Foster Handbook and Policies

What is the Foster Handbook and Policies?

Our Foster Handbook includes useful information for Fosters and what they can expect. Policy overviews can be found on this website.

Please click here to open our foster handbook:

MAD FOSTER HANDBOOK

MAD Rescue, Inc Foster Handbook Highlights

Our Mission Statement:

Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc. (MAD Rescue) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which is dedicated to rescuing Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds who have found themselves without a home (surrendered, discarded, abused, neglected or impounded). MAD Rescue does not have a physical location and is operated by compassionate, like-minded professionals who volunteer their time and resources to help save and care for the Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, and related breeds. All animals that are accepted by MAD Rescue are spayed or neutered, given medical attention and rehabilitation, as needed, and placed with foster homes until their health and evaluations are completed and they are ready to be placed in their loving permanent homes.

Welcome to MAD's Foster Program

Having dedicated and caring foster homes allows us to pull Malinois and Dutch Shepherds from shelters, provide vet care for new animals in our program, and get our canines ready for new homes.

Foster homes also provide a very important service of evaluating dogs for the best potential future adoptive matches. Additionally, foster parents provide training and refinement/resolution of issues to ready Malis and Dutchies for happy and healthy future lives with their new families. Enjoy getting to know your new foster dog and recognize that it can be bittersweet when they leave your home. A part of your heart goes with the foster dogs when they get adopted.

What it Means to Foster

The purpose of the program is to provide the following:

Temporary or long-term housing for a foster canine while long-term or permanent placements are identified and evaluated.
Arranging for vet appointments to update vaccinations, spay/neuter, and other medical needs. The foster parent ensures the animal has all the necessary things to ready the animal for adoption.
Transporting foster dogs to vet appointments to obtain any preventative medical and/or resolve additional health-related issues.
Work on house manners for a foster Malinois or Dutch Shepherd as needed. This may include house rules, house breaking, crate training, and overall manners.
Work on obedience training, leash manners, and public etiquette.
Work on dog and people socialization skills.
Familiarize foster dogs with car travel, crating or tethering in a car, and getting in and out of vehicles.
Exposing a foster pet to new experiences and reading that pet to meet the world.

Foster Contract

A foster contract is required for each unique foster home and dog.
A contract is required prior to the foster dog arriving in the home.
Foster Parents should review all items on the contract which covers many important policies.
Foster contracts can be obtained from your MAD Rescue Foster Counselor, Adoption Counselor or Volunteer.

Transport

Transportation is available for a foster dog to get to a foster home.
MAD requests that the foster parent, when able, meet the transport to pick up their new foster.
Foster dogs will transport to a foster home and then once again when moving to its adoptive home. MAD Rescue request that Foster parents assist for each transport.
The typical rescue support for transport is 350 miles with additional miles to be covered by the adopter.
MAD Rescue is a 501(c)3 and donations are potentially tax deductible. Keep track of miles and expenses if you drive transport so that you can review with your tax professional.

Foster Parent Best Practices

All current pets in the foster home should be fully vaccinated prior to bringing home a foster dog.
Segregating new foster dogs from current pets will allow any illness to be identified and treated, while keeping current pets healthy.
Foster dogs should be allowed to decompress prior to integration with family members and current pets. Check out our articles on 3-3-3. Decompression usually takes days, weeks, and months. It is not a matter of minutes or a quick walk together.

Vet Care for your Foster Pet

Every attempt will be made to get a foster pet updated prior to placement in a foster home. In many cases this is not possible and is one of the main missions of the foster parent. Each foster pet should receive the following vet care to get the animal ready for adoption.

Vaccination including, at a minimum, Parvo, Distemper, Rabies and Bordetella.
Fecal exam treated until negative of parasites.
Negative heartworm test.
Microchip.
Spay or Neuter.

Vet Care Protocol

MAD Rescue covers the veterinary expenses for dogs in our program. The following are protocols for this.

The account at the veterinarian office should be set up under MAD Rescue.
We will pay for vet services at the time of treatment using a credit card over the phone.
Receipts can and should be emailed to vets@madrescueinc.org so that the pets official record can be updated for the future adoptive family.
Vet care must be approved prior to any expense being incurred.
We require several quotes to look for the most competitive cost. Foster parents are requested to help look for competitive rates in their area.
When requested, we will help the foster parent look for competitive rates and set up appointments.
Work with your volunteer to learn about services that are covered versus not covered.

Lost Dog Protocol

If your foster dog is lost, notify your MAD Rescue volunteer contact immediately.
Foster parents can also write lost@madrescueinc.org to give information on a lost dog.
Each foster dog will be provided with an ID dog tag. This will be provided in your foster box. You should keep the foster dog tagged at all times.
Each foster will also be provided with a FI collar. The FI collar should be charged and kept on the dog.
Once a lost dog is reported the MAD Rescue volunteers will share additional lost dog protocol.

Covered Vet Expenses

The following is a list of covered versus not covered vet expenses. This list is by no means all inclusive but it is intended to give an idea of what MAD Rescue covers.

Covered

Every MAD Rescue animal gets a minimum amount of vet care. The covered list typically includes those items.

Exam
Spay/Neuter
Multi-vaccination including, at minimum, Parvo and Distemper
Bordetella
Rabies
Microchip and Microchip implantation
Fecal Test
Heartworm test
Parasite treatment
Health Certificate for transport across state lines

Requires approval

MAD rescue will cover a variety of other medical conditions but these require approval and obtaining estimates in advance.

Emergency exam
Heartworm treatment
Ortho surgeries
Amputations
Dental work
Bloodwork for Medical conditions
ProHeart Injection (typically for HW positive dogs)

Rescue Provided

MAD rescue does provide for some items in our foster boxes.

Heartworm prevention
Flea and Tick prevention

Not Covered

Service that MAD does not cover include the following list. if the dogs is being adopted by the foster or moving to an adopter and the applicant wants to sponsor these items at the same time as another surgery, please speak to your MAD Rescue representative.

Gastropexy
Declaw removal
Ovary sparing spay or tubal ligation
Vasectomy
Veterinary care for adopted animals
Microchip Registration - MAD will register through our shelter software
Lyme Vaccine
Flu Vaccine
Nail Trim
Pre-op Bloodwork (possible with approval)

Foster Responsibilities

As a foster parent you are agreeing to take on responsibility for the animal that is placed in your care. Here are some highlights:

As a foster parent you are responsible to feed, water, and keep the animal safe.
The dog should be included as part of your family and live in your home.
MAD Rescue does not reimburse for damages caused by the animal. This includes damage to your home, vehicle, and other property.
Animals should be integrated in the home carefully. MAD Rescue covers medical care for foster dogs only and does not cover resident animals vet care, treatment for contagions, or treatment of injuries.
Foster parents should keep foster dogs contained and on leash when outside to ensure the animals safety.
The foster is fully responsible for the actions of the dog while in their care.
Foster parents assume all risks when fostering, MAD Rescue is not liable for injuries.

Advertising and Social Media

A key responsibility for a foster parent is to advertise and help find a new adoptive home for your foster dog.

Foster parents should take photos and videos of their foster pet and advertise for new adoptive homes on our Facebook page.
A great profile is key for a foster pet finding it's forever home. Foster parents are requested to help develop an accurate dog profile.
When advertising on our social media platforms please tag all dogs with #MADlovedogsname (substitute dogs name in red with the actual foster dogs name). This will allow prospective adopters to find all post related to a particular pet of interest.
Dogs who have a strong social media presence are adopted quickly!!

Foster Parents Perks

Foster parents do have some perks. The following are some of the perks.

Foster parents are the first to learn about the new perspective foster pet. This is an opportunity to see if the animal is a fit to become a permanent member of the family.
With MAD Rescue the foster parent does not have to give up their foster pet, they can adopt the dog they are fostering.
Foster parents have the first right of refusal on adoption. This means that the foster parent can adopt their foster animal and are prioritized over other apps. The adoption counselor or applicant advocates can give more details.
Our foster parents are included in the process of reviewing and identifying adopters for their foster dog. We will work closely with each foster parent to make a great match for their foster pet.
Foster parents often make life time relationships with their adoptive family. As the foster parent you may receive photos and stories in the future.