Thursday, June 30, 2011

Foster Parents Needed: 757 area

Friends in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas:

Animal Rescue of Tidewater is an organization near and dear to my heart. I have always looked at my cousin Debra as a role model. She is my inspiration for fostering pups in my home. Debra is the Founder of Animal Rescue of Tidewater (ART).


Debra is an amazing woman. Her bio from www.artanimals.org:

Debra founded ART in 1999 because the Virginian Pilot wrote an article about the individual rescue efforts of her and her husband, Steve Ballard. That article provoked others in the community to call her and share that they, as individuals, were also dedicated to saving homeless animals in the community. Believing in the power of association, Debra invited everyone to a meeting in January of 1999, and ART was born. Debra is extremely proud to be associated with an organization that recognizes the importance of working closely with area shelters, SPCAs and other rescue groups, creating collective successes that would be unattainable by any singular group. Debra is also passionate about the importance of advocacy in generating change, and spends a great deal of time networking with policy makers at the local, state and national level. She was the founding Chair of the Animal Welfare Coalition of Hampton Roads, a regional body of service providers who work collaboratively to address the needs of animals. Debra serves as Treasurer of the Board of the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, a state body whose Strategic Plan aims to end the killing of healthy, adoptable dogs & cats in VA by 2016. She is also on the Animal Welfare Review Board for the City of Norfolk, a City Council appointment. She is a top Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance, serves on the Board of the Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association and leads her own real estate team proudly known as “the Housedogs”! In her spare time, she is happy just sitting on the deck with her husband Steve enjoying their beloved dogs.

ART is always accepting foster parent applications.

An interesting tidbit about ART: Foster homes are not required to cover any expenses involved in caring for the animal. The expenses are covered by an ART member who serves as the animal’s financial sponsor.

ART animals may be strays, owner surrenders, or transfers from local animal shelters...they are all HOMELESS, and would love to live in your home.

Some people ask how long they would foster a pet in their home. Through Animal Rescue of Tidewater, a foster animal may spend as little as one week, or as long as six months, in his/her foster home. With prior notice, the ART sponsor will secure a temporary foster home, or board the animal, while you are away on vacation.

If the pet has any behavioral issues, a behaviorist will work with you and the animal, or the animal may be moved if you are not comfortable working with the situation.

Requirements to foster pets for ART:
-your resident pets be altered and up to date on shots (including monthly heartworm preventive for dogs)
-the number of animals in your home (resident and fostered) may not exceed city code
-and if you rent, written proof of permission from your landlord to have pets in your home

For more info: fostering@ARTanimals.org

If you would like to apply to foster for ART, please continue to the foster application.

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