Foster to Adopt
What to do if a dog/cat is found to have an infectious but not contagious issue at the conclusion of the 48 hour isolation period?
Examples of this are ear infections, urinary tract infections, and demodectic mange. One option is for the animal to remain in quarantine until the issue is resolved. Another option is for your veterinarian to call Patricia Cabral and request that the dog/cat be transferred into foster for treatment.
Cahill 3/11/21: “If the veterinarian has determined that a particular animal will not respond to treatment while being held in the isolation room, the Department is happy to consider an alternative arrangement if it is in the animal’s best interest. Again, we expect this to be a relatively rare situation.”
“If the veterinarian thinks it is warranted, and an arrangement is proposed that will prevent the spread of any contagious pathogen, then I would anticipate it would be approved.”
“As for resolution, in accordance with 330 CMR 30.09(1) and (2), once the animal has been treated and recovered, it can get a health certificate. With the health certificate the transfer (or placement) can be completed and that is when the “foster” converts to “adopt”.”
Cahill 6/4/20: “As long as it does not allow for the spread of infectious or contagious disease, an animal being treated or recovering from an illness may be the subject of a foster-to-adopt agreement. This would allow a prospective adopter to care for the animal during this time period, but the adoption cannot be finalized until the animal is deemed healthy (or no longer capable of transmitting disease).”
If Patricia Cabral agrees to the arrangement, the medication appears to be able to transfer due to a foster being an agent of the rescue. Technically, the person should be set up as a foster by completing your foster contract as well as signing the Best Practices for Fosters from the MDAR. You may want to put a clause in the foster contract that the foster is responsible for any other medical care that they need during this interim period.
Once the issue is resolved, it appears that the animal can return to the rescue’s vet for a Health Certificate or can go to a local vet for a Health Certificate, and a copy of that paperwork should be maintained with your records.