What does the foster carer do during the Adoption Process?
COVID-19 UPDATE June 2022 - Cats and Kittens continue to be adopted from our partner store, PetBarn Ipswich. Home visits are to foster carers are subject to social distancing rules and covid hygiene.
1A. RESPOND QUICKLY TO THE ADOPTION ENQUIRY WHEN RECEIVED: Our administration volunteers will communicate with the enquirer initially and if it seems that it might be a match, the enquirer is asked to complete the EOI form (Expression of Interest) BEFORE meeting the pet. Then potential adopter contact details will be sent to the foster carer, who can then ring and answer any further specific questions about the foster pet. All potential adopters MUST complete the EOI form before they meet the pet. Please arrange one meeting at a time; no more than one family can attend the premises to meet the pet at any one time.
1B. Alternately, prepare to move the foster pet to a partner store to meet the public and hopefully get adopted.
2. ORGANISE MEETING: Pets can be shown using video links on mobile devices and iPads. Home visits can only occur to our foster carers who have outdoor enclosures that are accessed through a side entrance. We ask that potential adopters, be clean, feel healthy and wash their hands with soap and water (provided) prior to handling the pets, and stay 1.5 metres from foster carers at all times. Rules are constantly changing and at present the current rules about social distancing and travel are here. Potential adopters can also ask about meeting the pet at one of our participating vet clinics and if the foster carer and the vet is agreeable, the pet can be transported to the vet at an agreed time. The rules around visiting workplaces (Furry Friends volunteers are workers under the rules) and necessary travel are a bit confusing at present so if in doubt please do check. We don't want anyone getting a fine!
3. MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TEAM LEADER AFTER THE MEETING:
Foster carers contact their team leader or post in our FB group to let us know the outcome.
Eg - *YES, (Let the team leader know immediately so they can walk you through the steps of organising payment and transfer.)
*No, (Politely thank the potential adopter for the visit. Let the team leader know.)
*I'll think and get back to you within a few days. (Nothing changes at this time but we know to make contact on x date to confirm the choice made - let your team leader know.)
4. ORGANISES PAYMENT AND COLLECTION: If the pet is already fully vetted (desex-chip-vac) and the flea and worm meds are up to date, then the adopter can pay via bank transfer into our bank account, take a screen shot of the confirmation screen and text it to the foster carer and email it to cats@ffarq.com.au as well. The foster carer is to check that the correct bank account details have been used, either by reading the numbers out as the adopter puts them into their device or off the confirmation screen shot. We CANNOT TAKE CASH and the pet CANNOT be handed over until confirmation of payment has been received. Cats can be met, paid and collected the same day if the foster carer is agreeable. Alternately the potential adopter may agree with the foster carer to collect the pet within a week of paying the adoption fee.
Pre-Adopted kittens and cats (not yet vetted) are paid in full but collected from the vets when vetwork is completed.
5. TELLS THE ADOPTER ABOUT WHEN TO EXPECT VET CERTIFICATES: These are managed by our Vet Bookings team. When a pet is adopted from foster care, the team leader arranges for vet certificates to be emailed out to the adopter two weeks after the pet went to the new home. Flea and worm info is sent in an email within a few days of the pet being collected just so the adopter keeps up that routine.
6. FOLLOW UP: Call the adopter after a few days to see how things are going and offer any needed support or refer back to the team leader for support if there are any initial difficulties.
