In Care Metrics

Definition: The legally mandated period that a stray animal must be kept in the custody of an organization.

Considerations: The purpose of a stray hold is to give the animal’s owner an opportunity to find their lost pet. During the stray hold period, the animal cannot experience any outcome whether it be live or non-live.

Definition: Temporary care provided for an animal in a household or similar setting. 

Considerations: Foster care is not considered an outcome. Animals in foster care are in the custody of the organization until they experience an outcome.

Definition: A foster caregiver providing end-of-life care in their home to the foster animal who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. The fospice home provides palliative care to improve quality of life until the animal’s condition declines and they are either identified as a candidate for euthanasia or they reach end of life.

Considerations:  Fospice animals are in the custody of the organization.

Acronyms or AKA: Hospice foster

Definition: An animal that is in the custody of the organization but is unavailable for adoption to the public or for transfer to rescues. The intent is that the animal will continue to live in the custody of the organization for the remainder of their life.

For example, if the shelter as an office cat or a colony of cats that live on the premises.