Does your animal organization have a successful foster-to-adopt program for individuals who want to “foster” an animal before committing to adoption, to ensure it’s the right fit for their home? Or are you looking to start one? Kelli Jordan of Tallahassee Animal Services recently shared on Maddie’s^® Pet Forum that they’re looking to start one, and would love to hear how your organization manages it, how it’s structured and whether you have example application forms or guidelines you could share.

Folks from across the country have been chiming in, sharing their experiences with this type of program or their interest in starting one. Michelle Russo, from WAGS Pet Adoption in Westminster, CA, shared that they just launched one this year. “So far, we’ve successfully placed about 40 dogs through this program, out of a total of 90 we are caring for we often have 20 in traditional foster care and 10 are foster to adopt, and it has been consistently active throughout the year. We do foster-to-adopt typically for three days. There are times we extend to a week,” said Russo.

Angellee Vincent of Grand Prairie Animal Services in Texas shared that while they don’t have a specific foster to adopt program at their facility, Vincent did implement Home Trials about eight years ago under previous management. Adopters fill out an adoption application and a home trial contract. They are granted one week with the dog to see how it’s going. “If they need longer, I allow it as long as they stay in contact with me. This has been a very popular option especially because no other shelters around here really offer anything like this,” Vincent said.

Over at Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon, Keeanna Stansbury says they have a smaller shelter and fill up much faster than a lot of other neighboring organizations. “We have had a Foster-to-Adopt standard that we utilize for various situations. We actually have a standard practice on our website if you are interested in viewing,” shared Stansbury.

Check out the post on Maddie’s^® Pet Forum to see all the responses, including more details about the programs above!