Foster programs can give animals the care and attention they need in preparation for adoption. Most of the time, these programs work well, as long as careful risk management protocols are in place. Below you’ll find essential tips to help you avoid the most common exposures.
Essential Risk Management Tips for Animal Foster Programs
A lawsuit could derail your organization’s mission. Appropriate risk management prevents that from happening:
- Screen your foster volunteers.
- Adhere to strict criteria when placing animals in foster homes.
- Use written agreements that spell out the volunteer’s responsibilities and limit your liability.
- Maintain the correct type of insurance for your program and understand the coverages
In addition to these basic risk management tips, it’s important to mitigate common threats. There are four main animal foster exposures to safeguard against:
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Animal Attacks
According to DogBite.org, approximately 1,000 people in the U.S. require emergency medical care for dog bite injuries every day and approximately 12,480 people are hospitalized due to dog bite injuries each year.
Animals in animal foster programs may be young or have been through traumatic experiences, including neglect, abandonment, or abuse. This may mean these animals are prone to biting, especially if they are stressed. It’s not just the person who volunteers to foster the animal who could suffer a bite – other people in the person’s household, visitors, and even neighbors could also be at risk.
How should foster programs control this risk? Careful screening is essential. Any animal can bite, but some are more likely to do so than others. Overly aggressive animals may be unsuitable for foster placements. It’s also important to screen and train foster volunteers in animal behavior and warning signals. In addition to making sure fosterers know how to act around animals to decrease the risk of bites, consider the household environment and who else will be present. It’s important to find the right match. For example, a dog that becomes overly excited or has hearing problems and is surprised easily may be a poor match for a foster home with young children.
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Spread of Disease
A foster animal could spread parasites and infections to other animals in the household or even to the humans who live there.
According to the CDC, many diseases spread between animals and people. Some animals may appear healthy even when they are carrying diseases that could make people sick. Some diseases (including avian flu) may be serious.
How should foster programs control this risk? Before placing animals in foster care, have a veterinarian examine them. A period of quarantine may also be necessary. Instruct the fosterer to watch for any signs of illness and to contact the shelter if they notice any symptoms.
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Fights Between Animals
Some animals form close bonds, even across species, but others are territorial and may not want to share their space. Fights between animals are a serious risk. In some cases, fights result in serious injuries.
How should foster programs control this risk? To prevent fights, it’s important to assess animals you’re placing into foster care for aggression and to determine whether they get along with other animals. It’s also important to know whether the foster home will have any other animals and how those animals behave around other pets. It may be best to place foster animals in homes without other pets. If there are other pets, you should closely supervise introductions until you’re certain the animals will get along.
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Property Damage
Even small animals can cause a lot of property damage – whether they’re tearing up furniture or digging up gardens. In addition to damaging the fosterer’s home, an animal might damage property belonging to neighbors – for example, if a dog escapes a backyard.
How should foster programs control this risk? Make fosterers aware of the risk and give them tips on how to protect their property – for example, by removing items a foster pet may damage. During screening, verify how much time the foster family can spend with the animal. Animals that are left alone for prolonged periods and become anxious or bored may be more prone to destructive activity. Inspect yards to ensure it’s not easy for animals to escape – this is also critical for their safety!
Do You Have Coverage for Your Risks?
No matter how good your animal foster program risk management is, you still need animal rescue insurance. Tangram provides insurance for animal welfare organizations through AWOIP, including general liability, animal relocation, transmissible pathogen, and volunteer accidental medical insurance. Learn more.
