NEW FOSTER ORIENTATION Presented by Charlyn Bohland 740.258.2652 charlynbohland@yahoo.com Peace for Paws Ohio About 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 julie@peaceforpawsohio.org 614.316.3487 Responsible for the foster dog program & other daily operations of PFPO Katie Scholl katie@peaceforpawsohio.org 614.560.0030 Responsible for fundraising & other daily operations of the foster dog program Board of Directors Maria Grimshaw maria@peaceforpawsohio.org Responsible for accounting, bookkeeping, legal matters & oversees grant writing Claire Brinda claire@peaceforpawsohio.org 740.407.0440 Responsible for events, fundraising & the quarterly newsletter
Board of Directors Dr. Kris Haumschild hifromkris@yahoo.com 614.302.0464 Responsible for facilitating medical procedures & protocol Todd Patrick todd@peaceforpawsohio.org 614.519.9799 Responsible for approving applications & communicating with foster families Key Volunteers Nadine Pechar, Adoption Coordinator nadine@peaceforpawsohio.org 740.463.9355 Approves applications & communicates with foster families & potential adopters Charlyn Bohland, Foster & Volunteer Coordinator charlynbohland@yahoo.com 740.258.2652 Coordinates new foster orientations & volunteer responsibilities, sends out the weekly event email & writes grants for the program
How do I 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 Contact your foster point of contact (POC) POC is a director who will approve vet appointments, answer your questions & help you along the way! Let us know what type of dog you can foster -Male or Female? -Puppy or Adult? -Breed? (Pit Bull, German Shepherd, JRT, mixed breed, etc.) -Any other requirements? How will I know which dogs need rescuing? Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/236630346467238/ Check your text message for specific dogs (you have expressed an interest in fostering puppies & there are puppies in need of rescue, etc.)
Ok, I see a dog that I would like to rescue. What do I do next? If you see a dog that you would like to rescue, please contact a director ASAP! We need to alert the shelters so we can prevent the dog from being euthanized. Once you have contacted a director about your interest, the directors will consider the behavioral and medical needs of the dog, and determine if PFPO can commit. If so, your POC 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. I have my foster dog! What do I do next? Give your foster dog some love & patience! -The shelter environment is very stressful & unnatural for dogs -It may take a few days for your dog to warm up to you & your home -It s best to wait a week to do any introductions with your resident dogs -See Minimizing Health Risks when Fostering in your Packet Give your foster dog a bath!* -This helps to clean off parasites & dirt -See Minimizing Health Risks when Fostering in your Packet *Unless your dog was recently spayed/neutered, then clean your foster dog with a cloth* Send any medical records to PFPO via email -We have to enter all medical records into PetPoint so we have a record of your foster dog -Please keep the same name as listed on the medical records (it creates confusion with different names) -Please email your records ASAP to foster@peaceforpawsohio.org & your POC -See What is PetPoint in your Packet Complete the foster and volunteer contracts! -The foster contract is available online at http://peaceforpawsohio.org/foster/foster-contract/ -The volunteer contract will be emailed to you
What are the foster family responsibilities? 1. Take Pictures for Petfinder Professional Volunteer Photographers -Claudine Kosier, Simply Dog Photography -Valerie Haulk, Valerie Haulk Photography -These photographers donate their services to PFPO once per month, so watch your email for the next photo shoot! BEFORE AFTER What are the foster family responsibilities? 2. Create a biography for your foster dog Send us a detailed & creative biography that describes your foster dog (email foster@peaceforpawsohio.org) Example #1 Gabby is looking for her forever home. She is black and white. She likes to play with tennis balls. Example #2 Hi! I m Gabby, a 1 year old Pit Bull mix. My foster family rescued me from the local shelter. I love watching tv, going on walks, dinner time, kids and other dogs. I really chase cats, so I would do well in a home without cats. I would love to find an active family. My tail never stops wagging! WWW.PETFINDER.COM/PETDETAIL/25597072
What are the foster family responsibilities? 3. Facilitate your foster dog s medical care Keep copies of all of your foster dog s medical records! Make certain your foster dog is: -Spayed/neutered -Vaccinated & boostered -Heartworm negative -Microchipped -De-wormed/fecal tested for parasites -See PFPO Routine Veterinary Care in your Packet Update PFPO s online calendar with medical appointments -http://www.keepandshare.com/ -Login: PFPO2011 -Password: daisy 2011 Administer monthly prevention (flea, tick, heartworm) -Distributed every month -Prevention cannot be missed or you will be responsible for the costs of prevention & retesting You MUST receive pre-authorization from your POC prior to making vet appointments What are the foster family responsibilities? 3. Facilitate your foster dog s medical care, con t. 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 Don t forget to update PFPO s online calendar with all medical appointments!
What are the foster family responsibilities? 3. Facilitate your foster dog s medical care, con t. Does your dog have an eye/ear infection, UTI, or another medical issue? Please contact your POC so they can direct you to an approved vet. All treatment MUST be authorized prior to receiving services! What are the foster family responsibilities? 4. Market your dog! Attend a minimum of 2 adoption events per month -We will send out the events in a sign-up email each month -Please respond sign up to let us know if you can attend -See Adoption Event Etiquette/Guidelines in your Packet Create flyers for your dog Share your dog! -Facebook -Instagram (Username: Peaceforpawsohio; password: daisy2011) -YouTube: (Username: Peaceforpawsohio; password: Livingthedream) -ASPCA marketing ideas (http://www.aspcapro.org/littleblackbook) Take your foster dog on field trips to meet new people or on car rides* -See Market Your Dog in your Packet *Unless your dog does not do well in these situations*
What are the foster family responsibilities? 5. Keep up with administrative tasks Attend periodic foster family/volunteer meetings -These meetings are held periodically -Flea, tick, heartworm prevention will be distributed at these meetings Timely follow up with all emails Keep in contact with your POC if you are having any issues with your foster dog What are the foster family responsibilities? 6. Facilitate your foster dog s adoption Required tags for adoption (your foster dog MUST wear at all times) -Microchip tag -Franklin County Dog License -Rabies tag Follow up with all conditionally approved adoption applications & potential adopters -Email/call the potential adopter to set up a meet & greet -Schedule a home visit -Does the family want to do a trial adoption? -Email adopt@peaceforpawsohio.org to inform the adoption coordinators of your dog s adoption status -Don t have a good feeling? That s Ok! -Let your POC know
What are the foster family responsibilities? 6. Facilitate your foster dog s adoption, con t. Make copies of all medical records to give to the new family & keep originals for PFPO What are the foster family responsibilities? 6. Facilitate your foster dog s adoption, con t. Review & complete the entire first page (medical section) of the adoption contract BEFORE the adoption -Contract is available at: http://peaceforpawsohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ PFPO_AdoptionContract-revised-January-2013.pdf -Use the password pfpo2016 to access the link -If you have questions, email your POC or foster@peaceforpawsohio.org
Completed contract What are the foster family responsibilities? 6. Facilitate your foster dog s adoption, con t. What do I give the adoptive family? -Dog! -3 dog tags -Copies of medical records -Emailed copy of signed adoption contract
What are the foster family responsibilities? 6. Facilitate your foster dog s adoption, con t. After the adoption is complete, send -Original adoption contract -Original medical records -Adoption fee To Julie Robert, Director, P.O. Box 1343, Dublin, Ohio (43017) Please remit the contract & adoption fee within 3 days! Finally Preferred method of communication is email -All directors work full time & are not available during the day -If there is an emergency, please send a text message -NO Facebook messages, please Ask questions! -Facebook group -Me -POC If you have issues (behavioral, medical, etc.), please communicate them We cannot support you if we do not know what is going on Please follow through with your commitments because the foster dogs are counting on you!
Questions? Thank you for saving a life! From this to this!