Fostering & Other Services To 'rescues'

[Mrs Mop]

If I couldn't afford to do things as I do and found myself in a position where I needed to ask for financial help (petrol, food etc.) would I still do it? I'm ashamed to say that pride would probably prevent me and thus a dog would remain in kennels rather than being fostered.

 

I don't think it will always be pride that stops people from asking for financial help but some may feel that others will think they are making money out of the dogs when in fact all they need is the money for food and any equipment the dog may need.

 

Funnily enough, just read back through this before posting and realised that it wouldn't be pride actually, it'd be the feeling that it is somehow morally wrong to be paid to love and care for a dog. Utterly ridiculous if for the sake of asking for help with finances (which could possibly be met by the rescue) a dog would spend time in kennels rather than in a house being loved, housetrained, trained in general and everything else that would increase the chances of him/her finding that permanent home. Really stupid but as Sproggie said, I'd somehow feel as though I was being paid for it. In my case the philosophy behind fostering wouldn't change one iota, but it'd still somehow feel wrong.

 

I think this would also stop many people, which is a shame because they could be the people to turn dogs round and give them a better chance of being in a loving home, instead they will remain in kennels.

[jackin]

for many years the same thing was said about fostering childen and finally the powers that be realised that it was a professional job and in many cases and the fosterers had had almost as much training as the social workers and in many cases a dammed more knowledge.What is wrong with being paid for your skill.We paid vets behaviourists plenty.?

So now in certain cases its a paid job to care for difficult children and income tax is paid.( guess who did it for free for thirty years and still in debt because of it).

There will be excellent people with great knowledge who can foster and sort out difficult dogs but because shall we say stuggle on low income maybe disabled or older welcome the chance to help animals and their income at the same time.They would have loved to work in kennels but not able to.

It would be up to the rescue to vet carefully and do the necessary checks but its far better to have long term difficult dogs sorted and rehomed from a professional foster home than a kennel where they may never have had the chance.

The ordinary foster of a lovely little puppy for example would be the same as before but still all fosters should be vetted carefully.

[Trallwm farm]

for many years the same thing was said about fostering childen and finally the powers that be realised that it was a professional job and in many cases and the fosterers had had almost as much training as the social workers and in many cases a dammed more knowledge.What is wrong with being paid for your skill.We paid vets behaviourists plenty.?

So now in certain cases its a paid job to care for difficult children and income tax is paid.( guess who did it for free for thirty years and still in debt because of it).

There will be excellent people with great knowledge who can foster and sort out difficult dogs but because shall we say stuggle on low income maybe disabled or older welcome the chance to help animals and their income at the same time.They would have loved to work in kennels but not able to.

It would be up to the rescue to vet carefully and do the necessary checks but its far better to have long term difficult dogs sorted and rehomed from a professional foster home than a kennel where they may never have had the chance.

The ordinary foster of a lovely little puppy for example would be the same as before but still all fosters should be vetted carefully.

 

 

For professional bodies and reg charities/vat registered places I can see the benefits but for small struggling rescues it doesnt seem right that money given is going to humans not animals.

 

Can I just add thank god for volunteer fosterers who give thier time and money freely because without them rescue would be on its knees.Also I would hate for fosterers to quit because its assumed people only do it for the money.

However I also know of rescues that take advantage of fosters but Im not talking about anyone that posts on here.

Edited September 22, 2007 by Trallwm farm

[BeadyP]

I havent fostered in years.I did it twice when I worked.

My elderly dog has shown she doesnt like her routine changed.

However for a few years now I've been on the sick.

My income is minimal.However if I was to resume fostering,I would hope for the food and vets billed to be paid for,but that would be all.

If I was to be paid,I wouldnt think it would be huge amounts.Maybe enough to change from "own-brand biscuits" to McVities Hobnobs for example.It wouldnt make a difference to my life.However,it may make a difference to a dogs life.That extra money could go towards another dogs vet/food bills.

I couldnt live with that on my conscience,knowing I could be depriving another dogs welfare.

Thinking about it,I would feel bad about taking money that people have donated.Thinking they were helping dogs.

 

p.s. I've had a thought though,if for example a dog was aggressive and needed specialist fostering,I may agree to the foster being paid.Not sure though.

[elricc]

I see it a different way from Jackinix, I work a lot with social care and fosterers and am always appalled by how some foster parents pack them in to get the cash, take difficult kids to get more money and do nothing for them. Also having taught these "parents" own children I wouldn't allow a young person anywhere near there totally inadequate care and parenting skills. For every one like you Jacki there are many many more in it for the money only, buy a big run down house pack it with foster kids, from private foster agencies used by desperate social care around the country, monitor poorly and don't listen to complaints by the likes of me about shoes not fitting and hygiene.

If people cn do it with kids they can do it with animals, its hard to get the authorities to act on poor provision from fosterers, so animals would be totally bereft.

[AmandaUK]

I don't see why not if the people concerned have appropriate experience, the time and facilities to do so. Really it's no "worse" than people being paid to work in charity based kennels, say the Dogs Trust. Surely nobody would expect people to work there without pay? I know there will of course be volunteers there too.

 

Whether it could be appropriately regulated or not, I'm not sure, but in theory it's fine, for generally the reasons jackin gives

[Whizzie]

I have fostered many dogs over the last 8 years and would never dream of accepting payment. I have always footed bills myself for food etc but am fortunate to have been able to afford that for one extra dog at a time. I've funded microchipping and a few minor expenses voluntarily. Major vet bills have never come my way but had they done so I would probably have requested assistance at that point.

 

My contribution to the rescue world has always been entirely voluntary but my current job is Head of Fundraising for a hospice. In response to this comment:-

 

I also have concerns where rescues pay a professional fundraiser and they take a cut of what people have given to feed animals.

 

Can I just say that most professional fundraisers care deeply about the cause they are supporting, are not paid huge salaries and regularly go the extra mile or 10 making a big contribution of their own unpaid time. I gave up a much higher paid job to do something I cared about and found worthwhile. We have to raise £2m per annum to care for 850 patients per year. To imagine you can do this without a few paid staff to take the responsibility, coordinate the workload etc is rather naive. We are assisted by many wonderful volunteers who we support and work alongside with as equals.

 

I'm sure the position is much the same for some of the larger rescues and the fundraising staff make as vital a contribution as other workers. It's always very hurtful when my small team and I receive comments like "Oh, you're not a nurse, ONLY a fundraiser".

 

I've always helped smaller rescues as it happens but there are larger rescues out there with paid staff whose contribution is much needed in the rescue world.

 

What I do support for larger organisations is clear and transparent accounts with the information available to all on the % of costs incurred to income raised.

[ReikiAnge]

Can I just say that most professional fundraisers care deeply about the cause they are supporting, are not paid huge salaries and regularly go the extra mile or 10 making a big contribution of their own unpaid time. I gave up a much higher paid job to do something I cared about and found worthwhile. We have to raise £2m per annum to care for 850 patients per year. To imagine you can do this without a few paid staff to take the responsibility, coordinate the workload etc is rather naive. We are assisted by many wonderful volunteers who we support and work alongside with as equals.

 

I'm sure the position is much the same for some of the larger rescues and the fundraising staff make as vital a contribution as other workers. It's always very hurtful when my small team and I receive comments like "Oh, you're not a nurse, ONLY a fundraiser".

 

I've always helped smaller rescues as it happens but there are larger rescues out there with paid staff whose contribution is much needed in the rescue world.

 

What I do support for larger organisations is clear and transparent accounts with the information available to all on the % of costs incurred to income raised.

 

I can't speak for the person that mentioned professional fundraisers to start with, but when I think of that term, I think of those people who are contracted outside of the organisation concerned, who stand on the streets in groups trying to get people to sign up for monthly donations to a particular cause (that day/week/month) - and do this for all sorts of different charities, as per a contract.

 

I don't think of the paid fundraisers who work solely for/in the organisation itself as "professional fundraisers" even though I guess that's essentially what they are. Like your hospice, our local rescue centre has a team of employees, based at the centre, who form the fundraising/events section. The centre houses a lot of animals (capacity for 130+ dogs, 40+ cats and smaller animals) and needs to raise a LOT of money to keep the centre running. Without this team I'm sure they wouldn't raise anywhere near the amount they do/need to keep the place going. They also have paid reception staff, animal carers etc and do of course have a volunteer network who give up their time for free too. With any "charitable" organisation of significant size, you will need to have paid staff in order for the place to run efficiently. In the dog rescue world, these larger places with paid staff also take dogs from smaller rescues, so helping them out too

[ReikiAnge]

I don't see why not if the people concerned have appropriate experience, the time and facilities to do so. Really it's no "worse" than people being paid to work in charity based kennels, say the Dogs Trust. Surely nobody would expect people to work there without pay? I know there will of course be volunteers there too.

 

I don't have any problem whatsoever with people being paid to work as animal carers at rescue centres. I know various people who currently work at rescue centres as animal carers, receptionists, fundraisers and centre managers and I believe they do an excellent job.

 

Just thinking about this from my own situation. If I were to start fostering, I could carry on with the job I have and just foster the dog alongside my own dogs. I would cover food costs assuming I could afford it at the time and would ask the rescue to cover vet bills if any arose that I wasn't able to pay for. My life wouldn't change drastically, assuming the foster dog slotted in with my own - my life pretty much revolves around my dogs anyway, so I wouldn't need to change much in that way. I wouldn't want or expect to receive payment for anything other than expenses I couldn't cover myself.

 

If I decided I wanted to work in a rescue centre, I would have to change my whole life around. I would need to give up my current job - as I wouldn't be able to do both. I would possibly have to arrange for someone to come in during the day to see to my own dogs, if Rob wasn't around, and I would need to take a wage to cover the fact I had given up another job. I think that's a very different situation from taking in a foster dog. I know there will be people who foster who don't have a dog of their own - but I'm assuming not many are giving up a job to stay at home and do this, and if they did quit work to do it, that would surely be because they didn't need to earn a wage, not because they were expecting to be paid for fostering

[melissa]

I certainly wouldn't expect to be paid to foster. I am fortunate that the vet bills are paid but any other day to day expenses & food I cover myself, but I am employed . I do agree with some of the points about unemployed/pensioners maybe being ideal foster carers but the extra cost of food could make all the difference to their budget. I guess the problem with being paid to do anything that is essentially something you would usually do as a volunteer is, it is open to abuse by some people seeing it as a way to make a few quid - you may as well set up business as a pet sitter & get paid. I think it would be fine if someone really wanted to foster and was given the money to cover food, treats, vet bills etc - for their time? no I really don't think that would be right.

[Tzumit]

I've regarded, treated, loved and cared for every foster as though he/she were my own dog in every way.

 

I would have thought that this was the only way it should be, perhaps I am being naive. I also think that if a rescue can explain any issues that are present with the doglet at the time (if known) a fosterer can take on a dog knowing the possible immediate expense and will also know from the outset if they can manage financially. Of course there may be things which present itself later and create a new expense and if someone was unable to afford that I am sure all rescues would give adequate back-up as required, in fact I have no doubts about that.

 

I also think that being paid to foster could bring forward someone who thinks they can make a quick buck and not have the doglets best interests at heart - having said that I do agree that there could be some good people that could foster if they could get some financial help with extra food and any ongoing medical treatments, I do appreciate that not everyone works or has money spare.

 

I do know from personal experience that on fostering children Social Services fling money at you for the least little thing and even on refusing they insist you have it, but that is Social Services many rescues are finding it hard to cope as it is and to think that someone would aim to gain from fostering animals is not something I feel comfortable with, but it is up to the individual rescue at the time to look into what is best for the animal and them and if money is given to the fosterer then I am sure it is for a good reason.

[jackin]

blimey what social services do you know? We had to fight for every penny even to what we were intitled for our children and still do.

 

Its in order to pay for behaviourist and many very expensive but I know very capable people who could take a difficult dog and one to one change it round this is the type of thing I think needs looking at.

[laura g]

For the first comment regarding fundraising; paying for this service out of a feed budget is totally out of order imo. Professional fundraisers who work by percentages may well ask for a 'whatever the outcome' retainer but their main fee will be built into a bid as part of the management charge element.

 

Whether a rescue chooses to opt for the pay/non pay for foster carers, there is a very real need to be aware of exactly how much foster care costs so a 'price' can be put on it. An hourly rate for the skilled carers, cost of food, transport, cleaning and care etc etc.

 

It's a really useful figure to have for various reasons. it can be used to educate the public as to the real cost of rescue and to compare against donations that come in. Or it can be used as 'in kind' match funding for grant bids etc.

 

Claiming/not claiming expenses is an argument I have with a number of volunteers who act for the charity I mainly work for as funding officer. We are terribly grateful that they refuse to claim petrol and other expenses. However it doesn't give us a true picture of what our costs are. We would much rather pay them out and then they donate it back to us. You cannot cost a project or cost a job on the assumption 'well, the volunteers MIGHT not want their expenses'.

[Sue B]

I have fostered countless dogs for our centre and although I don't get paid that well in my 'proper' job, I would not feel comfortable at all in getting paid for the fostering.

 

We do get all necessary stuff provided, such as food, toys vet treatment etc, so no money needs to change hands anyway. I like to treat my fosters to extra nice things and toys occasionally, out of my own pocket, so fostering actually costs me, albeit not a large sum and I'm sure most other foster carers do the same.

 

To me it just doesn't feel right to pay for foster carers, it should be done for love and love alone. The danger of paying for this service might mean less than committed people applied to do it, possibly seeing it as any easy ride - which done properly it isn't always.

[flukespad]

The danger of paying for this service might mean less than committed people applied to do it, possibly seeing it as any easy ride - which done properly it isn't always.

 

I agree with this we do not pay our foster homes they do it voluntary because they want to. Any one who offers their services voluntary should not expect payment for doing it. We do how ever pay for all the food,crates,bedding, shampoo, vet bills wormer,flea treatment, etc. the only out of pocket expenses our fosters may have are petrol for collection from me and to a vets if needed. If we had too pay our foster homes we would not be able to.

I on occasions foster for the dog warden/council but get no payment for that and the dogs are in my care for one month so I personally am then out of pocket as they don't pay for food vets treatment, etc. and I can't see a dog in my care not being wormed. flea treated vaccinated and even neutered where needed before it is homed.Sadly I can't afford to do this often and can't believe my council don't help.

 

If any one did want paying for it how would it worked out ?? I do know that some of the district RSPCA pay £1.00 per dog a day whats the point of that !!