BRARRI Foster Home Program Policy

It is the policy of BRRARI to place animals into a suitable foster home when possible or necessary.  When fostering out animals the following will apply:

A. After a health evaluation, by a veterinarian, the rescue animal will be given the standard vaccinations and then be spayed/neutered as soon as possible considering the animal’s health. 

B. If there has been no prior identification, temperament or behavior evaluation of the animal, the BRRARI Foster Coordinator will determine whether the animal is in fact a candidate for the foster program. 

C. Foster applicants must be 21 or older, with no history of animal abuse or neglect, have housing appropriate for the breed, able to provide care requirements, and time to spend with the animal on a daily basis.

D. The prospective foster applicant must provide a completed “Foster Home Application” form to BRRARI. The application will be reviewed and a personal interview will be scheduled.  Foster applicants must also agree in writing to abide by BRRARI’s Policies and Procedures.

E. A home check will be preformed after submission of the “Foster Application”.

The following circumstances will not be accepted:

1. Barbed wire fencing; containment of animals using chain

2. Group feeding of grain to equines

3. Small cages or kennels for cats and dogs; small pens, paddocks, and corral areas for farm animal keeping

F. Approved foster applicant (parent) must agree to treat the rescue animal in accordance with humane practices, train and rehabilitate the animal with the help of a BRRARI volunteer if necessary and will have the animal available for inspection when requested. All foster homes are subject to monthly routine inspections by the BRRARI Foster Coordinator, a BRRARI board member or BRRARI volunteer. 

G.  Foster parent will be required to submit a written monthly report, either by letter or by email on the animal’s progress.

H. BRRARI Foster parents are encouraged to donate food, shelter, toys, bedding, and food supplements wherever possible.  Foster parents will be responsible for the welfare and upkeep of the animal.  This includes feeding, providing fresh water, love and attention, as well as daily exercise, appropriate training and restraint (fence, leash, kenneling, etc.).

I. Ongoing decisions about care will remain in the hands of BRRARI and are dependent on financial resources and prognosis for recovery.  BRRARI will make all medical/surgical decisions about its foster animals.  BRRARI will provide to the foster home a contact list of approved medical providers that have agreed to work with BRRARI.  Foster parent will not be reimbursed if they take an animal to another veterinarian for exam, diagnostic testing, treatment, etc., unless agreed to in advance by a BRRARI board member or the BRRARI Foster Coordinator.

J. BRRARI retains “ownership” of the animal in foster care.  If the situation warrants it, a BRRARI volunteer upon direction, may reclaim the animal in foster care.

K. Foster parent must give BRRARI at least 1-week advance notice in writing if they wish to have the animal removed from their property.

L. At a time convenient to the foster parent, foster parent agrees to allow potential adoptive families to view and interact with the foster animal at the request of BRRARI.  Foster parent agrees to report to BRRARI any impressions and opinions they have regarding the potential adoptive family.

M. Foster parent will be given primary consideration to adopt the rescue animal in their care, but must meet the same selection criteria as any other prospective adoptive family.

N. If an animal has been in BRRARI for more than three (3) months and has not been adopted, all those that have had contact or responsibility for that animal must revaluate the animal.  Those individuals must examine the means they have used to place the animal and evaluate if every possible effort has been made to find a suitable home.  BRRARI recognizes that not every animal can be placed in the three (3) month period and may remain in extended foster care until a suitable home is found.

O. If BRRARI, in consultation with those involved with the care of an animal determines the animal is not suitable for adoption, the animal will be homed permanently at one of the BRRARI facilities to live out their lives. 

The foster parent plays an important role in helping to place a rescue animal and will need to observe the animal carefully to evaluate its temperament and behavior so that an accurate assessment can be made.  The foster parent in conjunction with BRRARI will work as a team to try to find the most suitable home for the animal by talking to prospective potential adoptive families and evaluating their suitability for the animal.