NEW FOSTER ORIENTATION Presented by Julie Robert Brink
Peace for Paws Ohio Peace for Paws Ohio was founded August 6, 2011 in Dublin, Ohio, by a group of dedicated animal lovers. Before forming Peace for Paws Ohio, the members individually volunteered at various Ohio shelters and a large-scale hoarding rescue, and were involved in promoting animal protection legislation in Ohio. MISSION: Peace for Paws Ohio is a 501(c)(3) organization created to assist with the homeless pet overpopulation in Ohio. Our mission is to provide education and financial support for spay and neuter efforts in rural areas, foster and adopt dogs from high-kill shelters, provide resources to shelters or humane societies who are caring for animals from large-scale rescues, support Ohio legislation for companion animal protection, and provide temporary pet food assistance for families going through financial hardship. This organization is made up of 100% volunteers.
Board of Directors Julie Robert Brink - julie@peaceforpawsohio.org Co-Founder, President and Director 614-316-3487 Responsible for the Foster Dog Program and Finances. Katie Scholl - katie@peaceforpawsohio.org Co-Founder, Vice-President and Director 613-560-0030 Responsible for the Events Committee and Annual Silent Auction.
Board of Directors Maria Grimshaw - maria@peaceforpawsohio.org Co-Founder, Treasurer and Director Responsible for the Accounting and Bookkeeping. Maria also oversees legal matters and grant writing. Todd Patrick, Adoption Coordinator todd@peaceforpawsohio.org 614-519-9799
Board of Directors Claire Brinda, Director - claire@peaceforpawsohio.org 740-407-0440 Responsible for evaluating dogs and marketing. Dr. Kris Haumschild-Johnson hifromkris@yahoo.com 614-302-0464 Medical Director and responsible for facilitating medical procedures and medical protocol.
Key Volunteers Nadine Pechar, Adoption Coordinator Volunteer of the Year Award 2014 nadine@peaceforpawsohio.org 740-463-9355 Approves applications and communicates with the foster families and potential adopters. Charlyn Bohland, Events Coordinator Volunteer of the Year Award 2015 charlynbohland@yahoo.com 740-258-2652 Schedules and organizes monthly events committee meetings and other marketing related to adoption events and fundraisers.
Key Volunteers Brandi Heimbush, Adoption Coordinator Volunteer of the Year Award 2016 Daisy Award Recipient 2015 adopt@peaceforpawsohio.org Approves applications and communicates with the foster families and potential adopters. Mel Shuttleworth, Medical Record Administrator PetPoint Mango Award Recipient 2015 records@peaceforpawsohio.org Responsible for entering medical records into PetPoint
How to become a Foster Family: Fill out a Foster Application PFPO processes your application by calling your vet & references Once you are approved, a volunteer/director will complete a home visit Attend a New Foster Orientation Thank you for attending! Contact your Foster Point of Contact (POC) A Foster POC is a Director. They will approve vet appointments, answer your questions and help you along the way! Let us know what type of dog or puppy you can foster You are opening your home to a dog in need, but what type of dog would fit in best in your house? Male or Female Puppy or Adult Breed? (Pit Bull, German Shepherd, JRT, mixed breed, etc.) Any other requirements
How do I know which dogs need rescued? 1. Join our Peace For Paws Ohio Volunteers & Foster Facebook group! We have a secret group, so a member must add you! Find Julie Brink on Facebook and friend her, she will add you to the group! 2. View Urgent Dogs on Franklin County Dog Shelter Website: Click Here: http://franklincountydogs.com/rescue-dogs/index.cfm
Ok, I see a dog that I want to rescue What do I do next? If you see a dog that you would like to rescue, please contact a director ASAP! Many dogs awaiting rescue have a very short timeline & we need to alert the shelters so we can prevent the dog from being euthanized. A Director will evaluate the dog in person. We will never pull a dog unless a Director has witnessed their dog interaction or interaction with a person. Once you have contacted a director about your interest, a director will give you the next steps about how & when to pick up your foster dog. If you make a commitment to foster a dog, please follow through with the commitment. We do not have additional open foster homes.
Decompression Period: Decompression period is the most important for success! In order to foster through PFPO, you must agree to follow the steps outlined for Decompressing takes 2 4 weeks. PFPO Foster Families are Required to Read Chill Out! Decompression Tips For New Foster Dogs Dogs that have been at the pound for an especially long period of time need to decompress and get themselves back into a calm state of mind; DO NOT introduce your new foster dog to resident dogs!!! Keep the foster dog separate from your dogs. Introductions to resident dogs must be under the guidance of a Peace For Paws Ohio Director only Keep your new dog/foster in a crate during decompression time Create a routine for potty breaks, walks and playing ball outside Allow your foster dog to rest and provide kongs filled with peanut butter or other treats Slowly introduce basic training: Sit, Down, Stay and Come
Introduction to Resident dogs: After the Decompression which takes 2 4 weeks. Introductions to resident dogs must be under the guidance of a Peace For Paws Ohio Director only It s always best to introduce the dogs away from the home (such as on a walk or at a park) to get acquainted. The next step, after they seem to get along on the walk, is to let them socialize in the backyard. When that s successful, then you can let both the new/foster dog into the home along with the resident dog(s) together.but only if YOU feel comfortable with it. If you re the least bit hesitant about it, DON T DO IT. Dogs can sense when you re uncomfortable, and one or the other may feel they have to protect you or other family members. If, at any moment, that something does happen, go back to the previous step until there s no worry or hesitation.
Foster Family Responsibilities: 1.) Take pictures for PetFinder & Facebook *Sign up for photo shoots with local photographers or take your own pictures 2.) Create a current & personalized biography for your foster dog *Send to your foster POC 3.) Facilitate your foster dog s medical care *Spay/neuter appointments, vaccines, de-wormer, monthly flea & tick prevention, monthly heartworm prevention, fecal test 4.) Attend a minimum of 2 adoption events per month 5.) Attend foster family/volunteer meetings 6.) Timely follow up with all emails 7.) Follow up with conditionally approved adoption applications & potential adopters 8.) Complete & return adoption paperwork & fees
Pictures for : PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHERS: Claudine Kosier of Simply Dog Photography Valerie Haulk of Valerie Haulk Photography BEFORE AFTER
Biography for : Send us a biography that describes your foster dog. Bad example: Gabby is looking for her forever home. She is black and white. She likes to play with tennis balls. Good example: Gabby is a 1 year old Pit Bull mix. She was rescued from a local shelter. She is high energy and would do well in a home with an active family. She likes watching tv, going on walks, dinner time, kids and other dogs. Cats are not her favorite thing and would do well in a home without cats. Her tail never stops wagging!
Medical Protocol: 1.) Maintain copies of all medical records 2.) Send medical records to director contact to be entered into PetPoint 4.) Make certain your foster dog is: Spayed/neutered Vaccinated & boostered Heartworm negative Microchipped De-wormed / Fecal tested for parasites 5.) Receiving monthly prevention (flea, tick, heartworm) 6.) Receive pre-authorization from director for vet appointments
: What is PetPoint? It is a comprehensive, easy-to-use, web-based animal management program. PetPoint is used to manage medical records, intake, outcome (adoptions) and animal notes on each foster dog. Email Mel (records@peaceforpawsohio.org) all medical records so they can be inputted into PetPoint Never give original medical records to adopters or vet offices. PFPO must maintain all original records. Please make copies to give to give to veterinarians or adopters.
Medical Protocol Shelter Outreach Services of Ohio (SOS) Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic 3121 W. Broad St., Columbus (43204) 614.396.8707 -Unless spayed/neutered at the shelter, most foster dogs are vetted at SOS -SOS provides spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines & microchips -Call to make an appointment & let them know you are fostering with PFPO Columbus Dog Connection (CDC) Spay/Neuter Clinic 2761 Johnstown Road, Columbus (43219) 614.471.9000 -CDC provides spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, microchips, fecal exams & heartworm tests -CDC also has a monthly vaccine clinic on the first Saturday of each month* *Please bring cash & you will be reimbursed* PFPO Vaccine Clinics Location TBD -Clinics provide vaccines, micropchips, fecal exams & heartworm tests
Behavior Protocol Aggressive dogs who have a bite history are not adoptable through PFPO! Communicate aggressive behavior to your foster POC Recommendations for a behavior appointment at OSU Veterinary Hospital If you notice aggressive behaviors with your dogs, you must crate and rotate your foster dog Sudden aggressive behaviors can be due to medical issues set up a vet appointment ASAP Dog fights have historically cost the organization $2,000 for emergency vet care help us mitigate against dog fights by being proactive. Extremely dog aggressive dogs are not adoptable through PFPO
Adoption Protocol: Conditionally approved adoption applications are emailed to foster families. Adoption committee processes all adoption applications Adoption committee either approves or denies applications Approved applications are emailed to foster families Foster families contact potential adopter to set up an initial meet and greet (at a park or adoption event) If the family wants to move forward with the adoption, the foster family sets up the home visit 1.) Provide adoptive family tags: Microchip Franklin County dog license Rabies tag 2.) Copies of medical records 3.) Email copy of the adoption contract to adopter 4.) Remit original adoption contract, original medical records & adoption fee within 3 days of adoption
Dog Tags: Required tags for adoption (and dog MUST wear at all times: Microchip tag Franklin County Dog License Rabies tag HOME AGAIN FCDS LICENSE RABIES
Medical Records Make copies of all your medical records to give to the new family
Adoption Contract Review & complete the entire first page (medical section) of the adoption contract BEFORE the adoption -Contract is available at: http://peaceforpawsohio.org/foster/adoption-checklist/ Use the password pfpo2016 to access the link -If you have questions, email your POC or foster@peaceforpawsohio.org
Send Paperwork & Fee to PFPO Send through the mail: Original Adoption Contract Original Medical Records Adoption Fee Julie Robert Brink PO Box 1343 Dublin, Ohio 43017
How are we funded? Peace For Paws Ohio s annual program expenses = -$131,000 Adoption fees = $33,000 Donations = $43,000 Fundraisers = $48,000 To carry out our mission we rely on the following: Volunteers to assist with monthly fundraising Public donations Adoption fees Annual Silent Auction each November (volunteers needed now for planning!) Raised over $20,000 in 2016 The Directors have a monthly update on our financial position to keep status on our finances, accounts payables and accounts receivables.
Guidelines for Pulling dogs/cats: Pull fee sponsorship Medical sponsorship (if needed) Director (Claire, Dr. Kris, Julie, Katie or Todd) must evaluate the dog in person and witness the dog interaction Commitment to attend adoption events 100% commitment to fostering until adoption is finalized 100% commitment to medical care (picking up heartworm prevention, ensuring vaccines are current, sending records to the Directors, etc) Following up with the Adoption Committee/Directors with adoption status and potential adopters
General Program guidelines: Dog program is capped at 45 adoptable dogs Pull freeze will be implemented if debt exceeds $6,000 Minimum savings account of $18,000 for 45 dogs in program
General Information: Preferred Method of Communication is Email. All the Board Members work fulltime and are not available during the day. If it is an urgent need, please send a text message. Do not communicate via Facebook messenger! Ask Questions! If you have issues, please communicate them! Behavior, medical, etc. We need to know what is going on! Please respond to our weekly event emails and attend our REQUIRED monthly meetings. Please check your email daily! You will be in contact with several PFPO volunteers (Board Member, Adoption Coordinator, Events Coordinator, etc.) Use the Facebook Group to ask questions!
Questions? What Questions do you have?