ADOPTION POLICIES

Please read below for ARF’s Adoption Policies. You must be prepared to comply with these prior to considering adoption:

Generally, ARF requires all members of your family, including dogs, to be present at the time of adoption or meet the animal prior to finalizing the adoption.
ARF requires all adopted dogs and puppies to leave an adoption event with an appropriate collar/harness and leash and all cats and kittens to leave in an appropriate carrier.
Adopters must be at least 18 years of age.
ARF requires all animals in your household to be altered, current with all vaccinations, including rabies; and on a heartworm and flea preventative.
ARF will not adopt an animal to anyone if it may be in violation of their lease or homeowners association by-laws. We may require prove from the adopter.
ARF strives for the appropriate match of animals and adoptive families based on the known temperament of the animal, as well as, the evaluation of potential adopters and the living environment they will be able to offer the animal. If for any reason the adoption of the animal is unsuccessful, ARF requires that we are notified immediately and the animal is to be returned to ARF. In addition, ARF may claim the adopted animal at any time if it is determined that the adopters have not complied with the requirements of the adoption contract or mislead ARF at anytime during the adoption process.
Puppies are a large investment of time for a family and in order to ensure for the happiness of the puppy and your family, ARF may require that you commit to enrolling the puppy in an obedience course and provide proof that you have completed the course. This requirement will be discussed with you at the time of adoption.
ARF makes every effort to assure that the animal you adopt is healthy. We do this by having each pet examined by a veterinarian prior to adoption. The exam typically includes the de-worming and vaccination of the animal against communicable diseases including: parvovirus, distemper and kennel cough for dogs and puppies and distemper for cats and kittens. All dogs over the age of six months are tested for heart worms and treated if necessary. All cats are tested for feline AIDS and feline leukemia. Occasionally, a pet may not show symptoms of an illness until after adoption, as many illnesses have an incubation period of 17-21 days. This is completely unavoidable and occurs not only in shelter/rescue type settings, but also with pet stores, breeders, and any environment where there are a number of animals present at any given time. We require that your new pet be re-examined by a vet within 7 days after the adoption. This is in the animal's best interest and the interest of any existing animals you may have. A voucher for a free exam with one of our participating veterinarians is enclosed in your adoption packet. If you choose to visit a non-participating veterinarian, you will be responsible for all medical expenses incurred.
If an animal cannot be spayed or neutered due to medical reasons prior to placement (including puppies and kittens), it will be a condition of adoption that the animal is altered by the date noted on the adoption contract. A coupon for a low-cost alteration at a participating veterinarian is provided as part of the adoption package. ARF does follow up on this requirement and it is the responsibility of the adopter to provide the required documentation.
ARF has the right to approve or deny the adoption application. This application is used as part of the adoption approval process in order to determine the best home for the animal. Under no circumstances will any animal be used in any type of animal fighting activity or as an attack dog, nor shall it be kept with the intention of promoting aggressiveness or for breeding.
Any monies paid to ARF are considered a donation to provide care for this and other homeless pets and are NOT REFUNDABLE, but may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax adviser. ARF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.