On Sunday, Nov. 29, millions of television viewers will learn about a new holiday pet-fostering program. An announcement after the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of “A Dog Named Christmas” on CBS will direct viewers to Petfinder.com to find shelters and rescue groups in their areas who are participating in the Foster a Lonely Pet program. We invite you to take part.
Why should I participate?
- A unique opportunity to connect with your community
- A way to start a fostering program or develop new foster families
- A way to promote your adoptable pets
How does the program work?
- Petfinder members who registered as an official “Foster A Lonely Pet for the Holidays” site will be on the Petfinder Web site. Potential foster families will contact you.
- Petfinder will provide you with free resources to help you start or update your foster care program.
- CBS, Hallmark Hall of Fame and Random House will advertise the program, whenever possible, in their nationwide marketing efforts for the movie and the book.
- Hallmark Hall of Fame will announce the program when the movie airs on Sunday, November 29, on CBS. The announcement will encourage the public to foster a lonely pet for the holidays and direct them to Petfinder.com to locate the nearest participating shelter or rescue group.
What’s involved?
Petfinder.com will get the ball rolling by making it easy for interested individuals to search for a participating organization, but you can help increase the publicity.
- Alert your local newspapers by sending them a press release. You can use this sample press release as a starting point.
- Contact the CBS affiliate in your area and let the News Director know about the program.
- If several organizations in your area are participating, consider having a joint press conference to benefit the animal welfare community.
- Email your supporters to spread the word. Get the buzz going around town.
Resources
These resources are meant to be a guide to help your foster program be a success. Because your group has its own individual policies, please review the documents below carefully. To ensure a happy relationship on all sides, it is important to give your foster homes clear information about what they can expect as a foster parent. If your organization chooses to use any of the resources, please tailor the information to your group’s policies and specifications to manage your foster homes’ expectations.
Resources for your organization:
- Foster A Lonely Pet for the Holidays Sample Press Release (Word document)
- How to Recruit Foster Parents
- Michigan Humane Society's Foster Care Program Manual (Word document)
- Michigan Humane Society's Foster Care Program Manual (PDF)
- Sample Foster Program Tracking Sheet (Word document)
- Sample Foster Parent Application (Word document)
- Sample Foster Parent Contract
Resources for your foster homes:
- Foster Home FAQ (Word document)
- Preparing to be a Foster Parent (Word document)
- Bringing your Foster Pet Home (Word document)
- Sample Foster Pet Evaluation Form (Word document)
- Special Pet Precautions for the Holidays (Word document)
Evaluation
At the end of the program, we will collect:
- number of pets fostered
- number of adoptions from foster
- any helpful suggestions to improve the program for next year
More about "A Dog Name Christmas,"
based on the book by Greg Kincaid
When Todd McCray, a developmentally-challenged young man still living on his parents’ Kansas farm, hears that a local animal shelter is seeking temporary homes for its dogs during the days leading to Christmas, he knows exactly what he wants for the holidays. His father objects, but Todd’s persistence quickly wins out. Soon the McCrays are the short-term foster family for a lovable pooch the young man names Christmas. But what about all the other dogs who will be forced to spend the Yuletide season in cages? In the days that follow, Todd uses his special gifts of persuasion to encourage his hometown to participate in the “Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program.” What follows from his small act of kindness will teach his family, and his community, about peace on Earth and goodwill toward men – and animals.
