Big Hands Little Paws Cat Foster Application

Thank you for your interest in fostering!

With every foster home another life is saved.

Please read and complete this application, print, sign and give to Big Hands Little Paws, Inc. (“BHLP”) to be considered for a foster home and for this to become a successful foster arrangement.

Big Hands Little Paws is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is threefold: care of homeless and orphaned animals; providing resources and funding to other animal organizations and individuals for targeted animal care; and educating the community. BHLP is devoted to rescuing needy cats from shelter euthanasia, abandonment and life on the streets. We are not a shelter, but a team of caring volunteers who try to find foster homes for needy cats until permanent placement can be found. We cover the cost of necessary medical attention, but our foster homes care for the cats in their own homes, where they’re given abundant love and affection.

Prospective adopters, who have seen a cat they are interested in via our website, are pre-screened and then meet the cat in their foster home. We value the input of our foster homes in ensuring that their foster cats end up in loving homes. Many adopters stay in touch making this process even more rewarding.

It is expressly agreed that if the Foster Parent decides to adopt the foster cat, an Adoption Application and Agreement must be completed and adoption donation paid.

It is also expressly agreed that foster homes keep the foster cats until they are adopted. It is also expressly agreed that BHLP has the exclusive control and rights to approve of any solicited adoptions.

Please also note that you are not to incur any expenses for which you wish to be reimbursed without checking in and receiving the prior approval of BHLP in writing beforehand. The nature of rescue means we are on a budget and often do routine medical treatments ourselves and if needed we have certain vets we use.

Feel free to give us as much information as possible and questions are welcome. Thank you for considering opening your home and heart to a foster cat!

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Cat Foster Application

First Name
Last Name
Street Address
City
ZIP
Phone
Email
Occupation
List name of each adult living in your household and age of each child living in your household.
Is everyone in your household in agreement about fostering a cat?
Does your building/landlord or lease regulations allow cats?
Is anyone in your home allergic to cats?
Have you or any member of your household been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor associated with animal abuse or neglect or domestic abuse?
Does your home have any outdoor space? If so, please describe and set forth steps you will take to prevent the cat from gaining access.
Do you have screens on all windows?
Do you agree to keep the windows closed?
List each current pet including type, breed, gender, age, length of time you have had pet, where pet spends most of his/her time, and if pet current with all vaccinations.
List each pet you have had during the past five (5) years including type, breed, gender, and period of time you had the pet and why you no longer have the pet.
Have any of your previous pets been lost, stolen, poisoned or killed and if so, please explain
Have you ever had a cat? If so, please list each period of time you had each cat.
Where will the foster cat be kept when nobody is home? (Please be specific):
How long, on average, will this cat be left alone each day? What provisions would you make if leaving the cat alone for 8+ hours per work day?
Do you have a place to keep your foster cat away from your own animals initially? (NOTE: This can be necessary for slow introduction purposes and also for health reasons.)
Are you willing to administer medications should the cat require it?
Do you understand that we will schedule all routine medical visits and preauthorize all veterinary expenses but you would need to transport the animal to the spay/neuter clinic (unless fostering an already altered animal)?
Would you be able to provide appropriate food and litter for this cat at your own expense? That would help us tremendously!
Tell us about why you would like to foster and who your ideal foster would be (i.e., mom+litter, sibling kittens, adult cat, etc). If kittens, how many kittens can you foster at one time?
How long are you available to foster? We ask that you commit to keep the cat until it can be adopted unless pre-arranged otherwise.
Have you ever fostered before? If so, please list previous fostering experience?

References

Please provide two (2) unrelated references, including first and last name, resident address, email address and telephone contact information.
Reference #1
Reference #2

Additional Info

Is there any information you would like to add or questions you might have?

Terms of Agreement

In consideration for fostering the cat, the Foster Applicant agrees to the following conditions:
1. To provide safe, warm, indoor housing for the cat;
2. To not allow the cat outdoors at any time, except in a sealed carrier when transporting cat;
3. To spend as much time as possible playing with and socializing the cat;
4. To not change or alter the cat’s appearance in any way;
5. To closely monitor the condition of the cat and to contact BHLP immediately if any physical, health or other concerns are observed (contact pamela@bighandslittlepaws.org/917-626-7400);
6. To not transfer ownership of the cat to another party;
7. To not surrender the cat to any shelter or other animal organization; and
8. To return the cat to BHLP if requested by BHLP.

The Foster Applicant makes the following representations:
1. I am at least twenty-three years of age as of the date of this contract;
2. All members of my household have agreed to the foster of the cat and all members of my household will abide by the terms of this Foster Application;
3. I have never been subject to legal action or investigation for cruelty to or neglect of animals or for domestic violence;
4. None of the members of my household have been subject to legal action or investigation for cruelty to or neglect of animals or for domestic violence; and
5. I have never owned an animal that has been confiscated by an animal control officer or humane organization for violations of state or local animal control regulations or animal adoption agreements.

I understand that in handling animals there exists a risk of injury, infection, disease and physical harm to me, my family and/or my pets. I hereby release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless Big Hands Little Paws, Inc., its agents, board members, Advisory Council members and volunteers from any and all claims, causes of action or demands, including costs and attorney fees incurred in any way connected with my Foster of the Cat, including injuries, bites, scratches, abrasions and property damage.

I also understand that the foster cat is temporarily in my care and belongs exclusively to Big Hands Little Paws, Inc.
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