Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 21 - Agriculture and Land Stewardship Department › Chapter 67 - Animal Welfare › Rule 21-67.11 - Foster Oversight Organizations and Foster Care Homes

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1) A registered animal shelter, registered
			 pound or licensed dealer shall not operate a foster care home or operate an
			 organization that utilizes a foster care home unless the shelter, pound or
			 dealer is in compliance with this rule and other applicable provisions of this
			 chapter and Iowa Code chapter 162 . If an out-of-state organization is
			 utilizing foster care homes in Iowa, that organization must also be licensed or
			 registered in the state of Iowa as an animal shelter, pound or dealer
(2) A registered animal shelter, registered
			 pound or licensed dealer may apply to the department for a permit authorizing
			 the shelter, pound or dealer to utilize one or more foster care homes in
			 carrying out its mission of providing for the care and maintenance of an animal
			 that has been taken in or entrusted to the animal shelter, pound or dealer For
			 purposes of this rule, an animal shelter, pound or dealer that has been granted
			 such authorization shall be considered a foster oversight
			 organization.
(3) A registered
			 animal shelter, registered pound or licensed dealer may not utilize a foster
			 care home unless the shelter, pound or dealer has been granted authorization by
			 the department to be a foster oversight organization. An animal shelter, pound
			 or dealer that uses a foster care home without first obtaining a permit
			 authorizing the shelter, pound or dealer to be a foster oversight organization
			 shall be considered to be operating illegally, shall be subject to suspension
			 or revocation of its license to operate, and may be subject to other penalties
			 authorized in Iowa Code chapter 162 .
(4) A registered animal shelter, registered
			 pound or licensed dealer seeking to obtain a permit to be a foster oversight
			 organization shall make application to the department on a form prescribed by
			 the department. When feasible, the application shall be submitted to the
			 department at the same time that the registered animal shelter, registered
			 pound or licensed dealer submits its certificate of registration renewal or
			 license renewal application. The permit application shall provide sufficient
			 information to allow the department to determine the ability of the proposed
			 foster oversight organization to provide adequate screening and oversight of
			 any foster care home operating under the authority of the foster oversight
			 organization.
a. Such application shall
			 include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(1) The proposed foster oversight
			 organization's plan for providing oversight of the foster care home. The plan
			 shall include the frequency of inspections of the foster care home by the
			 foster oversight organization and the criteria to be used by the foster
			 oversight organization in reviewing the foster care home during periodic
			 inspections. The plan shall also include the actions to be taken by the foster
			 oversight organization in the event that the foster oversight organization
			 determines that the foster care home is not adequately providing for the
			 animals in the foster care home. Foster oversight organizations shall inspect
			 foster care homes annually, at minimum, and an annual written inspection report
			 must be on file with the foster oversight organization. Annual inspection
			 reports shall be retained for a minimum of two years.
(2) The name, mailing address, email address
			 and telephone number of the staff person connected with the proposed foster
			 oversight organization who will have primary responsibility for administering
			 the proposed foster care program.
(3) The name, mailing address, email address
			 and telephone number of a secondary staff person connected with the proposed
			 foster oversight organization who will have responsibility for administering
			 the proposed foster care program in the absence of the primary
			 administrator
(4) The number of
			 foster care homes the foster oversight organization is applying for and
			 currently oversees. During the first year of application, the foster oversight
			 organization will be limited to a maximum of 20 foster care homes. Upon renewal
			 of the foster oversight organization permit, the foster oversight organization
			 may apply for more than 20 foster care homes, subject to the approval of the
			 department.
(5) Copies of all forms
			 utilized by the foster oversight organization. This includes, but is not
			 limited to, inspection forms and applications.
(6) The number of paid employees, both
			 full-time and part-time, working for the foster oversight organization, the
			 number of volunteers serving the foster oversight organization, and the number
			 of volunteer hours utilized per week.
(7) The criteria used to determine if a
			 foster care home is capable of caring for an animal.
(8) The actions taken by the foster oversight
			 organization if the foster care home is unable to care for an animal.