Veteran Foster service dog agreement

 

General Care

• I will care for the SERVICE DOG humanely. The SERVICE DOG will be a household companion and will live in the house. The SERVICE DOG will not be kept outside except for reasonable periods of time, such as for play, exercise, and to go to the bathroom. The SERVICE DOG will never be left outside when I am not home, even if in a fenced yard or on a tie line.
• I will provide the SERVICE DOG with affection, mental stimulation through play and training, socialization, and regular exercise, appropriate to his/her health and physical condition.
• I will provide the SERVICE DOG with a good quality dog food and fresh water, and maintain him/her at a proper weight.
• I will provide the SERVICE DOG with comfortable and clean bedding, and appropriate toys.
• I will advise WLC when the SERVICE DOG needs to be groomed and arrangements will be made. I will request WLC's permission to groom the SERVICE DOG myself (other than bathing), or to take the SERVICE DOG to a professional groomer (which will be at my own expense).
• I will always keep the SERVICE DOG on a leash when outside, and will only allow him/her to run loose in a securely fenced yard. I will obey all leash laws.
• I will clean up after the SERVICE DOG in public places, and obey all “pooper-scooper” laws.
• I will never leave the SERVICE DOG without proper care for more than 24 hours.
• I will never leave the SERVICE DOG unsupervised/unattended in any vehicle.
• I will never crate the SERVICE DOG for more than 8 hours at a time, and for never more than 16 hours during a 24 hour period. The SERVICE DOG will not remain solely in a crate while indoors. If I use a crate it will be large enough to allow the SERVICE DOG to sit, stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
• I will ALWAY make sure the SERVICE DOG wears his SERVICE vest when outside of home other than bathroom breaks in yard.
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  Health Care
• I will contact WLC immediately if the SERVICE DOG becomes ill or injured, and will seek timely veterinary care. I will provide a detailed description of the situation and a number where I can be reached. If my call is not returned within one hour, I will be deemed authorized to proceed with necessary treatment as recommended by a licensed veterinarian. I understand that I will be reimbursed for any illness/condition not resulting from my care, if I provide WLC with receipts for all services rendered. I understand that I will not be reimbursed for any injury sustained by the SERVICE DOG while in my care.
• I will not have any cosmetic surgery performed on the SERVICE DOG that will alter or change his/her appearance in any way, shape or form (i.e. ear cropping, tail docking, debarking).
• I will never breed the SERVICE DOG if he/she has not been spayed or neutered due to age or for health reasons while in my care.
• I will comply with all of the terms and conditions of the spay/neuter agreement.

 

Behavior and Training

• I will use my best judgment and take all necessary precautions to protect myself when providing daily care and training for the SERVICE DOG until I have had sufficient time to become familiar with his/her personality and behavior. I will use my best judgment and take all necessary precautions when first introducing the SERVICE DOG to other members of my household and other family pets, as well as with new people and new situations until the SERVICE DOG has become fully adjusted to my home. I will closely supervise all interaction with children.
• I will provide appropriate and humane behavior modification for behavioral problems including, but not limited to housebreaking accidents and urine marking, chewing, barking, digging, aggression, and biting. I will contact WLC if the SERVICE DOG exhibits behavioral problems that are beyond my ability to reasonably manage.
• I will never use harsh physical discipline, and will never physically abuse the SERVICE DOG.
• I will never train or encourage the SERVICE DOG to behave in an aggressive manner for the purpose of protection.

Safety

• I will make sure the SERVICE DOG is always wearing proper identification, which will be provided by WLC.
• I will advise WLC immediately if I plan to change my address and/or phone number. I will request WLC‘s permission to transfer the SERVICE DOG to my new address.
• I will advise WLC immediately if the SERVICE DOG is lost or stolen, and make every reasonable effort to recover the SERVICE DOG, including, but not limited to posting flyers, and contacting local shelters and veterinarians.

Follow-up

• I will advise WLC regularly as to the condition and adjustment of the SERVICE DOG. I will allow a WLC representative to visit my home to check on the health and welfare of the SERVICE DOG, and for the purpose of determining compliance with the terms and conditions of this agreement if deemed necessary.

Transfer of Ownership

• I understand that I am acting as a temporary custodian of any and all SERVICE DOGS fostered for WLC, and that WLC remains the lawful owner of the SERVICE DOG. I will surrender the SERVICE DOG to a WLC representative within 48 hours if requested to do so for any reason.
• I will never abandon the SERVICE DOG. I will never give, sell, or transfer ownership of the SERVICE DOG to another person, relative, rescue group, humane association, shelter or pound, pet store, or any medical or experimental laboratory or similar organization.
• If I transfer the SERVICE DOG without the knowledge and approval of WLC, I understand that WLC will reclaim the SERVICE DOG from the transferee and will pursue legal means to do so if necessary, and will pursue legal means to redress any harm done to the SERVICE DOG.
• If I decide that I would like to adopt the SERVICE DOG, I will advise WLC and follow all adoption procedures. I understand that while I have been permitted to foster a SERVICE DOG, this does not precipitate permission to adopt. I understand that WLC makes the final decision regarding the adoption of this SERVICE DOG, which is based on the best interest of the SERVICE DOG.

Return

• If I am no longer able to foster the SERVICE DOG or we do not bond in the fostering time, I will contact WLC immediately. Arrangements will be made within 48 hours for a WLC representative to reclaim the dog.

Liability

• I understand that WLC cannot, and does not make any guarantees as to the health, temperament, mental disposition, and training of the dog. I hereby foster the SERVICE DOG at my own risk.
• I fully and completely release WLC, its founder and volunteers, from any and all claims and liability, including, but not limited to, any defects or illnesses the dog may have or develop, and for any injury or damage to persons, property, or other household pets, which may be caused by the dog. I further agree to indemnify and hold WLC harmless against any and all claims and liability, including, but not limited to, those asserted by third parties for any injury or damage to persons or property caused by the SERVICE DOG.
• I certify that all the animals in my home are current in their vaccinations and heartworm prevention. I fully and completely release WLC from any and all claims and liability for any illness that my animals might develop, even if said illness might have been procured from the SERVICE DOG fostered for WLC.

 

 

Spay/Neuter Agreement

• I will never breed a SERVICE DOG for WLC if he/she has not been spayed or neutered while in my care. I will take all necessary precautions to prevent a foster SERVICE DOG from breeding.

 

I certify that I have never been convicted of animal cruelty, neglect, or abandonment by a court of law or other governmental authority.

I certify that I have read this foster agreement in full (all ___ pages), and that I understand all of the terms and conditions. I understand that if I made any misrepresentation about myself or home environment, or if I don’t abide by all of the terms and conditions of this agreement and my failure to do so in any way jeopardizes or adversely affects the health and welfare of the SERVICE DOG, that WLC can terminate this contract for foster care and reclaim the SERVICE DOG without notice, irrespective of any expenditures that I have made, and may pursue legal means to do so if necessary. I understand that WLC may pursue legal means to redress any harm done to the SERVICE DOG. I understand that this contract for foster care is legal and binding, and will be governed by the laws of the State of Florida.