The new draft of the Code of Practice is up for public review. Although it has removed the ’28 Day Rule’ it has added time limits to foster care.

It also prevents shelters from using foster carers as an alternative to killing to free up cage space during busy periods (like NYE Fireworks).

We the public have now been given 28 days to respond as part of the public consultation period.

How you can help!

We must let the new Minister know that this draft would be a big step backward for companion animal welfare in Victoria.

2.8 Foster care

This section provides minimum standards for the operation of foster care conducted by establishments. The only time an animal can be placed in foster care is on the grounds of juvenile, veterinary rehabilitation or behavioural rehabilitation foster care. The animals placed in foster care must be permanently identified by microchip and they remain the property of the establishment. Animals in foster care must be returned to the establishment for rehoming as foster care must not be considered as the animal being ‘permanently removed’ from the establishment. An animal in foster care must not be sold or rehoused from the foster care premises – the animal must be returned to the establishment for the rehoming process.

If for any reason an animal has a litter whilst in foster care the animal and all of the young must be returned to the establishment for the rehoming process.

The establishment’s veterinary health management plan must identify the requirements for foster care for animals if foster care is to be completed by that establishment.

Staff conducting foster care for an establishment must:

  • be trained and experienced to care for and meet the needs of the animals placed in their care
  • have the permits, where required by local government, to keep the animals at their premises
  • have a signed agreement with the establishment
  • keep the records required by the Code and report to the operations manager on the condition of the animals as required by the Code
  • meet the requirements of the Act.

Foster care must only be undertaken with the signed approval of a veterinary practitioner. The veterinary practitioner must ensure that the animal is suitable for foster care and sign the animal’s records endorsing such approval.

A health plan determined by a veterinary practitioner must be provided for each animal being placed in foster care. The health plan must provide instructions on the appropriate care, nutrition, hygiene, exercise and husbandry of the animals to be placed in foster care. Consideration must be given to any other animals in the carer’s home.

Where, in the veterinary practitioner’s opinion, the animal’s progress is such that they believe the animal may not sufficiently improve in the maximum period allowable to enable the animal to be rehoused, the animal must be returned to the establishment.

2.8.1 JUVENILE FOSTER CARE

The purpose of juvenile foster care is to allow a healthy kitten or puppy to be cared for off site in preparation for sale: to ensure the kitten or puppy is the health, age and weight required for vaccination and desexing prior to being sold by the establishment.

Kittens and puppies must be returned to the establishment when it is deemed appropriate by the veterinary practitioner to desex the animal post vaccination. The time an animal is in juvenile foster care must not exceed three months.

2.8.2 VETERINARY REHABILITATION FOSTER CARE

The purpose of veterinary rehabilitation foster care is to provide an opportunity for animals with a recoverable injury or non-infectious illness to be rehomed by the establishment. Animals that have infectious diseases must not be placed in veterinary rehabilitation foster care.

Animals that are placed in veterinary rehabilitation foster care must be microchipped, vaccinated and wormed prior to leaving the establishment and they must have completed the eight day quarantine vaccination period. A veterinary practitioner must provide in the health plan an expected date of return to the establishment for rehoming and must assess the progress of the animal for medical improvement.

Animals in veterinary rehabilitation foster care may be exercised and have behavioural enrichment provided off the foster carer’s premises during the period of rehabilitation with the approval of the authorising veterinary practitioner.

Animals placed in veterinary rehabilitation foster care must be returned to establishment for the purposes of desexing and rehoming. The maximum period allowed for an animal to be in medical rehabilitation foster care is three months.

2.8.3 BEHAVIOURAL REHABILITATION FOSTER CARE

The purpose of behavioural rehabilitation foster care is to provide an opportunity for animals be retrained to rectify a behavioural trait restricting the animal being rehomed by the establishment. Animals that have medical issues or infectious diseases must not be placed in behavioural rehabilitation foster care. Animals that fail temperament tests must only be placed in behavioural rehabilitation foster care under recommendation from an animal behavioural specialist.

Animals that are placed in behavioural rehabilitation foster care must be microchipped, vaccinated and wormed prior to leaving the establishment and they must have completed the eight day quarantine vaccination period. An animal behavioural specialist must provide a training plan and expected date for return to the establishment for rehoming and must assess the progress of the animal for behavioural improvement.

Animals placed in behavioural rehabilitation foster care may only be exercised off the foster carer’s premises with the approval of the animal behavioural specialist. During the period of behavioural rehabilitation foster care, the authorising animal behavioural specialist must assess the progress of the animal to ensure that it is making acceptable improvement.

Animals placed in behavioural rehabilitation foster care must be returned to establishment for the purposes of desexing and rehoming. The maximum period allowable for an animal to be in behavioural rehabilitation foster care is three months.

Code of Practice for the Management of Dogs and Cats in Shelters and Pounds (Revision 1)