Suggestions on how to manage applications for your foster
If the applicant is a possibility, successful or not successful they all require a response. This does not
mean that we want our fosters to go to just any home but definitely the right forever home. But in
saying this it is really important that you acknowledge all applicants.
How you choose applicants to contact you is your choice. You may prefer to you mobile or email or
both. Everyone has different schedules and preferred methods of communication.
Some people are confident enough to speak directly to applicants and others prefer to do this over
email so they have a bit of distance. Others choose to use a bit of both.
If you use a phone number to be contacted you can always allow all messages to go to msg bank first
before returning the call. This way it allows you to have an application/adoption form handy or your
wits about you when you return the call.
If you prefer to use email this allows you to not speak with applicants but please be mindful about
email etiquette and that emails like text messages don't always convey the tone in which you meant
it to.
Ways to help narrow down applicants is as easy as to ask them to fill out an application form. Some
people can not bother to do this and others are soo honest it makes it easy for you to realise they
are not the home for your foster.
Personally I only foster extra large dogs so I have had answers such as:
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"I want a guard dog, does it have a good bark?"
"He looks a good pigging dog what do ya reckon?"
"If I feed her less will she get smaller?"
"I want a big dog but I won't be able to walk them, does this matter?"
"I like the look of that big one you have but if they damage my furniture will you take it
back?"
So needless to say that these are all failed applications for my foster dogs but it gives you something
to decline on. People often want to know the reason why they are not suitable. Or in their eyes 'not
good enough' to have one of our fosters. So you do need to be mindful of people feelings but don't
be afraid to be direct and offer an answer. Examples such as:
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My foster needs to go to a home with another dog.
Rehoming to a home with another dog you need to make sure you profile the behaviour,
breed, age of the other dog. So if you have a dominant female foster say they you need a
submissive male dog at the forever home.
My foster needs to be an inside dog
My foster needs to go for a run each day not just a walk
My foster need intensive ongoing training
My foster needs to be spoilt rotten. You will come across a foster that knows they need to
be served fillet steak each night or lightly fried chicken breast. These princesses/princess
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exists and it's ok to find them the home that will carry them in a handbag all the time like
the Hollywood Star the foster considers themself to be.
My foster needs to be able to go to work with the owner each day.
My foster can't have any children at the forever home, they are a bit too timid for children.
My foster is too young and fragile to have young children as part of their forever home,
children don't realise how rough they can be when just trying to play with a tiny animal.
Perhaps suggest an older animal such as an adolescent cat or a 1yr old dog.
It's OK to tell a white lie when your gut tells you the applicant is not the right home. But just be nice
about it and realise whatever you say must go with the fact the fosters profile needs to stay up on
the web in the meantime.
Or simply you can just say on this occasion I felt your application wasn't the right match for my
current foster animal. Then you could refer them to others fosters that may be more suitable.
If you do answer the phone and are not ready to take the application it is OK to say "i'm sorry i'm
really busy at the moment can I please take your name and number and I will call you back" this way
you don't end up in a situation that you regret.
I like to have the application form in front of me when I call people as I normally forget to discuss
something with them then I have to ring them back again. Being prepared for the application makes
the outcome easier.
If you do take a phone call get the applicant to tell you a bit about why they are interested in the
foster, what they are looking for in a pet. This way you can jot down some points that you want to
discuss further or raise alarm bells to you and cross them out as an applicant.
It is ok to start the process by telling the applicants that you are "only taking applications at the
moment". Explain that you will be taking applications over the week. This allows you to find the best
forever home and also for people to realise it's not a snap decision and that we don't rehome to the
first person that applies.
If you’re uncomfortable being so firm, or are dealing with pushy people, it’s OK to say, “Let me think
about it and get back to you.” Saying “No” doesn’t mean you are being rude; neither does it mean
you are being disagreeable. Saying “No” doesn’t mean there will be conflict nor that you’ll lose
opportunities in the future. And saying no most definitely doesn’t mean you’re burning bridges. At
the end of the day, it’s about how you say “no”, rather than the fact you’re saying no, that affects
the outcome.
I've had many a pushy person ring me and tell me that :
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"whats your address i'll will be around in 30mins have the dog out the front waiting for me"
"the big dog i've forgetten it's name i'll take that one"
For those that know me i'm quite happy to say no. But for these applicants (i'm saying something
different in my mind) I tell them "i'm sorry but our application process does not work like that. If you
are interested in the dog we need to have a chat first, I then need you to fill out an application form. I
will then consider all applications then let you know if you have been successful in adopting my foster
dog. My aim is to find the right forever home" This often is too much for people that contact me like
this and I don't hear from them again. Some people are not intentionally trying to be rude they are
just soo excited about getting a new pet they forget that there might be more to it then ringing up
and saying they will take the dog or cat. Once I say this they generally have a laugh and start talking.
Some people may get quite upset or angry about the questions in the adoption application. Some of
these seem quite personal and people don't like to give out information. What I explain is that we
get some applicants that have never owned a pet before and that they have not thought everything
through such as the cost of having a pet. Some people have never thought about what they would
do if they had to go on holidays, or if the animal was hit by a car. Generally this makes people more
amenable to fill out the form. I also assure them their details are not passed on.
An example of a response to an unsuccessful applicant, I have just used Cindy as the foster name.
Hi,
I am just responding to your application to adopt Cindy. I have been inundated with applications and
this time you have not been successful in your application. I do hope you will still consider another
foster animal from Hunter Animal Rescue as we are always welcoming new foster animals.
Many thanks,
Katherine
Some people will be happy just to receive a response. Others may want more information as to why
they were unsuccessful. Then you can use an example from above. Such as "the chosen forever home
had another dog which is one of the requirements that I was looking for to make Cindy happy. "
If the applicant is not suitable for your foster or they were not your first choice then other options
you could suggest for them to look at are:
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breed specific rescue groups. Such as German Shepherd Rescue
other rescue organisations such as dog rescue Newcastle. If they are really keep to adopt
ASAP
Keep an eye out on our website as we always gets new fosters coming in
If you are just unsure or don't know what to do then feel free to call another carer or another
member in HAR. Sometime just having a chat about it helps you come to your decision and work out
ways to respond to people as well. Sometimes it's hard to choose between two applicants, talking to
another person helps you realise the right home and makes you considers things you had not
thought of yet.
It is about trying to find the best forever home for your foster. If you find the right home then you
won't have any regrets letting them go.
I hope some of these tips have helped. If you need a hand at all feel free to ask or if you have any
further suggestion let me know so we can add them for new carers coming on board.
Katherine Geczy