So your foster has a meet and greet... NOW WHAT?

Absolutely! We lovingly refer to this as "foster fails". If at anytime you want to adopt your foster please email foster@dallaspetsalive.org and you will be connected with your adoption counselor who will send you the contract and adoption fee via text. You will still have to pay the adoption fee for your foster pet, but you do not need to fill out an application. If you are already connected with a potential adopter, unfortunately this is NOT the time to try and adopt your foster. We will need to honor the current applicant, and if they decide to pass you can adopt. As the foster you will still need to pay associated adoption fees, but you do not have to fill out an adoption application for your foster.

If at anytime you or someone you know is interested in adopting your foster please email foster@dallaspetsalive.org. If someone else has applied and a MNG email has been initiated then we MUST honor that application first, this is why it is important to let us know ASAP if you are even considering.

The adoption counselor is the lovely volunteer who connected you with the potential adopter. It is important to update them each step of the way such as how the phone call went and when the interview is. After the meet and greet you will also let them know what you think and they are a great resource to bounce off any adoption-related questions.

Our Adoption Counselors are Jonathan, Sydney, Kelsey, James, and Jamie.  Once you get a meet and greet invitation from one of them with an applicant's contact information, please attempt to connect with the applicant within 48 hours of receiving the email.  If an applicant doesn't reply to emails, texting usually works better.  You need to let the Adoption Counselor know ASAP if you feel as though the applicant won't work out or has ghosted you because there may be other applicants in line for the pet, and we don't want to risk losing them by waiting an extended period of time.  Please update the Adoption Counselor with your plans for a meet and greet as well, so that they can ensure the pet is medically cleared for adoption and speed the process along.  The more you communicate with our teams, the faster your pet will get adopted!

Meet and greets should take place where the entire family can meet the pet (including resident pets*) and where the foster is most comfortable.

We typically suggest that cats have meet and greets in their foster home due to comfort. It is also difficult to introduce cats to new pets. Here is what should be recommended to adopters who have a dog and how to integrate a cat into their home.

Another option is the DPA Adoption Container: Sign Up Here - not every pet is a good fit for meet and greets (MNGs) at the Container. Social, non-fearful, and friendly pets do well at the Adoption Container. If your pet is reactive, fearful, nervous, etc., then it is recommended you conduct in an environment that they will feel most comfortable in.

*Cats and kittens DO NOT need to meet all pets in the home.

For Feline Meet and Greets: It is recommended that meet & greets for felines take place in the foster’s home. 

• This is recommended because taking a cat out of its familiar environment may be extremely stressful and reduce the likelihood of the potential adopter seeing the cat at his/her best, where he/she is comfortable and secure. It also ensures the cat does not attempt to hide and get stuck or lost in an unfamiliar place. 

• It is also not recommended that cats are introduced to potential adopter's resident pets (cats or dogs) as cat introductions are very nuanced and can take much more time to do properly. All parties should be prepared to speak about the resident pets' AND foster pets' previous exposure and comfort with new animals (cats and dogs) as part of the meet and greet process. E.g., discuss whether foster has been exposed to dogs or other cats or kittens and whether dogs have been exposed to cats or kittens, and how it went. Reinforce that adult cat introductions may take more time and process and that we have tips and resources to help support them.

We typically suggest that cats have meet and greets in their foster home due to comfort. It is also difficult to introduce cats to new pets. Here is what should be recommended to adopters who have a dog and how to integrate a cat into their home.

Another option is the DPA Adoption Container: Sign Up Here - not every pet is a good fit for meet and greets (MNGs) at the Container. Social, non-fearful, and friendly pets do well at the Adoption Container. If your pet is reactive, fearful, nervous, etc., then it is recommended you conduct in an environment that they will feel most comfortable in.

Dogs: 

• Vaccinations: 

  • Rabies – For all dogs over 3 months of age. 

  • Bordetella – For all dogs over 8 weeks of age. 

  • At least 2 Parvo Distemper (DHPP) – For all dogs beginning at 6-8 weeks of age. 

• Deworming and/or Fecal Exam 

• Not on crate rest 

• Microchip 

Cats: 

• Vaccinations: 

  • Rabies – For all cats over 3 months of age. 

  • FeLV – For all cats over 8 weeks of age. 

  • FVRCP – For all cats beginning at 8 weeks of age. 

• Deworming and/or Fecal Exam 

• FeLV test 

• Microchip

If you are unsure if your foster can attend events please email foster@dallaspetsalive.org and medical@dallaspetsalive.org. As always PLEASE do not hand off your foster pet to an adopter without confirmation from the Adoption Counselor, Adoption Director, Foster Director, or VP / Assistant VP of Animal Operations.

Dogs: 

• Vaccinations: 

  • Rabies – For all dogs over 3 months of age. 

  • Bordetella – For all dogs over 8 weeks of age. 

  • Parvo Distemper (DHPP) – For all dogs beginning at 6-8 weeks of age. 

  • Deworming and/or Fecal Exam 

• Heartworm test – For all dogs over 6 months of age at adoption date. 

• Spay / Neuter 

• Microchip 

Cats: 

• Vaccinations: 

  • Rabies – For all cats over 3 months of age. 

  • FeLV – For all cats over 8 weeks of age. 

  • FVRCP – For all cats beginning at 8 weeks of age. 

• Deworming and/or Fecal Exam 

• FeLV test 

• Spay / Neuter 

• Microchip

If you are unsure if your foster is medically cleared please email medical@dallaspetsalive.org. As always PLEASE do not hand off your foster pet to an adopter without confirmation from the Adoption Counselor, Adoption Director, Foster Director, or VP / Assistant VP of Animal Operations.

We are frequently asked if we can allow the family to do a trial run. We recognize that some rescue organizations allow this. Dallas Pets Alive does NOT allow trial runs unless there is an extremely unique case with either the family or the pet. We take this position for several reasons:

• First and foremost: Trial runs are harder on both the foster parent and the pet, especially if the family decides not to move forward.

• Both the potential family and the foster can tell a good deal about how their lives will change if they move forward with adopting the pet during the meet and greet / home visit.

• There is a transition period after the adoption is final. That period can range from several days to several weeks. In many cases, an overnight trial might not give you any more positive or negative long term indication than the meet and greet did. 

• We want the family to know they want the pet. Requiring them to make a decision and pay the adoption fee up front forces them to address this point up front.

We encourage fosters to be open minded with potential adopters. We cannot deny someone because they live in an apartment or because they are a first time pet owner. We can deny someone if the specific pet is not a good fit or if there are safety concerns. Asking questions, and having an open conversation can clear up a lot of what that person is looking for in a pet and if the foster is a good fit.

If you do not feel good about a potential adopter, please let the adoption counselor know. (Be mindful of who is copied on the email.)

All Dallas Pets Alive adoptable pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccines upon adoption. The standard minimum donation for dogs over six months to seven years is $200, puppies under six months is $250, dogs eight years and over are $100 unless specified otherwise. The standard minimum donation for cats over six months to seven years is $100, kittens under six months is $150, cats eight years and over are $50 unless specified otherwise.

Please encourage the adopter to email alumni@dallaspetsalive.org. We have a fabulous Alumni Team that provides support and resources to adopters. Do not take back an adopted DPA animal without confirmation from the DPA team.

First, we do ask that adopters email alumni@dallaspetsalive.org. We try to avoid returns as much as possible. We are able to offer many solutions and support to adopters to deter a return. If a return does happen, and is necessary, we will reach out to the original foster to see if they are willing or able to foster again. If the original foster cannot take back, we will network for another foster, while providing rehoming resources to the adopter. 

Please see the Alumni Portal HERE.