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FOSTER

Thank you for your interest in being a Homeless Animal

Rescue Team (H.A.R.T.) foster home!

H.A.R.T. is an all volunteer dog rescue based in Plainfield, IL with a network of foster homes in Will, DuPage and Cook Counties.  Jill Kerzisnik founded H.A.R.T. in 2007 and she has been working hard ever since to rescue dogs from pounds, animal care and control and municipal kill shelters in the Southern and Midwestern states. 

We can only save as many dogs as we have space, so each and every one of our foster homes saves the life of an adoptable dog that would otherwise be put to sleep due to overpopulation.  HART does not have a brick and mortar building in which potential adopters can view all of our animals in one location.  Instead, our rescues live in volunteer foster homes and are available for adoption through Petfinder.com., AdoptAPet.com, and local adoption events.  Jill has placed several hundred dogs in their forever homes using these tools and we always encourage our friends and family to “Don’t Shop, Adopt!”   

So you want to be a foster home for a pooch in need?  Here are a few things to consider

 

Decide what age, size, and activity level is best for your home and family.   Consider any pets you may already have, children, space, and work schedules.  Every member of the foster family should able and willing to teach doggie manners with out using physical force.

 HART requires that each dog be spayed/neutered, up to date (UTD) on vaccinations, and micro-chipped prior to adoption.  The dog may have these procedures done while in your care, at which time you would take the dog to a HART approved vet were the rescue will be billed at a discount (and the rescue would pay for).  Foster homes only need to purchase any extras at their own expense.  We provide food, crate, collar and leash.

 Our foster families provide a home until the dog is adopted.  If you decide you do not want to foster the animal any longer, we do not have another home to place it in!   We do not have a boarding facility and HART does not have funds to pay for boarding if you go on vacation.  Jill is always willing to work with foster homes in an emergency situation.   There is an adoption fee and process that is handled by HART when you foster goes to its forever home.  Older dogs can take several weeks or months to be adopted, while puppies may go as quickly as a day or two. 

 We often rescue (or “pull”) full litters of puppies right before they are slated to be euthanized.  We LOVE having the puppies, but remember that puppies will poop on your floor, make puppy noises 24 hours a day, and can get into all sorts of cute trouble.  The puppy should have a safe area where potty training accidents are OK as well as have frequent opportunities to go outside.  If no one will be home for 10 hours on weekdays, an adult dog may be a better fit for both you and the dog. 

 HART gets anywhere from a week to only a 24 hours notice once we have accepted a dog into our rescue.  At that time, we reach out to our foster families via email.  The dogs usually reach us by volunteer “transport” drivers and HART may be involved in the last 1 hour “leg” of the transport.  Foster parents are encouraged but not required to participate in these cases.   Foster families may also need to initially pick up their foster dog within Will, DuPage or Cook County, depending on its arrival time.   Each “rescue” effort is different and HART will keep you updated on arrival logistics as soon as they evolve. 

 You may be shocked to hear about the conditions your foster dog came from and if you are unfamiliar with rescue, you’ll learn there are sad stories to match every success.  Adult foster dogs may take time to “warm up” to their new living situation, as they have already endured more than humans should ever ask of a pet.  The HART team is there to answer any questions you may have and provide support when needed.   Otherwise, we are busy planning the next rescue and finding forever homes!

Still Want To Foster?  Click links below and email or fax your application.

 

HART FOSTER VOLUNTEER CONTRACT OCT 2009.doc Size : 28 Kb Type : doc

HART FOSTER APPLICATION NOVEMBER 2009.doc Size : 93 Kb Type : doc OR Click Here to Apply Online NOW!

Until There is None - Rescue One

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