Adoption Policies
and Process
Considering adoption? Please carefully read and consider our policies regarding placement. We work to ensure that each dog we serve is placed in the best adoptive home for its age, size, physical and emotional needs. Policies regarding placement have been developed through consultation with veterinarians, behaviorists, trainers and the legal community. We reserve the right to decline any adoption that we feel is not the best placement for the dog being considered.
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Our adoption policies are summarized below, and our full policies are available here.
Basics
We consider potential adopters 21 years and over who can show both financial independence and the ability to live independently. Financial independence takes into account a potential adopter’s ability to handle a veterinary emergency that make run into the thousands of dollars. We do not place our dogs in dormitory situations or community living where we feel a dog may be at risk.
A home visit by a CARE volunteer is a required component of the application process. For those who rent their homes, Landlord approval is required.
A veterinary reference is a part of each adoption. We contact veterinary practices to assure that potential adopters have a history of responsible veterinary care. We seek your vet’s assurance that you:
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Maintain a safe and healthy environment for your pet;
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Provide annual wellness visits for your pet that include heart worm testing;
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Provide veterinary-prescribed heart worm prevention for your pets;
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Maintain the veterinarian’s vaccination protocol for your pets;
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Spay/neuter your pets; and
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Maintain your animals’ health with procedures recommended by your veterinarian.
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For the safety of our dogs, we do not place our dogs in homes with animals more than twice their size (determined by weight) and we do not place our dogs in homes with preschool aged children. We adopt only to non-smoking homes.
Fences and Homes
We require homes with constructed fenced yards, and any decision with respect to a fenced yard for a potential adoption is in C.A.R.E's sole discretion.
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We do not adopt to homes with electric fences. Please read the following articles for more insight into this decision:
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A true story: Police officer shoots dog behind invisible fence
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Puppies
We consider our puppies to be dogs of less than 12 months of age.
The emotional well being of puppies is best developed when people are consistently able to socialize and train them. We do not place our puppies in homes to be left alone 8+ hours each day.
We do not place puppies in homes with larger dogs or preschool-aged children for the safety of the puppy and the child.
Adoption Process
EVERY adoption starts with a private meet-and-greet with the dog. We are a 100% volunteer group and without a public shelter. Applications are NOT available online, and will only be offered to you after you have met the dog(s) you are interested in adopting. We do NOT pre-approve adopters and we do NOT keep adoption applications on file. Our rescue believes that an adoption should only be considered when a connection has been made between a potential adopter and a specific dog.
Applications are offered to potential adopters who meet our requirements for adoption (see Adoption Policies). We prefer our potential adopters to complete applications as soon as possible to be given to the adoption coordinator, as our process begins immediately following the meet-and-greet.
The first step of consideration begins with veterinary reference checks. Veterinarians help us to establish that potential adopters are responsible pet owners. We ask all potential adopters to contact their veterinary offices ahead of our call to let the office staff know they are applying to adopt a dog, and to give permission for the staff to share information. If we are unable to collect appropriate information, or if the veterinary office shares information that does not align with our adoption requirements, we may disqualify the application at this point.
Applicants with good veterinary references are contacted to schedule a home visit. This visit allows our rescue the opportunity to establish that the potential home is a safe place for the dog, and it allows adopters the opportunity to see the dog in their home. Many adoptions take place at the conclusion of the home visit.
Our goal is to complete adoptions within the week of the meet-and-greet. We do not hold dogs for adopters. Rescue space is very important to dogs in shelters at risk of euthanasia. We encourage people not to adopt just before a vacation or major life change. Please be mindful of your new pet’s need to establish its home and comfort with you.