the staff member will place smaller animals in a recyclable paper crate, or if the animal is walkable, will provide you with a leash. You will also be sent home with a bag of dry Science Diet food, free of charge. Fosters receive a 10% discount in our store and are encouraged to pick up any additional supplies and accessories at the time of pick up. BRINGING THEM HOME: It is not unusual for foster animals to have a reduced appetite for a day after the foster period begins. Remember that the animal is coping with new surroundings, new people and perhaps a new diet. All of this can be stressful. Allow your foster animal some time to adjust to its new environment. Most animals placed in foster care will be microchipped prior to departure from the shelter for permanent identification purposes. All animals are given de-worming medication upon arrival at The Anti-Cruelty Society. However, further treatment may be required. Please monitor your foster animal(s) bowel movements. Loose or watery stools may be an indication of continued infestation and should be reported to the Foster Coordinator. The Anti-Cruelty Society recommends the use of stainless steel food and water bowls. They are most durable, easy to disinfect and keep free of contaminants. The best way to disinfect objects (toys, bowls, litter boxes, etc.) is with a mild bleach solution: 1 part bleach to 32 parts water (e.g. ½ cup household bleach in 1 gallon of water). It is important to recognize, regardless of the original cause for foster care, it is still possible that foster animals may become ill during the foster period. Animals that appear free of a contagious sickness upon veterinary examination may be incubating a viral or bacterial infection, and can show symptoms later on. Please inform the Volunteer Coordinator of any new symptoms. If after the adjustment period you should find that your current foster is not a good fit for your household please let us know! We want you and the animal to have a

10 positive experience, so don t be embarrassed to contact us if things aren t working out. All medical attention, exams, medications, and special foods for foster animals should be obtained from the Anti-Cruelty Society Clinic, free of charge. Our veterinarians are available seven days a week by phone or pre-arranged appointment. Please note that the clinic itself is closed to the public on weekends, although staff is present. BEFORE THEIR RETURN: Prior to returning a foster animal ensure that each of the following is complete: Foster Stay: Verify that the foster animal is ready to return. Were they sent out for age? If so they need to be at least 2 months old and 2 pounds heavy to be passed for adoption. Were they fostered for illness? Make sure they have finished their medication and are no longer showing symptoms. Were they sent out for socialization or behavior? Be sure to check in with the Foster Coordinator to ensure they are ready to return. Personality Profile: Please turn in a completed personality profile for each foster you return. These profiles allow the behavior specialists to properly categorize the animal for our Adoption Match Program while giving adopters vital information about each animal s observed personality. Copies of these profiles can be found at the end of this manual. Socialization Tracker: All fosters are asked to complete a socialization tracker when working with felines or canines under 6 months of age. This tracker will help you work on exposing each animal to the sights and sounds of the human world. Not only will this help prepare the kitten or puppy for a return to the shelter, it will also make them more successful in managing stress and new situations for the remainder of their life. Socialization tracking forms can be found at the end of this manual and should be turned in alongside your foster personality profile upon the animal s return. RETURN: Our Receiving Department is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. seven days a week. When returning a foster animal, staff will ask you for the official foster volunteer s name. Please keep this in mind if your partner or a friend is making the return. Please note that any toys or personal items left with the animal may not make their way with the pet to the adoption room. OBTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FOSTER RETURN: At the time of return, you will be given invoice from the Receiving Department. This invoice will contain the animal's identification number. While we can never breach the privacy of an adopter - such as giving out name, address or telephone number - we can inform you of the status of the animal. You are welcome to the Volunteer Coordinator to find out the disposition of an animal you have fostered. Just reference the identification number allocated at the time of return. You can also

11 regularly check the adopted animals list. We provide the secret link to this portion of our website in our weekly . MEDICAL CONDITIONS: If you have a foster for whom you would like to seek medical attention, please contact the Foster Coordinator to make an appointment with our on-site clinic, which is located on the lower level at 169 W. Grand Avenue. In the event of an emergency, bypass the coordinator, and contact the shelter s main operator line between the hours of 9am-7pm for immediate assistance: Beyond open hours, please contact your local veterinary emergency center for assistance. BEHAVIORAL ASSISTANCE: If you need assistance with any behavioral issues or quirks that may pop up during a foster s stay, please contact the Foster Coordinator to be connected with a Behavior Specialist. CAT & KITTEN CARE WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Carrier Newspapers Size Appropriate Litter Pan Water Bowls Food Bowls Age Appropriate dry and canned food Old Towels Toys GENERAL CARE Always remember to kitty proof the area where the foster cat will be staying. Electrical cords, computer cables, telephone wires, drapes, anything valuable or irreplaceable, etc. should be removed or secured. Cats must be confined inside your home at all times. When transporting them to and from The Anti-Cruelty Society, they must be in a carrier. Cats clean themselves, so bathing is rarely if ever, required. Small kittens may not quite understand the concept of cleaning and preening themselves. A sponge bath is all that is needed. Nail clipping is fine, especially for kittens with razor sharp nails. Be careful when doing so, make sure you clip off only the curved end. Avoid the pink area where the veins are located. No cow's milk! It can cause diarrhea in some cats.

12 Cats may develop hairballs. Frequent brushing will help alleviate this and will also keep their coat clean and shiny. If hairballs persist, commercially available products such as Petromalt are available at the ACS Store or other pet stores. MEDICAL CONDITIONS Symptoms of Illness: Runny discharge from the eyes or nose Lack of appetite Lethargy Diarrhea Vomiting Weight loss (or no gain if a kitten) Coughing and sneezing Congested breathing Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness Blood from any orifice or in elimination UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION (URI): This "head cold" is very common among foster cats and kittens. Even if your foster animal appears healthy at discharge, the incubation period for URI is anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. It is primarily caused by some common viruses, but bacteria may be involved secondarily. Symptoms include: sneezing, runny nose or eyes, lack of appetite, lethargy and fever (over 103 degrees). It is most important that the cat continues to eat and nursing care can make all the difference. When they are congested, they can't smell food very well and may not want to eat. Offer smelly, fish-flavored canned food. Warming it up a bit in a microwave may help too. Gently clean the nose and eyes with a washcloth moistened with warm water. If discharges become greenish or yellowish in color, an antibiotic may be prescribed by an ACS veterinarian. If medication is prescribed, make sure to give the animal all doses until it is gone. Call an ACS Veterinarian if the animal is not showing any signs of improvement after one week, or if there is any deterioration in condition. VOMITING: In cats and kittens can be caused by any number of problems. It may simply be that the animal is eating its meals too quickly. It can also be an early sign of something as severe as distemper. Please monitor your foster cats and kittens closely if they are vomiting, paying close attention to frequency, duration, consistency and color and report to the ACS veterinarians. DIARRHEA: This can be caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria, changes in diet, stress and overfeeding. If the diarrhea is mild and the cat or kitten is otherwise alert, you should offer the animal less canned food (if you were at all) and more dry food. If the diarrhea is severe, lasts more than after 3-4 feedings, or contains any evidence of parasites or blood, you should contact an ACS Veterinarian and be prepared to bring a stool sample with you in a Ziploc bag. Although all animals are given a de-worming medication upon arrival at ACS, continued infestation may occur. If your foster animal has loose or watery stools or you can actually see worms in their fecal matter, you should schedule an appointment with an ACS Veterinarian so

13 that they may be treated. Always be ready to bring a stool sample along. FLEAS/MITES: Any cat or kitten found to have fleas shall be given a flea bath prior to departure from the Shelter. Any cat or kitten found to have ear mites will be treated prior to departure from the Shelter. You may notice a crumbly dark brown discharge in the outer ear canals. This is a residue that can be swabbed out gently with a cotton ball. Do not put anything (including "Qtips") into the ear canal. RINGWORM: Ringworm is a fungal infection (not a parasite) that appears as irregularly shaped spots of fur loss. The skin will appear rough and scaly. Ringworm is contagious to other cats, dogs and humans. If you notice any unusual fur loss, you should have the animal seen by an ACS Vet. SUDDEN DEATH: Fading kitten syndrome (a.k.a. "sudden death") may occur in kittens that are particularly young, especially less than 6 weeks. While no one knows exactly why this occurs, it is suspected that the internal physiology of the kitten is so under-developed that it could not sustain itself. This may affect only one kitten in an entire litter. MEDICATION: Never give a foster animal any medication-prescriptive or herbal-without consulting with an ACS Veterinarian first. Do not offer aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen. These drugs and their derivatives are toxic to felines. ASSISTANCE: If, at any time, you have any concerns or questions, do not hesitate to contact the Volunteer Coordinator or a Society Veterinarian. FELINE BEHAVIORAL/TEMPERAMENT ISSUES Common Behavioral Problems: Scratching Biting Inappropriate Elimination Aggression toward people, littermates or other animals SCRATCHING: Cats scratch for a variety of reasons, both physical and behavioral. They do it for exercise, play, stretching and to remove dead layers of their nails. They also "mark" their territory with scent glands located in the pads of their feet. If a cat or kitten is inappropriately scratching your furniture, you may want to consider purchasing a post and training the cat to it. ACS recommends posts covered with rope or sisal and that is at least 3 feet tall. Carpeted posts do not always appeal to a cat. You may try sprinkling catnip on the base or side of the post to entice the kitty. An occasional treat reward may be used as well. Scratching on inappropriate surfaces (such as furniture) can also be lessened by the use of "sticky paws", a type of tape that makes scratching unappealing. It is available at any pet store. BITING: Biting is not unusual during play. It may be the result of over-stimulation or the cat's innate predatory drive. If a cat or kitten begins to bite, have a toy handy and direct the animal's mouth toward it. The cat will learn to look for toys instead of hands. A loud "Ouch" will

14 frequently work too. If you yell "Ouch", immediately stop handling or holding the animal. If the cat continues to bite, a 5 minute "time out" in a dark room (bathrooms are good) can also be effective. If a cat ambushes you by attacking your legs or feet, try using a squirt bottle filled with water and zap them once with it. If plain water does not work, add a bit of vinegar to the squirt bottle. Also try using a toy attached to a wand or stick and drag it behind you. Hopefully they'll attack that instead of your feet. INAPPROPRIATE ELIMINATION: Inappropriate litterbox use may arise from physical or behavioral problems. Always rule out medical conditions first. A kitten may have "accidents" because its living area is too large and is unable to make it to the box in time. Keep kittens confined to one room with their box when you are unable to closely supervise them. Cats may prefer to eliminate on the floor rather than in a soiled box. Scoop the litter box at least once a day. If using clay litter, clean the box and replace the filler at least once a week. If using clumping litter, add a little fresh litter after each cleaning. If you are unsure why your foster cat is not using its litter box, and medical reasons have been ruled out by the Clinic, call the Behavior Hotline Monday through Friday. AGGRESSION: Aggression against people can frequently be handled using the techniques described to thwart biting. What we may view as over-aggression against littermates may be normal, natural behavior. Usually, they will settle everything amongst themselves. If your foster cat is exhibiting signs of excessive aggression, please contact the Behavior Hotline and the Volunteer Coordinator immediately. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Large Carrier or Crate Newspapers Water Bowl Food Bowls Age Appropriate Food GENERAL CARE: Always remember to "doggie" proof the area where the foster dog will be staying. Electrical cords, computer cables, telephone wires, drapes, anything valuable or irreplaceable, etc. should be removed or secured. Many dogs love to chew! Dogs must not be taken to Doggie Parks or Doggie Daycare Centers. Dogs must always be on leash when outdoors, or in a secure, fenced backyard, with supervision. Nail clipping is fine, especially for puppies with very sharp nails. Be careful when doing so, make sure you clip off only the curved end. Avoid the pink area where the veins are located. Puppies in particular are a chore to keep clean. Frequent sponge baths may be needed to keep their paws free of fecal material. If giving a full bath, always use a mild shampoo. Make sure chew toys are manufactured here in the United States. Foreign imports may contain pesticides or chemical preservatives. DOG & PUPPY CARE

15 Symptoms of Illness: Runny discharge from the eyes or nose Lack of appetite Lethargy Diarrhea Vomiting Weight loss (or no gain if a puppy) Coughing and sneezing Congested breathing Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness Blood from any orifice or in elimination KENNEL COUGH: Kennel cough is very common among foster dogs and puppies. Even if your foster animal appears healthy, the incubation period for kennel cough is anywhere from 5 to 15 days. It is caused by a virus, but bacteria may be involved secondarily. The major symptom of kennel cough is a dry, harsh cough that is worsened with exercise or excitement. Dogs usually do not run a fever. Other symptoms include sneezing, snorting, gagging and a discharge from the nose or eyes. Ensure that the animal is drinking plenty of water. If need be, gently clean the nose and eyes with a washcloth moistened with warm water. If discharges become greenish or yellowish in color, an antibiotic may be prescribed by the ACS Veterinarian. If medication is prescribed, make sure to give the animal all doses until it is gone. If the cough is severe, our Veterinarians may recommend the use of specific over-the-counter cough preparations. It is imperative that you use only the particular formulations given. Others formulations may contain harmful ingredients. Contact an ACS Veterinarian if the animal is not showing any signs of improvement after 10 days, or if there is any deterioration in condition. DIARRHEA: Can be caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria, changes in diet, stress and overfeeding. If the diarrhea is mild and the puppy or dog is otherwise alert, you should offer the animal less canned food (if you were at all) and more dry food. If the diarrhea is severe, lasts more than after 3-4 feedings or contains any evidence of parasites or blood, you should contact an ACS Veterinarian and be prepared to bring a stool sample with you in a Ziploc bag. Although all animals are given a de-worming medication upon arrival at ACS, continued infestation may occur. If your foster animal has loose or watery stools or you can actually see worms in their fecal matter, you should schedule an appointment with an ACS Veterinarian so that they may be treated. Always be ready to bring a stool sample along. VOMITING: in dogs and puppies can be caused by any number of reasons. It may simply be that the animal is eating meals too quickly. It can also be an early sign of something as severe as parvovirus. Please monitor your foster dogs and puppies very closely if they are vomiting, paying close attention to frequency, duration, consistency and color and report to the ACS veterinarian.

16 FLEAS/MITES:. Any dog or puppy found to have ear mites will be treated prior to departure from the Shelter. You may notice a crumbly dark brown discharge in the outer ear canals. This is a residue that can be swabbed out gently with a cotton ball. Do not put anything (including "Qtips") into the ear canal. RINGWORM: Ringworm is a fungal infection (not a parasite) that appears as a pink or reddish shaped ring. The dog's fur in that area may fall out, leaving a round bare spot. Ringworm is contagious to other cats, dogs and humans. If you notice any unusual fur loss, you should have the animal seen by an ACS Vet. SUDDEN DEATH: Fading puppy syndrome (a.k.a. "sudden death") may occur in puppies that are particularly young, especially less than 6 weeks. While no one knows exactly why this occurs, it is suspected that the internal physiology of the puppy is so under-developed that it could not sustain itself. This may affect only one puppy in an entire litter. MEDICATION: Never give a foster animal any medication-prescriptive or herbal-without consulting with an ACS Veterinarian first. Do not offer aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen. These drugs and their derivatives are toxic to canines. CANINE BEHAVIORAL/TEMPERAMENT ISSUES Common Behavioral Problems: Housebreaking Separation anxiety Bossy behavior Aggression toward people, littermates or other animals HOUSETRAINING: Housetraining can be difficult to achieve during the brevity of a foster period. However, you can get an animal well on its way to an "accident" free life. What is first and foremost is establishing a routine. Once a schedule has been set, be consistent! Dogs and puppies need to eliminate after a nap, after exercise or play and after eating and/or drinking. You may choose to paper train, crate train or outdoor train. This is a personal preference. Should you choose to paper train, designate ONE area where you will lay the newspaper (a kitchen or bathroom floor would be ideal). To outdoor train, also designate ONE area where the animal can eliminate. This area should be secure, grassy and offer some privacy. Choose an area nearby. Once you've decided upon one of these two options, the first step is to take the animal to the elimination area and encourage the animal to eliminate. If outdoor training, keep the animal on leash. Do not allow the animal to wander. If the animal has not eliminated after 10 minutes, and you suspect that they may need to, bring them back inside, but do not remove the leash. Keep them within visual range. When you see the animal begin to prepare to eliminate (circling, sniffing), calmly tell him "Not here" and rush back to the designated area. If he eliminates, verbally praise them. If not, take them back indoors and start over. If they show no signs of preparing to eliminate within 20

17 minutes, take them out again. Repeat until they eliminate. It is also a good idea to leave the urine or stool undisturbed until the pup's next trip. Most dogs will eliminate where they have done so previously. SEPARATION ANXIETY: Some people may choose to crate train an animal. An important thing to keep in mind is proper crate size - if the crate is too big for the animal, he can relieve himself in a far corner of the crate and still have a clean sleeping area. The crate should be large enough for the animal to stand up, stretch, turn around and lie down comfortably. If your animal throws a temper tantrum during the early stages of training, do NOT let them out until they are quiet. If you let them out, they will have learned that temper tantrums work. Instead, tell the dog "NO! Quiet!" in a mild voice. Once the dog calms, open the door in a matter-of-fact fashion. Take the dog to their outdoor elimination area immediately after letting them out of the crate, especially if they have been crated for a couple of hours. It is not unusual for a previously housetrained dog to have a few accidents once placed in foster care. The animal will need time to adjust to its new schedule and environment. If the dog does have an accident and you don't find it for a while, it's already much too late to correct the dog. You have to catch them in the act. When you do catch them, interrupt him "Nope...ahhh ahhh!" and take them outside to your previously designated area. When cleaning up any accidents, do not use ammonia-based cleaners. Urine is composed mostly of ammonia and an ammonia cleaner will bring the dog right back to that spot. Use instead any product that contains an enzymatic component such as Nature s Miracle. Separation anxiety affects both dogs and puppies. Separation anxiety leads to destructive behaviors such as chewing, scratching, barking, howling and "accidents" in the house. Boredom and anxiety are the biggest reason for destructive behavior. Keep your dog occupied with chew toys. Filling a Kong with peanut butter or soft treats will keep a dog busy for a long time. Make sure you give the animal a lot of exercise time and mental stimulation. Don't "baby" them by lavishing them with too much attention as this can create over-dependence. OVERLY ASSERTIVE DOGS: Bossy or overly-assertive dogs are conditioned that way from an early age. As dogs are "pack" animals, they establish themselves in a hierarchy as pups. Those at the top of the pyramid - the pack leaders - are frequently territorial, possessive, demanding and uncooperative. As obnoxious as they may seem, they should never be corrected with physical or heavy-handed techniques. Never hit a dog with any object! When an animal attempts to get your attention in an inappropriate way (i.e., nudging you with his head, pawing you), walk away and ignore the animal. Another suggestion would be to disregard the behavior while issuing a command such as "sit". Never tease such a dog with a game of "tug of war". AGGRESSION: A dog's aggression can come in many forms: defensive, dominance, possessive, territorial and predatory. There are no easy solutions to aggressive behavior, and aggression frequently is multi-faceted. If your foster dog exhibits aggressive behavior, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator immediately.

18 The following advice was compiled by experienced Foster Volunteers. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this list! PROMOTING & ADOPTING FOSTERS One of the most gratifying ends to a foster period is knowing you helped your foster become prepared for their forever home. Take that feeling one step further by helping us promote your foster animals and place them with an adopter faster! Here are some ways in which you can help: BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS: A picture is worth a thousand words! Help get more exposure for your foster animal, your work and the Society by snapping a photo the first and final day of each foster s stay with you. Once the foster has returned to the shelter, send your photos to the Foster Coordinator who will forward them on to our PR team for placement on our website or social media pages. Before After GLAMOUR SHOTS: Just as with the before and after photos taking a high quality picture of your foster animal in a home environment, and sending them in to the Foster Coordinator, can help speed up their adoption. Here are some quick guidelines to follow when shooting photographs of your foster cat or dog: Turn the camera so that you take the photo vertically, or as a portrait, rather than a landscape. Squat while taking the picture so the photo is captured from the animal s level. Avoid taking photos where an animal looks choked by a leash or hand. Try to capture photos of the animal showing off their personality. Whether that s lounging on a windowsill, or playing fetch in your backyard, snap a picture that represents who they are as a pet. Turn the flash off for better picture quality.

19 Use the macro (flower) setting to take more textured close-ups. Note this will only work well with animals who are standing relatively still. Do your best to take the photo against a plain backdrop, with no people in the shot. Arm yourself with a squeaky toy, clicker, and treats to help get the dogs attention when snapping the photo. Review the pictures after you take them to ensure sharpness, light, and overall quality. If you do not like the photos, take more. FOSTER VIDEOS: We live in a digital age where many adopters go online to view an animal s profile before coming in to the shelter to meet them. Give your foster animal an advantage by filming a video of them playing or snuggling and posting it to YouTube. Once you ve listed the video, send the Foster Coordinator the link, and they ll embed it to connect with that pet s profile. FOSTER BLOG: The Foster Blog is a resource for foster volunteers as well as an avenue for promoting current adoptable animals and furthering the mission of The Anti-Cruelty Society. Many animals find their future homes because of the extra exposure received through the foster blog. The blog is located at the following url: You must have your own Wordpress account activated prior to joining the blogging team. Once you have an account, contact the foster program manager to be added to the authors list. To create your first post follow these steps: 1. Create a New Post. a. Sign in to your Wordpress account. b. Go to My Blogs>The Anti-Cruelty Society Fosters>New Post 2. Compile your Blog Post. a. Create a title. Be sure to include one of the following before it:

20 i. Adopted, Anti-Cruelty Society News, Anti-Cruelty Society Events, In Foster Care, Available for Adoption, Pet Care Tips b. Type up the written content in the body of your post. c. If you re writing about a foster animal, be sure to include their animal ID number so that potential adopters can reference it when contacting the Society. d. If you reference a website be sure to link to the source. e. Include an engaging question at the end to encourage readers to comment. f. Add media, like pictures or video. Be sure to include a link to the source for copyright purposes 3. Choose a Category: Once you ve compiled the post, you ll need to choose a category for the post. On the right hand side of the post editor page you ll see Categories and various subjects. Make sure you choose the one that matches your title. 4. Add Tags: Tags are very important as they guide web users to our blog. a. If you re writing about a puppy use tags like the following: The Anti-Cruelty Society, dog, puppy, canine, adoption, foster, volunteer, boston terrier, border collie, mix, Chicago, Illinois, shelter, rescue, adopt. b. Be creative with your tags. c. The more you include the more people will find us on Google and other search engines. 5. Publish Post: a. Now that you ve compiled your post, created a category, and tagged your feature, click the green Publish button on the top right hand corner of your screen. This will make the blog post visible. Editing Posts: If you d like to make changes to your blog post you can do so at any time by finding the page and clicking edit under the title. Scheduling Posts: You can also Schedule a post to publish it at a future date. Do to this, look under the Publish box on the right hand side. You ll see a heading that says Publish Immediately. Next to it you ll see an Edit button. Click on it to change the date and time the post will go live. Then click Schedule. IF YOU FIND AN ADOPTER: If you have a friend, relative, or co-worker who wishes to adopt your foster animal, they are welcome to complete an adoption application from the website and submit it to the Volunteer Coordinator for review. The Coordinator will then follow up with the adopters to schedule a processing appointment. 1. If the animal is already spayed or neutered: The animal can be returned on a Friday afternoon between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The potential adopter should come in at the same time to complete adoption paperwork. All potential adopters must go through the same process as members of the general public. This process cannot be expedited.

21 2. If the animal is NOT spayed or neutered: The animal is returned on a Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:45 p.m through our Receiving Department. Receiving Agents should be told by the person doing the drop-off that this is a foster-to-adoption arrangement and provide the adopter s first and last name and daytime telephone number. Also, confirm with the Receiving Agent that the animal is not altered and needs to be transferred the following morning to the Clinic for surgery. This will help ensure that the animal is not fed that evening and that the proper paperwork is attached to the animal's kennel card. The Volunteer Coordinator will notify staff as well. The prospective adopter will be asked to come to The Anti-Cruelty Society on a Friday afternoon, preferably between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. to complete the adoption. Once the adoption is completed, the adopter can pick up the animal from the Clinic. The adopter must have their contract with them to perform the pickup. Animal pickups cannot occur before 4pm or after 5pm so timing is key. ADOPTION FEE: Puppies $150 Dogs $95 Kittens $85 Cats $60 ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS: Must be 18 years of age or older. Must have valid photo I.D. with current address. All members of the household should be present or contactable by telephone. Landlord's name and telephone number (or copy of lease) Payment of the adoption fee, payable by cash, check or charge. ADOPTION FEE COVERS: Complete veterinary exam Inoculations against rabies and other diseases Heartworm test for dogs Feline leukemia test for cats Spaying or neutering (mandatory) Collar Lifetime ID tag (on The Anti-Cruelty Society's registry) and a permanent identification microchip Dog leash or cat carrier 15 day free post-adoption veterinary care in our clinic for any condition which may have been present but undetectable at the time of adoption

22 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT: Congratulations! As the foster parent you receive first dibs on adopting your current charge. When you have come to make your decision, please notify the Foster Coordinator so that an official adoption date can be scheduled. In the event that your decision to adopt comes after we have begun to solicit adopters on the Foster Blog or Anti-Cruelty Society website, please notify us immediately. If an adoption application has already been reviewed and approved from an outside party, we will have to honor the animal s placement with the external adopter. THANK YOU Over the years, a tremendous amount of success and progress has been achieved in the care provided to animals and educating the community. However, more work needs to be done. Together with the help of foster volunteers like yourself, who selflessly contribute hundreds of hours annually, the companion animals of Chicago have a voice and advocates to provide them with the love, care, and attention they all need and deserve. We thank you again for your decision to become a foster volunteer with us and for choosing to help the animals in our care. Your efforts make a significant difference in The Anti-Cruelty Society s work and our mission to find loving homes for shelter pets. We hope you find your foster volunteer experience at The Anti-Cruelty Society enjoyable and rewarding. If you have any questions or concerns at any time, please contact the Volunteer Services Department. Thank you again! We look forward to working with you!

23 FOSTER TO FOSTER TIPS Heating pads are great for keeping tiny underweight kittens warm just be sure to keep the setting low! First thing we do when we get our kittens home, we wrap them gently in a towel and take out one paw at a time in order to clip their nails. The towel keeps them from squirming and it makes it possible for one person to do the entire nail clipping themselves. You don't need a special nail clipper to clip kitten nails. Puppies and kittens love a toasty towel after a quick bath. We always put fosters in a nice cozy small clean place to rest. We leave water, an animal bed, small toys and litter for cats. They have been through a lot, coming home from the shelter, being handled and bathed and they like a good nap and a little relaxation time to de-stress and settle in before being expected to socialize or even eat. We find that by waiting to introduce food for a couple of hours, our fosterss are much more likely to start eating when we bring the food to them. If you just have food sitting there when they first come home, they are likely to remain uninterested. Provide fresh, cool water for your fosters that is available to them at all times. If your foster is being picky about their dry food try a tiny bit of high-quality wet food to stir their appetites. If they re still not eating, pop their food in the microwave for a few seconds to release the aroma. Be sure to check that the food is not too hot. Some cats have sensitive whiskers. If they re not interested in food from a bowl try a plate. Animals who are experiencing URI or Kennel Cough symptoms find relief if placed in a foggy bathroom. Just pop your foster in next time someone s taking a hot shower and the steam coming from within it can clear their sinuses. It's easiest not to have connecting food and water bowls. Young animals are messy and you'll be amazed at how much time you can spend cleaning food out of the water bowl when it is attached to the food bowl. If you already have a combination bowl, use it just for water and get something else for food. Have a picky adult cat? Try giving them some cuddle time. Some cats are social eaters and will chow down if touched. If your foster is mouthy, try substituting flesh with toys and snacks. Balls and rawhides are great for dogs while catnip-filled mice will redirect cats. Buy childproof cabinet locks to make sure fosters, especially puppies, don t get into cabinets and ingest harmful chemicals and cleaning agents. Always have on hand some boneless, skinless chicken breast meat that can be prepared quickly (boiled/poached) so that you are not at a loss for what to feed fosters in case they have indigestion. After a few meals of chicken (sometimes mixed with white rice, sometimes not) and quiet time, I gradually introduce regular cat food and this solves the problem.

24 I keep on hand some fleece baby blankets, baby shampoo, and some super absorbant kitchen IMPORTANT CONTACTS LIST towels (just the right size) in case a clean up is needed. MAIN TELEPHONE NUMBER MANAGER OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES Lydia Krupinski lkrupinski@anticruelty.org x330 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR & TRAINING Behavior specialists are available Monday through Friday. Leave a detailed message on the voice mail. Most behavior calls are returned the following afternoon. Please identify yourself as a foster parent when leaving a voic . Your calls will be a priority. Karen Okura Animal Behavior & Training Manager kokura@anticruelty.org x343 Melissa Klett Animal Behavior & Training Specialist mklett@anticruelty.org x315 VETERINARY CLINIC x 350 or 351 The Clinic's switchboard is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The receptionist will take a message for one of our Veterinarians. A doctor will then contact you at their earliest opportunity. Please always identify yourself as a foster parent when leaving messages and include the animal/s number/s found on your foster contract. On weekends, you will have to leave a message with the main switchboard operator by dialing the main number (312) , then 0. The weekend Veterinarian on duty will return your call as soon as possible. The Clinic accepts clients by appointment only. There is no "walk-in" service available. Veterinarians are on staff seven days a week to assist you.

25 Foster Kitten Activity Sheet Thank you for volunteering to foster one or multiple kittens for The Anti-Cruelty Society! Please complete this worksheet during the course of your foster time and turn it in to our Receiving Department when dropping off your foster/s. This sheet will help us ensure that each kitten is receiving age-appropriate socialization and exposure to sights, sounds and experiences that will help them build a proper behavioral foundation. Foster Volunteer Name Foster Kitten Pick-Up Date Foster Kitten Return Date Name of Kitten Physical Description Sex Kittens raised in an enriched, stimulating environment have a more complex web of neuropathways. They are better able to handle changes and stress, have better problem solving abilities and are less nervous/hyperactive. To encourage this level of development practice each of the following exercises for 3 to 5 seconds once a day. Tactile stimulation - holding the kitten in one hand, gently stimulate (tickle) the kitten between the toes on any one-foot using a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the kitten is feeling the tickle. Head held erect - using both hands, hold the kitten perpendicular to the ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an upward position. Supine position - hold the kitten so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling. While on its back, the kitten is allowed to struggle. Thermal stimulation - use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the kitten on the towel, feet down. Do not restrain it from moving.

26 Age Specific Exercises: Age 4 to 6 weeks 10 minutes of individual handling/gentle restraint apart from litter each day Routine inspection/restraint include nail trims Introduce short car rides (if no car short walks in a carrier through the neighborhood) Provide an appropriate scratching post Provide safe hiding places for stalking and chasing toys and littermates Increase level/proximity of household noises Begin meeting safe, friendly dogs and other animals Begin meeting new people and older children Date Describe Activities Completed

27 Age 6 to 9 weeks 10 minutes of individual handling/play apart from litter each day Provide three dimensional access cat trees, climbing poles, easy access shelves, etc. Provide safe hanging/dangling toys Continue inspection/gentle restraint include brushing Continue meeting new people and children of all ages (supervised only) Begin teaching bite and scratch inhibition Date Describe Activities Completed

28 Please complete this questionnaire in advance and bring it in with your foster on the day of their return to the shelter. The Receiving Team will attach this form to their kennel card, which will make it available to both personnel and potential adopters. The more detailed information you provide, the better job we can do of matching your foster animal to the appropriate adoptive home. Thank you in advance! Cat s Name Animal ID # Return Date: Length of Time in FOSTER CAT PERSONALITY PROFILE Socialization 1. What makes your foster delightful or special? FOSTER BEHAVIOR INFORMATION Describe the ideal home for your foster animal: Cute things your foster does that could be endearing to a future adopter: What kinds of routines and activities does your foster like most? How social is your foster when meeting new people? Describe their behavior. What are her/his favorite games and toys? Please list anything s/he may be afraid of (e.g. thunder, vacuum, etc.)? How does s/he react when afraid (hides, growls, etc.)? Did s/he stay with other animals? No If yes, what kind? Dogs How did s/he get along with them? Did s/he live with children? No Yes Ages: If yes, how did s/he get along with them?

29 When was the cat active? Early Has the cat used a scratching post? No Post Material: Carpet Sisal Wood Cardboard Please check any and all problems you may experienced with this foster cat: Meows excessively Eats plants Jumps on counters/tables FOSTER CARE INFORMATION Food Preferred Amount How often? Where did the cat stay during the foster period? Single-level House Multi-level House Apartment/Condo How many litter pans did the foster have available? Location/s: What type of litter was used (e.g. clumping, clay, etc.)? Was the litter pan hooded? No Did you add a deodorizer? No How often was waste scooped? How often was the box completely cleaned? Did the foster ever not use the litter pan? No If yes, please describe the circumstances (where did s/he go, urine, stool, how often): Additional Notes:

30 Foster Puppy Activity Sheet Thank you for volunteering to foster one or multiple puppies for The Anti-Cruelty Society! Please complete this worksheet during the course of your foster time and turn it in to our Receiving Department when dropping off your foster/s. This sheet will help us ensure that each puppy is receiving age-appropriate socialization and exposure to sights, sounds and experiences that will help them build a proper behavioral foundation. Foster Volunteer Name Foster Pick-Up Date Foster Return Date Name of Puppy Physical Description Sex Puppies raised in an enriched, stimulating environment have a more complex web of neuropathways. They are better able to handle changes and stress, have better problem solving abilities and are less nervous/hyperactive. To encourage this level of development practice each of the following exercises for 3 to 5 seconds once a day. Tactile stimulation - holding the kitten in one hand, gently stimulate (tickle) the kitten between the toes on any one-foot using a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the kitten is feeling the tickle. Head held erect - using both hands, hold the kitten perpendicular to the ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an upward position. Supine position - hold the kitten so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling. While on its back, the kitten is allowed to struggle. Thermal stimulation - use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the kitten on the towel, feet down. Do not restrain it from moving.

31 Age Specific Exercises: Age 3 to 4 weeks 5 to 10 minutes of individual handling/gentle restraint apart from the litter each day Introduce household objects Introduce brushing Introduce general inspection/restraint Introduce new surfaces (rugs, tile, grass, etc.) Introduce novel household noises at a distance or low level (vacuum, phone, hair dryer, oven timer etc.) Introduce safe sensory toys (toys that stimulate multiple senses) Begin meeting new people Date Describe Activities Completed

32 Age 4 to 5 weeks Begin/continue weaning process (when applicable) 10 minutes of individual handling/gentle restraint apart from litter each day Continue introducing new household objects for inspection Introduce safe chew toys Continue brushing/routine inspections Introduce short car rides (if you don t drive walks around the block in a carrier work too!) Increase level/proximity of household noises Share high valued chew toys with individual puppies Begin reinforcing outdoors for elimination Continue meeting new people Begin meeting safe, friendly dogs, cats and other animals Date Describe Activities Completed

33 Age 5 to 6.5 weeks 10 minutes of handling/appropriate play apart from litter each day Continue brushing/routine inspections Introduce collars Short trips to safe new places (in pairs if fostering multiples) Pet/gently handle puppy while it is eating food/chewing high valued chew toys Continue meeting new people (don t forget children!) Begin teaching positive reinforcement for sitting, jumping, mouthing Date Describe Activities Completed

34 Age 6.5 to 8 weeks 20 minutes of time apart from litter (time spent handling and allowing puppy to safely entertain itself - independent playing/chewing) each day Individually crate puppies for 10 to 15 minutes each day (when applicable) Continue brushing/inspecting Introduction to leash (supervised dragging at first, then leash in hand - following puppy around) Continue petting/gently handling puppy while it is eating food/chewing high valued chew toys Continue meeting new people and safe, friendly animals Continue teaching positive reinforcement for sitting, jumping, mouthing Introduce restraint exercises (short sessions of holding the puppies individually until they accept the restraint) Introduce social remediation (mild, abrupt ouch for hard bites while mouthing, chewing wrong items be sure to substitute with appropriate chew toy) Date Describe Activities Completed Age 8 to 12 weeks Littermates may need to be completely separated due to social conflicts Individually crate puppies at night or when left alone Continue petting/handling puppy while it is eating food/chewing high valued chew toys Continue meeting new people and animals Begin taking individual puppies to new places to combine habituation, socialization and manners training Begin teaching basic behaviors (sit, down, maintain, come, leash walking) Discourage mouthing via abrupt ouch that cause the puppy to remediate and choose another behavior (bite inhibition training)

35 Date Describe Activities Completed

36 Please complete this questionnaire in advance and bring it in with your foster on the day of their return to the shelter. The Receiving Team will attach this form to their kennel card, which will make it available to both personnel and potential adopters. The more detailed information you provide, the better job we can do of matching your foster animal to the appropriate adoptive home. Thank you in advance! Dog s Name Animal ID # Return Date: Length of Time in FOSTER DOG PERSONALITY PROFILE Socialization 2. What makes your foster delightful or special? FOSTER BEHAVIOR INFORMATION Describe the ideal home for your foster animal: Cute things your foster does that could be endearing to a future adopter: What kinds of routines and activities does your foster like most? How social is your foster when meeting new people? Describe their behavior. What are her/his favorite games and toys? Please list anything s/he may be afraid of (e.g. thunder, vacuum, etc.)? How does s/he react when afraid (hides, growls, etc.)? Did s/he stay with other animals? No If yes, what kind? Dogs How did s/he get along with them? How does s/he react toward unknown dogs?

37 Did s/he live with children? No Yes Ages: If yes, how did s/he get along with them? When was the dog most active? Early Is s/he used to walking on a leash? No Has s/he had any training while in foster care? No If yes, what have you been working on? What cues does s/he know, including tricks? In what ways was s/he corrected? Verbal -out How did s/he respond to correction? Complies Snaps Please check any and all problems you experienced with this foster dog: Marks indoors Chews Fearful Mouths when playing Jumps on people Has excessive energy Howls or whines Bolts out doors Growls Barks excessively Digs Has bitten Additional Behavior Notes:

38 FOSTER CARE INFORMATION Food Preferred Amount How often? Where did the cat stay during the foster period? Single-level House Multi-level House Apartment/Condo Was the foster usually confined? No If yes, where? Yard For how many hours a day were they confined Why (e.g. housebreaking, chewing, to provide a den, etc.)? Where does s/he sleep? How long is s/he able to go without eliminating? Where does s/he eliminate (yard, on walks, paper, etc.)? How often did you take the dog outside? If crate trained, does s/he soil the crate? No Additional Care Notes:

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52