1. Definition
A foster home is a volunteer who temporarily cares for a pet under the responsibility of a verified shelter, while the pet finds a permanent home or overcomes a health situation, pregnancy, nursing, recovery, etc.
Fostering is not an adoption. Legal ownership of the animal remains with the shelter.
2. Invitation and acceptance
Only a verified shelter can invite a person as a foster home. The invited person receives an email with an acceptance link that automatically adds them to the shelter's team with the foster role.
After accepting, the person can:
- Optionally fill in their foster profile (availability, species accepted, type of home, previous experience, garden, children, other pets).
- Receive animal assignments from the shelter.
- Carry out periodic check-ins on the condition of the fostered animal.
3. Role and responsibilities
The foster home undertakes to:
- Provide the animal with suitable accommodation, food, water and care during the agreed period.
- Follow the health schedule indicated by the shelter (vaccinations, deworming, medication).
- Immediately notify the shelter of any medical emergency.
- Not post the animal on their own on social media or hand it over to third parties without authorisation.
- Allow the follow-up visits that the shelter deems necessary, within reason.
- Return the animal when the shelter requests and, in any case, at the end of the fostering.
4. Costs and upkeep
The financial arrangements for fostering are agreed directly between the shelter and the foster carer. Mizuu does not mediate on this point. The usual arrangement is:
- The shelter covers veterinary costs, medication and, where applicable, specific food.
- The foster home covers basic upkeep costs.
Any dispute in this regard will be resolved between the parties; Mizuu does not guarantee or endorse financial compensation between the shelter and the foster home.
5. End of fostering
The fostering ends when:
- The animal is adopted and transferred to the adopter (the foster home is responsible for facilitating the handover).
- The shelter decides to move it to another location (shelter, another foster home, hospital).
- The foster carer requests the end due to unforeseen impossibility (own illness, moving house, etc.) — they must give as much notice as possible.
In an emergency (the foster carer can no longer care for the animal and the shelter does not respond), Mizuu may help put them in touch with another foster carer or with the affiliated veterinary network for a temporary solution.
6. Data processing
The foster home's data (name, email, phone, city, foster profile) is visible to the inviting shelter and to Mizuu as technical custodian. It is not shared with third parties or with potential adopters without consent. When an animal is assigned to a foster home, that information may be shown to:
- The shelter that invited them.
- The veterinary team that cares for the animal during its fostering.
- Mizuu as custodian of the record.
7. Limitations of liability
Fostering is voluntary and non-profit. Primary responsibility for the animal remains with the transferring shelter. If there is gross fault or clear negligence on the part of the foster carer (for example, evident neglect or abandonment), civil liability could be partially transferred to the foster carer under general principles of civil law.
Mizuu acts merely as a technical facilitator. It assumes no responsibility for the acts or omissions of the foster carer or the shelter during the fostering period.
