DISCLAIMER: These posts contain hints, tips and ideas from folks that have had some experiences dealing with this. It is NOT meant to be legal advice here - just related experiences. Please consult with a reputable professional if necessary. Foster Homes Workshop Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 01:34:56 -0700 To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: EQ-ResQ: Foster Homes Workshop Jennifer Williams has asked for a workshop on fostering and submitted a few preliminary questions. Here they are: How many foster homes do you have (on average) at one time? What qualifications do your foster homes have? What (financially) are the foster homes responsible for? Do you check up on foster homes? How often? --- We've also got a few requests for 501(c)(3), so will do that after this one. In the meantime you might want to check out the archives at the home page - see my signature file and select archives once you get there. Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue Listowner epona@concentric.net (AZ) http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: Jacalyn D Ackerman Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Foster Homes Workshop Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 09:26:04 -0400 How many foster homes do you have (on average) at one time? As many as possible! We'd like all of our horses that are awaiting adoption to be in foster care, with only the special needs cases at the farm. ur farm is only five acres, so you can see why we operate this way. What qualifications do your foster homes have? The same as adoptive homes, except they also have to be willing to allow prospective adopters reasonable access to the horse. What (financially) are the foster homes responsible for? We just changed our policy - foster homes used to have to pay for everything -- but we weren't getting many foster homes. Now they have to provide feed, and we will reimburse them for vet, farrier and de-worming expenses. Do you check up on foster homes? How often? Yes - after a week, then at least every three months. Ideally we will have prospective adopters looking at the horse, and we are also present for that. Jaci Ackerman, NC Equine Rescue League (members.aol.com/ncerl) Help NCERL earn money - visit www.igive.com and select NCERL as your charity. It's free! ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: SPetty1620@aol.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Foster Homes Workshop Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 13:47:32 EDT << Jennifer Williams has asked for a workshop on fostering and submitted a few preliminary questions. Here they are: How many foster homes do you have (on average) at one time? As many as possible, although right now we have only one that is active and another we are getting fixed up to use. (The land and barn is free for us to use as needed.) We are also looking for one more foster home in the Alvin, Tx area. What qualifications do your foster homes have? They must be very close to us, as I like to be able to pop in any time I want. They must have some fenced in land for excersize/grazing and a decent shelter. They must also have enough experience with horses to at least be able to tell if there is a problem and to handle any problems that arise until I can get there. What (financially) are the foster homes responsible for? We supply everything needed to care for the horse. We have considered having the foster home buy the feed, but have not done this yet. So, all they give up is time and a stall. Do you check up on foster homes? How often? Yes, and often. 2 or more times a week at first. Then at least once a week. I have to deliver feed anyway, so I use that time to make sure everything is going well. I also call at other times during the week to ask if they need anything and to see if all is well. Not everyone agrees on what is proper care for a horse, so the only way to know for sure is to see for yourself. I don't try to bug the people, only show them support and friendship. Sharelle Sunscape Equine Rescue ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: Dnrooo@aol.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Foster Homes Workshop Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 21:20:40 EDT Jaci, I am glad that you posted about this. I only have five acres and wish I could help more horses. But with only five acres I am limited. I am hoping that we will get some foster homes soon. I guess the key is to find the right people. People that wont mind us stopping by a few times a week and then probably once a week to check on the horses. I would be interested in knowing if most foster homes provide the feed or if most rescues provide the feed. Also the forms they fill out. Any liabilities if they get kicked or hurt by the horse? Great topic Pat. Very helpful. Thanks, Deb. ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: HVIDEO885@aol.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Foster Homes Workshop Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 09:50:18 EDT This may be slightly off topic of the questions asked, but it is about foster homes. When we started, we also had a problem finding foster homes. We talked to one of the local motels (Holiday Inn) and ask if they would be willing to provide a meeting room to us and told them who we are, what we do, and why we wanted to have the meeting. They gave us everything for free, including the refreshments. We then contacted the newspaper and told them who we were and what we do. They have a small section in the sunday paper that lists organizations looking for volunteers, and they listed our meeting there, along with what we do. Posters were hung in feed store, tack shops, and even grocery stores about the meeting (which will be on Aug. 5th). We are already getting lots of calls from people wanting to volunteer and offers of foster homes. I made a simple volunteer form to find out what committees these people would be interested in being on, what type of help they would like to volulnteer for, and any special talents they may have that could help the rescue. This will help us place people where they will be most useful. We are asking the foster families to supply the feed but we will pay for all vet and farrier care. The requirements for foster homes is the same as for adoption with the exception that we need to be able to have access to the horse whenever. As for how many foster homes we will have or need....we will take all we can get as we may have a need for them since we are so close to New Holland. Sharon ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: jaci_ackerman@juno.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Foster Homes Workshop Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 05:10:41 -0700 Deb, We are fortunate enough to have had the legislature pass the Equine Liability Law this year reducing the libility to horse owners and property owners if someone gets hurt while participating in an equine-related activity. It has eased our insurance nightmares quite a bit. So the injury problem is really a non-issue. We have gotten most of our foster homes by word-of-mouth and by distributing brochures far and wide. If you have access to a copier, I suggest you make hundreds of brochures and get them out there. State in your brochure that you are looking for foster homes, and give a phone number to call. Our web site has also given us a lot of exposure. Good luck! There are people out there willing to help - you just have to find them! Jacalyn Ackerman, jaci_ackerman@juno.com NC Equine Rescue League http://members.aol.com/ncerl ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: Fairwind Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Foster Homes Workshop Organization: Ohio Hooved Animal Humane Society Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 15:38:18 -0700 > How many foster homes do you have (on average) at one time? We currently have around 75 in the network. > What qualifications do your foster homes have? They only have to qualify to be able to care for the animal that they are fostering, and the same requirements on facility as our Adoptees. http://www.ohahs.org/foster_app.html is our Foster Home Application it has a description of "level of care" that the folks can apply under. http://www.ohahs.org/foster_LIF.htm Inspection of foster Location (a BIG thanks to Chris Smith for help with this one about 2 years ago!) http://www.ohahs.org/adoption_rules2.html Rules for OHAHS adoption > What (financially) are the foster homes responsible for? The foster family receives an animal into their barn that needs various levels of care, they donate their time, facility and Moines to support the animal through the recovery period until they can be adopted out. The basic care costs are covered by the foster family as a donation to OHAHS (tax deductible, as we are a 501(c)3 ). Any extraordinary vet or farrier fees are paid out by OHAHS for the animal. http://www.ohahs.org/foster_fax.html Has our Basic Foster FACTS > Do you check up on foster homes? How often? That depends on the Foster home, those that have been with for awhile, we may just make a phone call to check up on the horse. The new ones in the network we tend to supervise more closely, checking up no less than monthly. -- Beverly Whittington President OHAHS http://www.ohahs.org Fairwind WebPages http://www.fairwind.net/ Gaited Horses http://www.gaitedhorses.net ICQ# is 6077317 ============================================================ Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 12:09:01 -0700 To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: EQ-ResQ: Fosters Workshop Anything else on fosters? Do any of you that use fosters do a background check on applicants if they aren't well known to you? ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: jaci_ackerman@juno.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Fosters Workshop Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 03:16:03 -0700 Pat, We ask for four references: two personal, vet and farrier, and we check all four just to make sure. We do the same with our adopters. Jacalyn Ackerman, jaci_ackerman@juno.com NC Equine Rescue League http://members.aol.com/ncerl ============================================================