Adoption FAQ
At Safe House, we are looking for ‘forever homes’ for our pets with adopters wanting to make a lifelong commitment. We strive to match each pet to his or her ideal home and ensure that the pet will be compatible with your entire family so that you have a wonderful adoption experience and have a pet you will cherish its whole life through. Below are our general adoption guidelines which we consider on a case-by-case basis.
- Adopters must be 21 years or older, or demonstrate exceptional maturity for their age if younger.
- Renters must have permission from the landlord to have the type of pet applied for.
- Our contract will specify that if you are ever unable to keep your pet for any reason, he or she must be returned to us. We do not want our pets to end up homeless or in a shelter ever again. As a no-kill organization, we make a lifetime guarantee to every pet in our program that she always has a safe place with us. We cannot refund your adoption fee, but we will find the pet another great home or care for her for the rest of her life.
CATS
- No Declawing. In addition to declawing being illegal in 36 countries and multiple US cities because of its extreme cruelty, we believe in the wealth of information that indicates cats frequently suffer long term behavioral and medical problems after being declawed. We require that each adopter sign a contract that they will never declaw any cat adopted from us. If you feel you must have a declawed cat, we will be happy to contact you when we rescue a cat that is already declawed.
DOGS
- Rarely do we have dogs which would be happy being strictly outdoor or “farm” dogs. When we do, this will be noted in the dog’s profile. We expect that all other adopted dogs will sleep inside a building at night (preferably your home), and never be chained for hours or live their lives on chain. If you are looking for a farm dog or livestock guardian, please let us know and we will try to find a dog for you who would be a good candidate!
Farm Critters, Small Mammals, and Exotics
- Make sure you are zoned properly if adopting a farm critter and allowed to have this type of pet where you live.
- Adopted farm critters are pets only; they are not be slaughtered or used as food at any point in their lives.
Exceptions: You may feel that your particular situation warrants an exception to some of the guidelines stated above. If so, please feel free to talk to one of our volunteers. After hearing your circumstances, we may agree with you.
Adoption FAQ:
Q – How do I adopt a pet?
A – Your first step will be to complete an online adoption application. Once submitted, a volunteer will contact you to discuss meeting the pet you are interested in.
Q – Can I come meet all the pets and then decide which I’d like to adopt?
A – We are a foster home based rescue and do not yet have a dedicated shelter facility where all of the animals are housed, so there is no central location where you can meet all of our adoptable pets. However, if you tell us what kind of pet you’re interested in, we can select several pets meeting your criteria and arrange for you to conveniently meet them all. We are fundraising to build a shelter facility now though, if you’re able, please consider a donation to our building fund!
Q – What are your adoption fees?
A – Cats and kittens have an adoption fee of $50 each. Dogs and puppies have an adoption fee of $150 each. Farm animals and other species have adoption fees that vary per animal and the fee is listed on their Petfinder profile.
Q – Is the adoption fee refundable if I return my adopted pet?
A – No, adoption fees are not refundable except in extremely rare instances. However, the adoption fee on any returned pet will be turned into a tax deductible donation at your request.
Q – What’s included in the adoption fee?
A – Before adoption, all cats will be spayed or neutered, given first (or more) vaccinations, given first (or more) deworming, microchipped, tested for FIV/FeLV, and adult cats go home with a safety collar with engraved ID tag. Before adoption, all dogs and puppies will be spayed or neutered, given first (or more) vaccinations, given first (or more) deworming, microchipped, tested for heartworm, and will go home with a collar and engraved ID tag.
Q – Do you adopt to out-of-state adopters?
A – Yes, if you live outside of Illinois you may adopt a Safe House pet. You must come here to meet and adopt the pet, we do not ship pets or transport pets to adopters. Veterinary reference is required for all out of state adopters.
Q – What should I bring with to adopt?
A – You should bring a pet carrier if adopting a cat. If adopting a dog, you should bring a leash. You should bring a photo ID (driver’s license) and your adoption fee payable in cash or check.
Q – Can I take my new pet home the same day?
A – YES! All approved adopters may take their new pet home the same day.