ICAWC 2013 Barcelona, Spain - Maria Pinto Teixeira's presentation on Sheltering vs Fostering

1. ANIMAISDERUA
Sheltering versus Fostering
What is the best choice?
Maria Pinto Teixeira
Animais de Rua

2. ANIMAISDERUA
Animal welfare in Portugal
•Over 1 million stray and feral animals
•100,000 cats and dogs killed in city pounds each year
•Tens of thousands of abandoned and unwanted animals
•114 municipal pounds
•Over 100 official animal welfare organisations
•National animal protection legislation since 1995

3. ANIMAISDERUA
Animais de Rua
•First feral colony in 2005
•Sterilised and treated over
12,000 animals
•Public awareness, responsible
ownership, education and
lobbying campaigns

4. ANIMAISDERUA
Animais de Rua
•Partnerships with municipalities,
institutions, local authorities and
vets
•Community engagement
•Groups in Porto, Lisbon, Faro
and Sintra
•Rehome over 300 animals each
year

5. ANIMAISDERUA
How we rehome
•Foster placement
•Advertising
•Questionnaires, interviews, home
visits and assessments
•Animals and owners matched

6. ANIMAISDERUA
How we rehome
•Sterilisation, vaccination, worming,
flea treatment, microchipping,
welcome pack
•Access to range of pet ownership
information
•Adoption fee
•Aftercare and support

7. ANIMAISDERUA
How we manage the fostering network
•Fosterer recruitment
•Questionnaires, interviews,
home visits and assessments
•Guidelines and information
•Constant support

8. ANIMAISDERUA
How we manage the fostering network
•Regular assessment of animal in
foster environment
•Provision of all supplies and
support
•Provision of veterinary care
•Full network support

9. ANIMAISDERUA
Advantages of adoption via fostering
•Cheaper than a traditional shelter
•Foster families are spread out
•Fosterers are able to focus an individual animal’s needs
•Accurate assessment of each animal
•Fewer behavioral issues such as stress or anxiety.
•Large network reduces the burden on any one person
•Multiple opportunities for placement

10. ANIMAISDERUA
Key considerations
• Having a network of reliable fosterers
• Having strict processes in place both for the fosterers
themselves and for potential adopters
• Having a support structure in place to deal with any
problems
• Ensuring that there is follow-up so that all animals are
cared for once they are rehomed
• Having partnerships with vets so that animals can
receive the care they need at any point in the process

11. ANIMAISDERUA
Thank you!
Maria Pinto Teixeira
mariapteixeira@animaisderua.org
http://www.animaisderua.org/