UPDATE / NOTES FROM OUR FEARLESS LEADERS

Training & Foster meetings are being held twice a month with very little participation. These meetings can make you STONGER! They can make you just the best foster parent as we all navigate different things. 

Our lead trainer James Wickert along with Dee Dee Delkamp & Rebecca Lasky have made our training program top notch. Kassy Wickert is the foster coordinator and is really kicking butt adding new faces to the group and trying to make sure protocols are followed and fosters are well informed. Ashely Elizabeth is Kassy's sidekick (she is getting married if you have not heard so we lost her time a little bit for wedding planning) but she will always point you in the right direction. If you have a conflict with the above you can reach out to me. They are not going to change roles but maybe we can find a way to make things more comfortable.  Also wanted to add Emma Nelson who is a super strong cat advice trainer with dog intros. Please utilize ALL available resources.

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Another topic which I don't think has been addressed.....If your adopted dog, is having problems the adopter NEEDS to email the rescue & we will send it onto the training staff. THIS EMAIL COMMUNICATION MUST HAPPEN (phone or text is not enough to properly document what is going on).  We need to know what is going on in the event the dog is returned. The rescue provides all this help to our adopters but it is not free! Reduced rate..but our training team cannot give all of their time for free. 

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We have an amazing senior foster team. If you are not active on the Foster Facebook page I highly recommend it and below are a few names that may be able to help answer the boatload of questions that come up for newbie foster parents:

Ashely Elizabeth, James Wickert, Kassy Wickert, Bubba Jay, Pam Erickson Wilke, Deb Ebert, Melanie Keene, Brad Nelson, Tia Fulmer, Colleen Bourassa Bertschinger, Erika Michelle, Denise Craig, Kourtney Jo, Dee Dee Delkamp, Linda Phelps (my mom), and ME (Jen Blossom) 

ASK QUESTIONS! STRONG AS ONE, UNSTOPPABLE TOGETHER! 

Have a fabulous day! 

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WHY WE CREATED THIS RESCUE AND SATURDAY CHIT CHAT

My mom, Linda Phelps, and I created this rescue so we could choose who we wanted to rescue. We don't do these endless, tireless days to make a $ like some rescues. Our rescue has NO paid employees. YES, I work a job. We know we are only as strong as our volunteers and we have tried to make things super convenient for each of you. That being said we have always welcomed suggestions. Always. That being said we cannot always do your suggestions and/or you may not agree with ours but there is ALWAYS a reason for our madness. We carry the liability. We face the consequences. So I hope that offers insight into our why. My mom & I have discussed and as we continue to grow it is time we do our own ask virtual session. Going forward once a month on a Saturday morning (over coffee) her and I will be there to answer those whys. Those I that think we can do better at what we do? Join! I just want to drink coffee and learn. This is not a foster meeting or training but lets just "Chit Chat". Visit the Foster facebook page for dates & times. 

 Training & Foster meetings are being held twice a month with very little participation. 

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CONFUSION OVER PROTOCOLS & THE ANSWERS

There has been some recent confusion over protocols. If that is happening it starts at the top of the rescue not ensuring people understand/trained what their options are. Below are just a few basics to help remind or to provide information that you may not have known. 

1. COMMITMENT to a FOSTER dog. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the linked document (which is also available above). 

2. Make sure your adoptable pet profiles are completed. We are looking at maybe finding a way to list names off each transport like we do with vectra & deworm to be able to track and make Foster parents accountable. THESE ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE! 

3. THE APPLICATION PROCESS:  DO NOT select the first applicant but THE BEST FIT! I am struggling with how I can yell this from the roofs. Our rescue is not about moving dogs but making sure they live just the very best life. We owe that to them.   Example:  You get an application. Yes or No. Or maybe yes until you talk to them and then its a no. (You respond to rescue application email with your feedback and if you are moving forward with the application, date/time for virtual, etc). The rescue BACKS your decision. If you are uncomfortable. but don't know how to tell the applicant send an email back to the rescue saying so and I will send the response.  AGAIN, all applications REQUIRE a response back to the rescue email letting us know where thing are at. Did you contact? Did you set up Greet? You don't like it? SEND INFORMATION BACK (in a timely manner).  We need more correspondence. We need you to not be putting yourselves in difficult spots. The rescue is here to help and handle the hard stuff. We know it can be hard. If in doubt REACH OUT. We have mentors and senior members here to help. My phone is always open if you are in a pickle. Just remember our end goal is to find your Foster dog the RIGHT home.

4.  OUTSIDE CHECK: This is a REQUIREMENT! It should also be noted that you should see if someone will be there. We had a foster show up at an address and the house was for sale! No people! Imagine now if she would have just met them at a random location for the meet & greet without a home check. Remember If they have other animals you MUST GO TO THEIR HOUSE! MUST! I continue to ask Foster families to tell those horror stories and how happy they are that they went to the house (this is all to help people understand). I can assure you that if this ever happens to you....you will never question the rule. If you are going to a house, you can do your own yard check. I always suggest getting a video of the house and outside that way if you are like NO, you are saving yourself a trip. Hope this makes sense...If not ASK QUESTIONS! 

5. REFERENCES: All reference calls are done by you. I don't call them as most people are not going to list someone who will say something bad. Most won't. I don't' know your dog and the questions you may have. So take the time to call if you are feeling off about the applicant. Background checks and vet references are checked by the rescue before we send you the application. 

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