SPARK FOSTER MEMBERS ONLY
Thank you for helping us save lives!
If you are a current foster for Spark Rescue, we are so grateful you are helping us save many homeless animals that would otherwise perish on the street or in a shelter!
We have created an education area for you where you can find information about many questions that come up frequently. Most of them are videos, but you can also find contact and location information as well as important foster documents. Please let us know at sparkadoptions@gmail.com if you think something needs to be added, removed or changed. We hope you will find these resources helpful.
Important Contacts
Susan Park
(805) 452-9284
Medical Emergencies
Spay and Neuter Surgeries
Supplies (Pick up and Drop off)
Doris Bleecher
(805) 698-3302
Adoption & Foster Coordinator
Email:
sparkadoptions@gmail.com
Important Documents
Adoption Contract
Foster Contract
Foster Manual
FOSTER RULES
Please follow these rules for your fosters.
Please do not take your foster animal to see a vet without prior approval from Susan. (805) 452-9284. We have our own vet who takes care of all foster animals.
The only exception would be an IMMEDIATE threat, such as choking, poisoning or a car accident. In that case, please take the animal to AVS immediately and notify Susan or (if unavailable) the Foster Coordinator while you are on your way.
24-Hour Animal Hospital AVS
414 E Carrillo St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Returning Your Foster
Please be mindful that your foster animal is still the property of Spark Rescue.
There have been few regrettable incidents where we have had to remove an animal from a foster home. If there is any concern for the animal's safety or well being, the rescue may remove the animal from your home at any time. If that is the case, please allow access to and hand over the animal freely. Remember, with all we do, the animal comes first!
Please do not take any of our dogs or cats to a groomer for a hair cut without prior approval from Susan.
You are welcome and we ask you to provide general grooming such as bathing, eye and ear care, brushing, etc.
Vacation Coverage
We ask you to plan ahead and not plan any vacations while you are fostering an animal. If you have an emergency and need to leave unexpectedly, or if you need to return the animal, please contact the foster Coordinator ASAP so we can make other arrangements.
Please be mindful that we have very few available fosters and that it may take some time to place the animal.
Foster Adopting
If you would like to adopt your foster animal, please contact either the Foster Coordinator or the Adoption Coordinator immediately. Please submit a Dog/Cat Adoption Application. You will need to have an approved application and you will still be required to pay the adoption fee to cover our foster costs.
NOTE: We cannot give your preference after we have approved an applicant.
Puppies
NEVER take unvaccinated puppies to places outside of your home or backyard, or bring in any unvaccinated dogs, even if they are the applicant's dog.
PARVO, a deadly disease, runs rampant in Santa Barbara. We have lost a few pups to this horrible disease. Please help us protect our foster animals.
Our Adoption Process
Before Adoption
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The animals arrive for intake at Susan's home. She will do an initial assessment and do de-worming and de-fleaing. They will go to the vet if needed and receive a bath and haircut, if needed.
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Susan and Doris will assign a foster to the animal.
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The foster will pick up the animal and all the supplies.
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The foster can get a clear picture of the animal's behavior.
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It will then get neutered (if necessary) and posted on the website.
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At that point, you may advertise it. Make sure you direct everyone to our website to fill out an application.
Application
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The Applicant submits an application.
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Adoption Coordinator (Micaela Hase, sparkadoptions@gmail.com) screens the application, initiates a home check and runs a background check on the best suited applicants.
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Adoption Coordinator approves the application and forwards the approval/application to the foster. (She may approve more than one applicant. The foster should meet with all approved applicants).
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Applicant contacts the foster. (Not all applicants will follow through.)
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Please notify the Adoption Coordinator when the meeting will take place.
Meet & Greet (more info below)
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The meet & greet can be set up at the foster's home or at the applicant's home (especially if the applicant already has other animals).
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All household members need to be present (and for foster dogs, all dogs that live at the applicant's home need to be present).
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See more information here.
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ASAP after the meeting, send an email to the Adoption Coordinator with your impressions.
Adoption
After you have notified the Adoption Coordinator that it's a good fit, and after the applicant has notified her that they want to forward with adoption, she will send them the adoption contract. If the applicant comes from far away, they should be prepared to stay an extra day or at least several hours after the meet & greet. We want to give them the opportunity to discuss the adoption, and we want to take the pressure off the fosters if an applicant is not a good fit. If we have several applicants, we will invite those applicants last or wait with further approvals until they have visited you.
The adopters needs to bring a leash/harness or a carrier, the completed contract (or show proof that they have emailed it to the Adoption Coordinator) and a check (or show proof that it was paid electronically). You may give them your foster's favorite toy and some of the food you are feeding. Do not give them the crate that the dog come with. All other supplies/contracts/checks should be returned to 3863 Fairfax Ave (text Susan first at 805-452-9284).
Things to know
We do not adopt more than one puppy to the same applicant. There is a danger of the puppies developing LITTER SYNDROME, where the puppies form a pack and do not bond with the human. Often, the puppies are then returned to us.
DO NOT let the applicant take your foster animal home after the meet and greet unless expressly approved by the Adoption Coordinator.
You may find this list from Anna, one of our fosters, helpful.
Meet & Greet
How do you know if it's a good fit?
All applicants have been pre-screened and the Adoption Coordinator runs a background check. You should always receive a copy of the applicants' Dog Application. Take the time to go through their answers before the meeting to familiarize yourself with them and to possibly spot anything that would make them less than ideal.
A. Let the Adoption Coordinator know when you have scheduled a meeting with a potential adopter.
B. Notify the Adoption Coordinator ASAP after the meeting is over to let her know if it's a good fit.
C. Stay in touch with the applicants if they are interested in adopting.
During the meeting, observe carefully how the applicant and the dog/cat interact. The applicant is required to bring all members of the household and any other dogs (for dog applicants only). You may feel that it is easier to visit the applicant in their home and are welcome to do so. Here are some things to look for during the meeting.
1. YOUR FOSTER DOG/CAT
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Does she seem comfortable with the applicants?
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DOGS: Does she lay at their feet, expose her belly, wag her tail, lick their hand? CATS: Does she jump in their lap, circle their legs?
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DOGS: Is she engaging in play with their dog and do they seem to get along well? Does she walk the applicant to the door when they are leaving?
2. THE APPLICANT
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How do they approach the dog/cat? Do they get down to meet her at her level?
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Do they want to pick up the dog? Pet her? Kiss her?
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Ask questions: Are they knowledgeable or willing to learn? Will they make the animal a priority? Do they know what to feed?
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PUPPIES: Are they prepared to live with a rambunctious puppy? Do they have enough time?
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CATS: Do they have other cat? Do they understand that they need to introduce cats gradually and separate them at first?
3. CHILDREN
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Are they gentle with your foster? Are they appropriate? Are they overbearing or seem bossy?
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Do they try to pick her up a lot? Do they seem close to dropping the pup or kitten?
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Will there be other young children visiting and have access to the dog/cat?
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Is there a danger that they child may let a puppy or kittens escape?
You know your foster best, and they will tell you if it's a good fit!
Attending Adoption Events
Events are generally held every 2 weeks in Santa Barbara, often at the PETCO at the Five-Points Shopping Center at 3985 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 or at the Montecito Pet Shop on the Mesa.
Please be prepared to drive your foster dog to the event and stay to answer questions from potential adopters. Events are generally 2 hours long. If you have a whole litter, you may want to bring someone to help you. We do not adopt any animals out at the events, unless previously agreed with you.
In this short video you will learn some tips for going to adoption events with your foster dog to give your foster exposure to potential adopters.
Tips for Foster Photography
This is your chance to show your foster in their best light and make a good first impression! Potential adopters generally see the fosters photo on social media or on the website first. A good photo (and photo updates) is the best way to get your foster to shine!
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If possible, get someone (or better yet two people) to help you during your photo shoot. That person can manage and/or hold the dog so you can focus on the taking the photos.
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Make sure your background/setting is simple and clutter-free so the dog stands out in the photo.
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Your cell (or other) phone should have a “Portrait” setting. Use that for closeups. Hold still when you take the shot and make sure the pet is as still as possible.
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Make sure your light source (sun, lamp) is shining on the subject and is not behind it.
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Eye contact with the camera is important. Most adopters will look at the dog’s eyes first, so try to make the eyes the focal point of the photo
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Drop down and photograph from the dog’s eye level, or place the dog higher - on a chair, stairs, table or such (always make sure you have a helper to keep the dog safe if elevated).
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If you have more than one person helping, have someone stand behind you at your level (on their knees if you are on your knees), so they can attract the dog's attention from behind the camera.
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Dog treats, making noises (panting, whining like a dog, and kiss sounds are good ones), or a squeaky toy will often get the dog’s attention. If using treats it often helps to give the dog a little sample first, and then hold a treat just above your camera or crinkle the treat bag to help get them to look at you.
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Don’t get discouraged, photographing dogs can be really difficult and it may take a few attempts before you get that great photo. It’s also a good idea to shoot an abundance of photos then sort through them later to select the best ones.
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In addition to an ‘adoption profile photo’, it’s helpful if you take photos of your foster dog in different settings, doing different activities - playing, walking, sleeping (no eye contact required). A variety of attention-getting photos are a great bonus when featuring your foster dog on our Facebook page, etc.
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VIDEO: Videos can also be very helpful to showcase your foster dog. So if you have a phone camera or a camera with a video option, remember to take some short (10/30 sec) videos. Hold the phone vertically (so that the video works on social media)
SPARK UNIVERSITY
Helpful tips just for you!
Check out many helpful tips to assist you in the fostering process below. It is especially helpful for new fosters.
A special Thank You to Maddie's Fund - the Champions for Animal Welfare for their amazing collection of videos.
SPARK RESCUE SANTA BARBARA
Spark Rescue Santa Barbara is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit charity animal rescue organization, founded in February 2014, in Santa Barbara, CA, by Susan Park.
WE PROVIDE
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Rescue of cats & dogs from kill shelters and from the streets of Southern California
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Foster homes to provide our rescues with a loving temporary home.
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Adoption of rescued pets to qualified homes that have been properly screened and counseled by our Adoption Coordinator.
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Rehoming of pets that are surrendered by owners who can no longer care for them.
OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to bring adoptable homeless pets that have been abused, abandoned and overbred into our program for social rehabilitation and emotional recovery and re-home them to permanent, loving homes. We hope to educate the public to help end euthanasia in Santa Barbara and Southern California through spaying and neutering and by preventing backyard breeding.
OUR GOAL
Our Goal is to acquire land and have the ability to rescue and house as many animals as possible. We would like to offer a sanctuary where the animals will be free to roam and socialize, but still be in a family environment. We want a place where potential adopters can come visit our rescues and where volunteers can come together and give the rescues as much love and attention as possible.