Question
I have been fostering a feral mother and her five kittens since they were three weeks old. We have decided to keep three of the babies . When we reached out to the organization that we are supporting, they informed me that I would still have to pay an adoption fee. Though they gave us a discount they still want over $400. They said at first that the fee is covered neutering, vaccination, and micro chipping. I told them that I will cover neutering, and I don’t want them to be microchip. Then they changed their tune and said that the fee is the adoption fee. Should I submit all the receipts of everything to support these babies for the last three weeks? I never signed a contract. And I feel like I’m being taken advantage of.
New York, USA
Answer
Rights of foster “parents” and adopters are typically contained in a foster agreement. That may include delineating who pays for various necessities, such as food and veterinary care. Foster “parents” are not generally guaranteed adoption rights, although some foster agreements give foster “parents” priority.
Foster “parents” can submit receipts for expenses they incurred in caring for the fostered animals, but unless there is an agreement for the shelter/rescue to reimburse a foster “parent” for such expenses, they may choose not to. The foster agreement should be reviewed. People who believe they are owed money can sue.
Shelters/rescues may charge foster “parents” an adoption fee (unless the foster agreement provides otherwise). Adoption fees often include spay/neuter and microchipping. Microchipping can be an animal’s ticket home if the animal becomes lost so many shelters microchip animals prior to adoption. Also, some municipalities have laws which require animals to be microchipped and spayed/neutered prior to adoption. New York State and many other states also have laws requiring shelters to spay/meuter prior to adoption or requiring adopters to leave a deposit and have the spaying/neutering done soon thereafter (but local laws can be more stringent).
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