Welcome! The APA’s foster care program has been around for many years, assisting in the critical care and socialization needed to get animals ready for adoption. By placing animals in a temporary foster home, the APA can take in and assist more animals that need help, and some that may need immediate assistance through our transfer program. Fostering benefits not only the animals, but people too! We are more than thrilled to have you join our team! About the APA The Animal Protective Association of Missouri was established in 1922, we are a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing people and pets together by advancing humane education and creating programs beneficial to the human/animal bond. 2019 accomplishments • 4132 adoptions • 1256 animals fostered • 1937 animals transferred in • Live release rate 94% Fostering for other animal rescue groups By agreeing to foster for the APA you agree to not foster an animal from another rescue group at the same time. We ask you to do this due to cross contamination purposes and to ensure there is adequate space in the home for the quantity of animals. You are welcome to foster for other groups, but we ask you do not have an APA foster pet AND a pet from another group at the same time. Additionally, if you are fostering for another group (even if not actively) we would like to know for our records. Contact Information • • • • Foster Care Coordinator: Ashton Keenan Email: Ashton@apamo.org Work Phone: 314-645-4610 ext. 131 Cell Phone: 314-338-7999 My regular days off are Saturdays and Sundays, for emergencies I can be reached on my cell phone by text/call or email. Volunteer Foster Leads The APA has appointed several long-term foster volunteers to act as a mentor to fosters who may have questions and concerns about their foster pets. These volunteers are capable of providing general fostering advice, neonatal care training, nursing mom cat/dog care. These volunteers are NOT allowed to prescribe medication, schedule surgical or vaccine appointments, or address emergencies. All of those things still needs to go through the foster care coordinator. Feline Foster Lead: Feline Foster Lead: Canine Foster Lead: Canine Foster Lead: Jennifer Christy Jennifer Myerscough Susan Dohr Susan Depue Cell: 314-353-1562 Cell phone (TEXT PREFERRED): 314-280-6334 Cell Phone (TEXT PREFERRED): 314-458-5367 Home: 314-481-7496 Cell: 314-308-6398 (Call OR Text) Email: c695074@gmail.com Email: jenniferchristy00@yahoo.com Email: Jenmyerscough@yahoo.com Where can I find available animals for fostering? The APA has a private group on Facebook where we post pets in need of foster care. Animals are posted in the group by myself or another APA staff member, although sometimes you may also see posts from other APA foster families needing help placing their foster in a new foster home. Please request to join that group so you can stay up to date on pets in need of foster care. The APA does not allow fosters to “tag” or “commit” to pets in need of rescue that may be posted by other shelters or networkers. All pets must be property of the APA before being fostered. In addition to this, once you’ve joined our Facebook group please check out the “announcements” section and the “files” section for more helpful foster information. Click the link below to join now! https://www.facebook.com/groups/101858526831448/ What is provided by the APA? • Food and litter is always supplied by the APA for foster pets, all food and litter is graciously provided by Purina. • Medical treatments: All medical treatments including vaccines and medications are provided by the APA at the APA. • Crates & Exercise pens: The APA can provide crates or exercise pens to fosters who need them. • Additional supplies: Let us know how we can help! How long will I have my foster pet? • Puppies: Puppies need to be fostered until they’re 8 weeks of age and at least 3 pounds unless otherwise stated by the head technician and foster coordinator. • Kittens: Kittens need to be fostered until they’re 8 weeks of age and at least 1.5 pounds. • Heartworm Positive dogs: These dogs are fostered for 1 week. • Nursing moms: Nursing mothers typically need to stay with their puppies until the puppies are 8 weeks of age. • Medical/Socialization Fosters: Time out in foster care may vary. Nursing Moms & Babies • The APA receives pleas for pregnant/nursing moms and their babies regularly, having a quiet foster home where moms can comfortably care for their babies is ideal, as the shelter is quite stressful. • It is critically important for nursing moms to have privacy, and for human contact with their babies to be very limited until the babies are about 3 weeks old. • For the first 4-5 weeks nursing mothers do majority of the work such as feeding and clean up. The foster family is mainly responsible for the mom’s care until this point. • Weeks 5-8 nursing mothers start to give their puppies more independence, teaching them to not rely on just her milk as a source of food. Puppies/kittens will start to develop interest in dry kibble. Mom will take a step back on caring for the litter and may desire to spend more and more time away from the babies. During these weeks mom also teaches the puppies/kittens proper interaction with their litter mates. In an ideal situation, mom should stay with her babies until they reach 8 weeks of age, however, some moms can be taken away sooner if it is beneficial for the babies. Appointment/Vaccine Protocol • All medical procedures including vaccines and minor illnesses are by appointment only. Appointments can be made between 10am-5pm Monday-Friday. • To schedule an appointment please contact Ashton via email. • We like to see our puppies and kittens every 2 weeks starting at 4 weeks of age. • Surgery is typically scheduled on a weekly basis; fosters will be contacted ahead of time with that date. Our doctors like foster pets to be dropped off the day before surgery. Vaccine Protocol Cont. Puppies: • Under 4 Weeks : Nothing is given. • • 4 Weeks: First kitten FVRCP and a deworming with Ponazuril & Strongid. • 6 Weeks: Second kitten FVRCP, FeLV/FIV Test, Deworming with Ponazuril & Strongid, flea and heartworm prevention. • 8 Weeks: Third kitten FVRCP. • 10 Weeks & post adoption: Continue with FVRCP shots every two weeks until 5 months of age. • 4 Weeks: First puppy DAPP and a Deworming with Ponazuril & Strongid. • 6 Weeks: Second puppy DAPP, Bordetella, Deworming with Strongid, flea and heartworm prevention. • 8 Weeks: Third puppy DAPP. • 10 Weeks & post adoption: Continue with DAPP shots every two weeks until 5 months of age. Kittens: Under 4 Weeks: Nothing is given. Enrichment & Socialization • An important part of Puppy and Kitten-hood is socialization, it is crucial that puppies and kittens get lots of interaction with their littermates and/or mother. • It is best to keep fosters away from animals outside of their littermates, for the prevention of spreading communicable diseases, however, some fosters choose to let their foster pets meet the other pets in the home. • It is not safe to walk foster puppies around the neighborhood or take them out in public, but a small secluded area in your yard may be used for outside time. • Family/Friends may come over to play and help socialize your foster pets, but please do not allow your fosters to comingle with animals outside of the home. • Once a foster pet reaches the correct age & weight or has completed their proposed medical treatment, the next step is the adoption process! • Before a pet can be adopted, it must be spayed/neutered. • Foster pets will be made available the day after their spay/neuter surgery, or upon arrival back to the shelter if the pet is already spayed or neutered. Adoption • Foster families ALWAYS get first choice on adopting their foster pet. • After completing 20 volunteer hours, foster parents are eligible for a discount of $50 off an adoption, and 25% off wellness services in our clinic. Fosters receive 2 volunteer hours per active day. • Friends and Family members of the foster family are also welcome to adopt, adoption prices and services are not reduced. • If a foster family, or someone with relation to the foster family decides to adopt, we ask the adopter to be here between 10-11am the day after surgery to do the adoption. Ideal foster set up Nursing Mom cats/dogs: Ideal set up is a kennel or exercise pen in a warm, quiet and secluded area, with blankets, a bed, toys, food and water for mom, include a litterbox for cats. Puppy pads can be used as an alternative to some of the blankets. Cover all sides of the kennel or exercise pen, so mom feels less stressed and has some privacy. Exercise pens are not effective for cats. Puppies/kittens without moms: Ideal set up is an exercise pen (for puppies) or a crate, in an isolated area of your home. Line the bottom of the enclosure with puppy pads/newspaper or blankets, include food/water bowls, toys, litterbox (for cats), blankets or a bed. Heartworm/medical fosters: Ideal set up is in a wire kennel in a quieter area of your home. These dogs are to be walked on leash only and kept quiet with their activity restricted to rest and relaxation. Ideal foster set up Cont. Medical cat fosters: Ideal set up is a wire kennel with a litter box, food, blankets, and a bed. Depending on the medical condition these pets are being treated for will depend on how much activity restriction they may need. Most medical cats should be kept confined to the wire kennel for most of their time in foster care. Socialization cats/dogs: Ideal set up is a quiet area of the home where interaction can be monitored. These animals are scared and should not be given free range of the house, so a wire crate or small bedroom/bathroom is ideal. Dogs should be leash walked. • Always clean all supplies between fosters, including toys, bedding, crates/exercise pens, and food/water bowls. Sanitation & Cleaning Protocol • Foster “areas” such as bedrooms, bathrooms, or wherever else fosters are confined should have all surfaces thoroughly cleaned in between fosters. • Bleach water is an effective tool to use when cleaning between fosters, as bleach kills most communicable diseases. • The bleach dilution ratio is 1-part bleach to 32 parts water. Bleach should be used AFTER surfaces are wiped down with another cleaning and disinfecting agent, as bleach becomes inactive when touching organic matter. • Bleach water should be made fresh at the time of sanitation and is only good for several hours afterwards. Fosters and Your Pets • We encourage fosters to be housed separate from your pet. This reduces stress levels in nursing/pregnant moms who also may be protective of their young. • Socialization and playtime out with your existing pets should be supervised. Please take precaution to protect young fosters from injuries that could occur in the environment or from larger/older pets in the home. • Please observe your fosters for any signs of illness and take precautions for the health of your pets. Common communicable diseases Upper Respiratory Infections(URI) What is it: A mild respiratory type infection. Who is susceptible: Cats/Kittens of all ages. Signs/Symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, runny nose/eyes, rubbing of face and eyes, congestion. How it spreads: Through contact with infected cats/kittens. Has airborne components because of sneezing/coughing. Treatment: Antibiotics to help with secondary symptoms, keeping nose and eyes wiped clean with warm cloth, placing pet in a bathroom and using the steam from a running shower to help open nasal passages. Probiotics such as Fortiflora can also be given to help replenish healthy gut bacteria. Calicivirus What is it: A severe type of upper respiratory infection. Who is susceptible: Cats/kittens of all ages. Signs/Symptoms: Ulcers in mouth, runny eyes/nose, not eating/drinking, lethargy, coughing, congestion How it spreads: Through contact with infected cats/kittens. Has airborne components because of sneezing/coughing. Treatment: Antibiotics to help with secondary symptoms, keeping nose and eyes wiped clean with warm cloth, placing pet in a bathroom and using the steam from a running shower to help open nasal passages. Probiotics such as Fortiflora can also be given to help replenish healthy gut bacteria. What is it: A sudden decline in health in young kittens, resulting in death. Who is susceptible: Kittens from birth to 9 weeks of age. Fading Kitten Syndrome Signs/Symptoms: Diarrhea, not eating/drinking, isolation, crying, restlessness, failure to gain weight/thrive, drop in body temperature. Causes: Environmental – including maternal neglect and age. Genetic or congenital – deformities/genetic flaws. Infectious diseases & bacteria. Treatment: Supportive care such as fluids, nutritional supplements, antibiotics if showing signs of URI/Diarrhea. Cure/Prevention: None. Parvovirus What is it: A severely contagious gastrointestinal virus Who is susceptible: Puppies and unvaccinated adult dogs. Signs/Symptoms: Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, not eating/drinking, lethargy, fever. How it spreads: Can live in environments for up to 11 months, spread through contact with other dogs or coming in contact with environments an infected dog had been in. Most household cleaning products will not kill the virus. Bleach effectively kills parvovirus, if properly used. Treatment: None specific to the virus, providing supportive care including fluids, antibiotic injections, anti-nausea medication, probiotics and nutritional supplements. What is it: A common respiratory virus. Who is susceptible: Dogs/puppies of all ages. Signs/Symptoms: Coughing/hacking, gagging/retching, yellow nasal discharge, coughing up phlegm, loss of appetite, lethargy. Kennel Cough How it spreads: Has airborne components, can spread through direct contact with an infected dog, or saliva/nasal discharge from an infected dog. Treatment: Antibiotics to treat secondary symptoms, nutritional supplements/fluids if not eating or drinking. Probiotics such as Fortiflora can also be given to help replenish healthy gut bacteria. • What is it: A parasite that invades the heart as well as the blood stream. • Who is susceptible: Dogs of all ages, though adult heartworms take 6 months to develop. Heartworms • Signs/Symptoms: Labored breathing, fatigue, coughing. • How it spreads: From the bite of an infected mosquito. NOT contagious VIA dog to dog contact. • Treatment: 30 days of antibiotics, 2 Diroban injections along the spine, 2 ½ weeks of steroids, followed by 6-8 weeks of low stress and reduced activity. What is it: A fungal infection. It is NOT a worm. Who is susceptible: Ringworm infection is contagious to humans and animals, though this is most commonly seen in those with suppressed or immature immune systems. Ringworm Signs/Symptoms: Hair loss most commonly seen on the tail, ears, feet, and face. Sometimes hairless patches can be crusty/flaky. How it spreads: Through direct contact with an infected animal or an environment an infected animal may have lived in. Treatment: Lime Sulphur baths twice weekly, topical solution, and oral medication depending on the severity of the case. Can my foster pet go outside? • Adult dogs may go outside, activity should be restricted if they are receiving heartworm treatment. Puppies are still susceptible to various diseases, so please keep their outside activity limited to a small area in your yard. Please keep all cats/kittens indoors. Does fostering for the APA cost money? FAQ’s • Fostering for the APA is free. We will supply you with all necessary supplies needed to properly care for your foster pet(s). Some fosters choose to purchase their own supplies such as bowls, beds, crates, exercise pens, and toys in order to avoid having to bring the supplies back to the shelter between fosters. Any supplies purchased on your own are considered tax deductions, but are not reimbursable. How do I know which pets are available for fostering? • Each week the foster care coordinator will post pets needing foster care on the APA Foster Group Facebook page, this is a closed group, so the public cannot view it. Please request to join the group if you have not done so yet, so you can stay up to date on pets needing foster homes at the APA. What happens if my foster pet doesn’t work out? • Foster pets that do not work out in a particular foster home are welcome to come back to the APA. You are not required to keep a foster pet that is not working out. FAQ’s Continued Who do I contact if there is a serious medical emergency with my foster pet? • Please contact the foster care coordinator via email or phone call. Am I responsible for finding forever homes for my foster pets? • No. The APA takes full responsibility for finding foster pets their forever homes, however, if the foster wishes to assist by referring adopters that is always ok. What if I run out of supplies? • If a foster parent runs out of supplies, please feel free to swing by the APA during regular business hours to replenish your supplies. How do I make appointments for my foster pets to be seen for vaccines/minor illnesses? • For vaccination and minor medical issue appointments, please email Ashton. Please allow several hours for response time, if contact is not made during regular APA hours.
