What are the requirements for adopting a pet?

All adopters must meet the minimum age requirement (18 years old), have an established residence that allows pets, means to financially provide for the pet for the duration of its life and be committed to the pet they are applying to adopt. Certain pets may require specific home settings based on the disposition of the pet. For example, while not all dogs will require a fenced yard, we may require that some dogs have a fenced yard. Or, if a pet is not good with children we may require a home free of children.

What are your adoption fees?

Dogs 8 and under- $400

Dogs 8 and over- $300

Cats 8 and under- $100

Cats 8 and over- $75

What vetting will my pet have prior to adoption?

Puppies (under 6 months) will be altered (spayed or neutered), microchipped, dewormed, vaccinated against parvo/distemper and current on flea preventative and receive a full health evaluation.

Adult dogs (6 months to 8 years) will be altered (spayed or neutered), microchipped, dewormed, vaccinated against rabies and parvo/distemper and current on flea and heartworm preventative and receive a full health evaluation.

Senior dogs (8 and above) will be will be altered (spayed or neutered), microchipped, dewormed, vaccinated against rabies and parvo/distemper, full senior CBC (Complete Blood Count) and health evaluation completed and current on flea and heartworm preventative. If dental issues are present the rescue will have them addressed prior to adoption.

Kittens and Cats (under8) will be altered (spayed or neutered), microchipped, vaccinated against distemper and rabies (if meets weight requirement for rabies vaccine) snap tested (FIV/FELV testing), dewormed and current on flea preventative and receive a full health evaluation.

Senior Cats (8 and above) will be altered (spayed or neutered), microchipped, vaccinated against distemper and rabies, snap tested (FIV/FELV testing), full CBC (Complete Blood Count) and full health evaluation completed, dewormed and current on flea preventative. If dental issues are present the rescue will have them addressed prior to adoption.

Will my new pet be housebroken?

More often than not, when a new pet comes into your home, you should expect accidents. Our cats and dogs are all worked with daily to improve their household manners and skills while they are in the shelter, but once arriving at a new home, patterns, schedules and diets change. This can lead to accidents in the home during the first couple of weeks as they adjust to the new lifestyle. Potty pads and belly bands are great tools to have in the beginning stages as you work with your new pet and they adapt to new rules and environments. It is important to give your new pet the time and structure it needs so that it can best learn what you are expecting from it in the future. Be forgiving but be consistent.

What should I expect when bringing a new pet home?

Your new pet will likely be scared or nervous of the many new things it will encounter in the first few days being in a new home. Cats may hide in unobvious places for hours at a time as they are looking for somewhere safe to rest. Dogs may also be more recluse to begin with. You have to remember, they do not know you yet and they do not know what your intentions are. You cannot rush the process. Give them time and space if they need. It is during this time that it is crucial to pay attention to your new pets body language and be able to distinguish if your pet is in distress and needs time to cool down or absorb a situation.

During the first few days-weeks you will want to keep small children and other pets away from your new pet if not very closely monitored. You do not want to overwhelm your pet as it could lead it a negative reaction if the pet becomes unsure or too intimidated by its environment.

What if my new pet is not eating?

It is not uncommon for your new pet to not want to eat much for the first few days post adoption. The stress of the big change can cause them to lose their appetite. If your new pet is not eating you should monitor them closely and watch for other signs of illness such as vomiting, fatigue, lethargy, fever, pale gums. If you see any of these signs it is best to contact your veterinarian right away. If your pet is otherwise acting normally, try introducing boiled unseasoned chicken to their diet. You can fancy it up with rice, carrots, green beans and/or broccoli. It is important to note that for cats it can be life threatening if they do not eat for 2-3 days in a row. If you have adopted a cat who has refused to eat at all in 24 hours please call us immediately for advice. A vet visit may be in order if this is the case. This does not commonly happen but is something you will want to be aware of.

Will I need a kennel for my new dog?

We always recommend having a welded wire kennel in the home for your new pet. Kennels are useful for so many reasons. They can be used to crate teething dogs and puppies for short periods to avoid destructive behaviors. They are also great tools for potty training a new pet. They can also provide a safe space for your new pet as they adjust to the new home and family members. Make sure that your kennel is size appropriate for your new pet. Dogs should be able to stand and maneuver in the kennel comfortably.

Are adoption fees non-refundable?

Adoption fees are considered a non-refundable donation. However, we do allow for a full refund of the adoption fee if a pet is returned for any reason within 72 hours of the adoption. Your adoption fee may not be refunded if the adopter is deemed to be in violation of the contract.

What do I do if I need help with behavior or medical issues with my new pet?

If you are struggling with medical or behavior issues after adopting your new pet please reach out to us immediately. We do our best to make sure that every pet leaves in the best mental and health status possible and that you are aware of any potential quirks or incurable medical ailments that may affect your new pet. If there is a medical issue present we will make sure to address it with the adopter and provide assistance in getting it treated. If there is a behavioral issue we offer in house training support as well as outside training support through our network of trainers in the rescue community.

Where do you source your animals from?

We obtain our animals through a few ways. The most common source for our pets is over crowded rural shelters. We have transferred many dogs and cats from other shelters that were either over crowded, under funded or both. The second most common source for our cats and dogs is owner surrenders. We do accept dogs and cats into our program that are no longer able to love with their current families for any number of reasons, ranging from moving to loss of life. The last source for our cats and dogs is stray impounds. We accept stray animals when space is available to help relieve government funded shelters from becoming too overwhelmed with animals. We do not source our animals from breeders or breeder auctions, nor do we affiliate with any rescues that do.

What are your protocols for stray animals that come to your facility?

These animals are all reported to the local animal control in the county in which they were found, reported found on Lostdogsillinois.org and on multiple Facebook groups and pages. They are held for the legal stray hold duration for the county in which they were found and their disposition is reported to animal control at the end of stray hold.

What do I do if I have lost my pet?

If you have lost your pet please be sure to immediately check that your pets microchip information is updated and the pet is reported missing with the microchip company. It is also best to physically check with all local and surrounding shelters and rescues in person to see if your pet has been brought in to them. You can also send an email to local rescues and shelters with pictures and information on the lost pet, including name, last location seen, temperament, physical description, any identifying information you have on the pet and multiple sources of contact for yourself and any other family members included in the search. You should also post on social media in different yard sale pages, Facebook groups and on lostdogsillinois.org. Check with shelters daily. Post flyers on light poles and around the area your pet went missing. Stay diligent and don’t give up!