Query
I’m a part of a 501 c3 that positioned a nursing mother and 5 kittens into foster in Fairfax county Virginia. Sadly we didn’t have a foster settlement signed; she accomplished a foster interview, have quite a few textual content messages going forwards and backwards, and was frequently reimbursed for meals. She even utilized to undertake one of many kittens. Now she is refusing to return any of the cats and kittens. Have you learnt if we have now any authorized standing?
District of Columbia, USA
Reply
Folks and organizations that consider their animals are being wrongfully withheld can sue to attempt to get the animals returned. A foster settlement ought to clearly delineate rights, obligations, and cures for non-compliance.
Be aware that Virginia legislation referring to foster agreements states, partially: “No personal animal shelter shall place a companion animal in a foster dwelling with a foster care supplier until the foster care supplier has learn and signed an announcement specifying that he has by no means been convicted of animal cruelty, neglect, or abandonment, and the shelter shall replace the assertion as adjustments happen…”
If a lawsuit is commenced, the court docket will assessment the proof introduced, which can embody things like the written foster settlement (when there may be one as there ought to be) and different proof that demonstrates the animals had been fostered. Time is of the essence since after animals are rehomed it turns into far more troublesome to get the animals returned.
The police can be contacted, though the police don’t often intervene in animal custody disputes. I hope that your group and the foster “mother or father” can extra amicably resolve this matter in the very best pursuits of the cats.
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