Foster to Adopt Program
Our Foster-to-Adopt Program allows eligible dogs to begin settling into their forever homes while they wait to complete their remaining scheduled veterinary care. This gives dogs and their adopting families the opportunity to establish routines, adjust to life together, and start building a bond sooner, with the goal of finalizing the adoption once all required medical care has been completed.
Which Animals Are Eligible for Foster-to-Adopt?
Our Foster-to-Adopt Program is available for select animals whose remaining veterinary care has already been scheduled, but their appointment is still several weeks away. Eligible animals will have "Available for Foster-to-Adopt" listed on their adoption profile.
If an animal does not have this designation on their profile, they are not eligible for the Foster-to-Adopt program. *Due to the nature of how quickly adoption interest can be submitted and being volunteer based, we do our best to keep each profile of our animals as up to date as possible but there may be situations where a profile does not have the most updated information at all times.
🐾 Who Can Participate?
The Foster-to-Adopt Program is designed for families who are ready to commit to adopting a specific eligible animal and can support any remaining veterinary care before the adoption is finalized.
To participate, you must:
Must have an approved adoption application on file. If you haven’t applied yet, this is the very first step!
Live within 90 miles of Coco's Heart Vet Clinic in Somerset, WI (449 County Rd VV, Somerset, WI 54025). This requirement helps ensure that your animal can access approved veterinary care quickly if an unexpected medical need arises.
Be able to transport your animal to and from our clinic for any remaining veterinary appointments.
Be willing to complete all remaining veterinary care through Coco's Heart's approved veterinary clinic or a specialist recommended by our team. Once veterinary care has been scheduled, appointments cannot be postponed.
Understand that all animals must be spayed or neutered before their adoption can be finalized.
Please submit the adoption application to pursue a FTA- DO NOT submit a foster application. We only need the adoption application on file!
❤️ What Happens Once You’re Approved to Adopt?
Meet the animal and decide they’re the right fit. Confirm if the animal is available as a foster to adopt. Not all of our animals are available as a foster to adopt.
Complete your virtual home visit.
Review the FTA Handbook.
Complete the Foster-to-Adopt Agreement.
Pay the adoption fee when the animal goes home with you. The adoption fee is required upfront.
Bring the animal to all required veterinary appointments.
Finalize the adoption once all requirements are complete (3 days post surgery is general timeline/protocol by signing the final adoption contract that will be sent to you via ShelterLuv.
🩺 Veterinary Care
Because some animals enter FTA before their veterinary care is complete, additional medical needs may occasionally be discovered, including at the intake exam where the dog meets our veterinarian for the first time.
If a health issue is discovered at the animla’s intake exam that is not in your capacity to manage, you may withdraw from the adoption within 24 hours of that exam. In this case, you will receive your adoption fee back as a refund minus $100, processing fees, and tax via check in the mail within 2-3 weeks. Our team will then do their best to find a new placement for the animal as soon as possible but this may take up to two weeks.
All required veterinary care must be completed at Coco’s Heart Vet Clinic in Somerset, WI, unless Coco’s Heart provides a referral to another provider, at our discretion and approval.
📃 Adoption Fee
The adoption fee is paid in full when you take over care of the animal. This demonstrates your commitment to the adoption.
If the adoption ultimately does not proceed and the animal has received their intake examination, a 50% refund of the adoption fee (not including processing fees/tax) will be mailed to adopter within 2-3 weeks. Our team will then do their best to find a new placement for the animal as soon as possible but this may take up to two weeks for an adopter to receive. Subject to the terms of the FTA Agreement.
A note about paying the adoption fee-
You will receive a text message or e-mail from our partnering platform called ShelterLuv. This will be to pay the adoption fee bundle electronically. We tried not requiring a credit card transaction fee but unfortunately ended up losing thousands of dollars trying that out. We are not in a position to absorb that so do need to implement this credit card transaction fee.
The breakdown: The adoption fee, applicable sales tax, $40.00 electronic payment and platform transaction fee
ShelterLuv is a third-party platform. The payment platform will also ask if you would like to cover processing fees. The $40.00 fee already covers these some of these costs; any additional amount is considered a direct donation to CHDR.
🏡 While You’re in FTA
You aren't on your own! Foster-to-Adopt families receive:
Access to our foster portal and resources
Support from the previous foster and foster mentor
Access to our veterinary team
Behavioral support when needed
Use of available foster supplies
Access to food
Reimbursement for pre-approved supplies or grooming
🧺 Supplies
Supplies may be available for use during the FTA period. Please return borrowed supplies clean at your final veterinary appointment.
🎉 Finalizing the Adoption
Once veterinary requirements are complete, the adoption can be finalized. If the animal has undergone anesthesia, adoption must wait at least three days afterward.
A text (or e-mail) will be sent to you along with a $5 FTA Transaction Fee and our Final Adoption Contract. This must be completed within 24 hours of being sent to you.
Then it's official—you get to call them yours! ♥️
FAQ:
Can I use my own vet clinic?
No. All veterinary care must be completed through our vet clinic in Somerset, WI, or an approved specialist until the adoption has been finalized.
Where is the vet clinic located?
Our primary vet clinic is located at:
449 County Rd V V, Somerset, WI 54025Does Coco’s Heart cover the cost of surgery during Foster-to-Adopt?
Yes. Any required surgery (such as spay or neuter) is included in the adoption fee and will be completed at our vet clinic in Somerset, WI. You will not need to pay separately for these procedures as long as they are completed through our approved clinic.
What if I decide the dog is not the right fit during the Foster-to-Adopt period?
If you choose not to move forward with finalizing the adoption for your foster-to-adopt dog, our team will work to find a new placement for that dog, which can take up to 2 weeks. 50% of the adoption fee is refundable (taxes and fees not included).
Can I foster a dog before I commit to adopting it?
Our Foster-to-Adopt program is designed for families who are ready to move forward with adopting a specific dog, but are waiting for that dog to complete their remaining veterinary care.
If you aren’t ready to commit to adoption yet, we’d love for you to join our foster team! Fostering is a great way to gain experience, meet a variety of dogs, and make a direct impact. Many of our foster families do end up adopting their foster dog when the timing and match feel right.
You can learn more about fostering on our Fostering FAQ page.