Information for Foster and Adoption Agencies and Social Services Departments

Families involved in, or applying for, the fostering or adoption of children may also be caring for a dog or cat. Most companion animals will experience occasional difficulties in coping with the complexity of life in a busy household; a normal coping strategy for an animal that is finding a social situation to be challenging, is to attempt to create a distance between itself and the other social stimulus. Distance creation can take the form of avoidance (when immediately and obviously possible) or distance creating communication (in the form of aggression). Foster/adoption agencies and social service departments may wish a companion animal within a home to undergo an assessment to ascertain how a family pet’s capacity to cope can be supported.

During an assessment the pet's background is recorded and the pet's temperament and behaviour assessed. Following this, findings will be discussed with the family and agency member and advice will be given regarding any management strategies that might enhance the pet's capacity to cope within the environment and that will enhance the safety and welfare of a child placed in the home. A detailed report is then prepared, a copy of which is sent to the adoption or fostering agency. Unless requested otherwise, a copy of the report is also sent to the family.
Once an agency has made an appointment for an assessment, they should forward the following 'Owner Questionnaire' to their clients and ask them to complete it and then to return it to Companion Animal Behavioural Referrals, as soon as possible.