Foster Process & Policies
foster process
Complete and submit a foster application.
All applications will be reviewed, and applicants will receive an email response in 5-7 days. If you have not received a response from us, check your spam/junk folder before emailing us. You will be asked to submit two personal references, and a vet reference (where appropriate) as part of your application.
Please make sure to let them know that they may be contacted by one of our volunteers. Veterinarian clinics will require your permission to share any information with our team.
A phone interview will be scheduled with one of our foster coordinators.
Your foster coordinator will connect with one of our volunteers to schedule a home visit.
All home visits during the current COVID-19 crisis will be completed as a virtual home visit.
Home visits will be completed virtually or in-person depending on available resources. If a virtual home visit is completed and there are any outstanding questions or concerns, New Collar Collective reserves the right to do a follow up in-person home visit. Volunteers conducting virtual home visits will be required to direct the home visit so as ensure all areas of the home have been seen. Volunteers conducting in-person home visits will be encouraged to bring a friend along for reasons of personal safety.
Approval
If all goes well, you will be approved to foster and paired with a dog as soon as we have a suitable match!
Find more information on our FAQ page.
foster Policies
New Collar Collective recognizes and values our fosters as partners in our mission to rescue and rehome dogs and cats. This partnership requires a consistent and genuine effort to ensure fosters receive the information, resources and support required to be successful.
The policies outlined below are guidelines for how we run our rescue and there may be instances where exceptions may be made. Periodically, we will revisit these guidance policies to ensure they still meet the intended needs of the animals, our fosters and the rescue.
Fosters should live within a two-hour radius of the Greater Toronto Area. We are a volunteer run organization and our intakes, vets, supplies and many of our events will be in the GTA. In cases where fosters have a sincere commitment, exceptions may be considered.
Fosters are responsible to pick up their rescue animal at our intakes, take them to their vet appointment (usually one) within two weeks of the animal coming into our care, provide information to promote adoptions, and attend events as available.
All pets in your household must be spayed/neutered and must be up to date with mandatory vaccinations. We are doing our best to improve the health of our rescues and to do our part in reducing the number of unwanted animals without homes.
Foster dogs and cats cannot be left alone daily for extended periods of time. For dogs the maximum amount of time is ~9hrs, for cats ~12hrs. While many animals can manage for longer periods of time, it can lead to health complications (e.g., urinary infections) and increased /behaviour separation anxiety issues. Exceptions may be made for shift work with the appropriate arrangements for an exercise break.
All members of the household must be present during the home visit.
New Collar Collective recognizes that families with children wish to foster animals through our organization, and that fostering a rescue animal can be an educational and rewarding experience for all involved. Families with children over 2 years old are welcome to apply. Parents are ultimately responsible to ensure their children are ready for the responsibility of having a rescue animal in their home. In addition we will provide as many educational resources as possible.
Primary applicant must be a minimum of 18 years of age to foster one of our animals
New Collar Collective does not allow our foster dogs to be taken to off-leash dog parks.
New Collar Collective’s foster cats are not permitted outdoors.
All fosters must have valid tenant/homeowner insurance.