Adoption Process Breakdown
First, we would like to thank you for your interest in AH Rescue Sanctuary. We are thrilled to see so much interest in our adoption website!
The following information contains our adoption expectations for those looking to adopt from us. Please read it thoroughly before completing the rest of the Adoption Application.
Before you submit an application or reach out to us via phone or email, we kindly ask that you take a moment to review the following information:
☆ PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY ☆
• All of our available pets are listed on the site. If you find an adoption profile, it means the pet is indeed still available. We encourage you to read each profile thoroughly and carefully.
• You may find answers to most of your questions within the pet’s profile.
• If a dog’s profile states they need another dog in the home, it’s essential for their well-being. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• If it notes NO CHILDREN, this is a firm guideline, and we respectfully cannot make exceptions.
• Similarly, if the profile indicates NO SMALL PETS, NO PETS, NO CATS, NO DOGS, or MUST BE AN ONLY PET, please understand this is for the best interest of our adoptable pets.
• We have certain adoption requirements and standards in place. While we do not require your current pets to be altered or show a history of yearly core vaccines, we do expect a history of vaccines at some point in their lives, as well as an up-to-date rabies vaccination or titer test. It’s important to have an established relationship with a comprehensive vet, which includes yearly physicals and heartworm prevention during the season.
• Every pet profile linked on our adoption site includes a link to the adoption application. If you reach out with questions that are already covered in the profile and we discuss this, it helps us know that you may have missed reading that information.
• We offer foster-to-adoption primarily for medical reasons. Trial adoptions can be arranged based on the specific pet and must not exceed 3 days unless prior arrangements are made. Our adoption fee will be collected, and agreements signed once you have taken physical possession of the pet.
• Please note that fostering a pet does not guarantee adoption; there is a distinction between fostering and adopting. Any foster interested in adopting must meet our established adoption standards.
• We require a minimum of two meet-and-greet visits along with a home check before any adoption can take place—same-day adoptions are not possible at this time.
• Adoption fees can only be waived for previous AHS adopters. We sincerely appreciate your consideration and support in choosing to adopt! Thank you for your understanding!
About Our Dogs & Cats
We tend to rescue those that would not have a good chance in public shelters. Many come to us fractured, sick or defeated. However, once they know they are safe and loved, we see completely different animals that have an unlimited amount of love to give!
Our dogs come with a new set of Max and Neo Martingale collars, leash, and harness valued at $70. We also have costs of care built into the adoption amount.
Why do you charge an adoption fee? Why shouldn’t I just take this free dog instead?
We have our set adoption fees (ranging $200 – $600) to help cover the costs of that animal while they are in our care. Truth is, it doesn’t come close to covering all the expenses incurred while that animal is with us. The adoption fee helps us with the care of the other animals in our rescue and also allows us to rescue new animals.
We have heard it before “You charge too much, I can get a free dog from XYZ”. Your free dog will cost you a lot more than you think.
| Cost of a “free” dog | National Average | Generous pricing |
| Spay/Neuter through private vet* | $196 – $578 | $250 |
| Vaccinations including Bordetella, DAPP, Bivalent influenza, Leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and Rabies ** | $212 | $212 |
| Total cost (not including preventative care, food expenses, training, bedding, toys, leashes, collars, registration tags…) | $462 |
*Spay/Neuter data pulled from Rover.com. Each spay/neuter has many determining factors that result in the overall cost i.e. size, age, sex of animal, location of surgery.
**Vaccination costs pulled from USAToday.com. Not all vaccines are required annually. On average vaccines cost between $20 and $75 per shot.
What is included with your adoption fee?
All of our animals are spayed and neutered, current on all vaccinations, kept on monthly flea/tick/heartworm preventatives, and are dewormed. Some of our animals have special medical needs requiring more vet appointments, medication, and therapy.
We know our animals. We work with our adopters to ensure we find the best fit for their lifestyle and family. We know what will and won’t work for them and we will not put them in a situation that is designed for them to fail. Some people don’t like it when we say no to a certain animal, but we do know our animals best because we have spent hours (or years) getting to know them.
In addition to being fully vetted, you also receive our support throughout the animal’s entire life (and even afterwards should you request it). We are always transparent and will provide full detail on that animal’s history of behavior, personality, health concerns, previous and ongoing health plans for that animal. We will work with you to ensure a smooth transition into your home, and be there if you require any ongoing or new training. You get so much more with our adoption fee than you would with a free dog.
Finding a Forever Home
Our goal is to adopt our cats & dogs to serious adopters. Please know that adoption is a lifetime commitment, and we expect our adopters to fully commit. We believe in forever homes, which is why we are dedicated to this process. Our process is more than adoption, it is about building a relationship between you and us. We take adoption very seriously, and understand that we may not be the best fit for everyone.
Application Review Process
Every animal in our care comes with their own story. Some have had it harder, but where they are all similar is that they came to us because no other rescue felt they could take on their needs and help them bloom into family pets. We at Animal House Sanctuary have a soft spot for those in need the most. We love a challenge and most importantly we love seeing firsthand the change with each individual animal through time, care, and training. Most we welcome into our program need extensive behavior and/or medical care before they are ready for their forever homes.
At AH Rescue Sanctuary, we believe wholeheartedly that owning a family pet is a privilege and even more so a blessing. Animal House Sanctuary screens all applicants to ensure the animals in our care are going to loving, responsible homes. We understand this can be interpreted differently by each individual. For clarification, the following are qualities we are looking for. This is not an all-inclusive list, and we may adjust as needed, with or without notice.
1. A well established relationship with a reliable veterinarian or a plan in place to set one up. We will check vet references for all current and previously owned pets to ensure all pets are seen annually and kept current on all required vaccinations, are spayed/neutered and on monthly preventions for heartworm, flea and tick. We expect the same level of veterinary care that all of our animals receive while in our program, regardless of the animal species. You are required to contact your veterinarian prior to submitting your application, letting them know that we will be calling for a reference. Most veterinarians require approval from the client before releasing information. By submitting an adoption application, you are hereby giving us permission to contact any and all veterinarians you have a relationship with to confirm an established relationship is in place, as well as access the history of that relationship.
2. A healthy, happy, safe and responsible pet owner and home. We will conduct home checks prior to any adoptions. This is a must to ensure all of the needs for the pets can be met. I.e. If a dog requires a secure, physical fence, we will need to confirm one is in place.
3. A plan for feeding quality food based on your pet’s individual needs to help support a healthy and prolonged life.
4. Continued and ongoing training. We believe training, discipline, structure and a consistent routine lead by positive reinforcement not only sets a solid foundation for every dog to succeed in their forever home, but also strengthens that bond between pet and family.
Once your application has been fully reviewed and processed, we will reach out to you regarding a meet and greet and next steps
Key Take Away Points
We do not have open hours for people to come visit our dogs and cats.
Adopter must have an approved application before meeting any of our dogs and cats
Applications will be denied if there is a lapse in vetting and preventative care for current/past dogs and cats
We only adopt our dogs and cats to serious adopters that will provide them a forever home
We expect our adopters to be fully committed to the care of any adopted dogs or cats
Disclaimer
As a friendly reminder, we are a 100% all-volunteer program, with no individual benefitting or drawing income from our organization.
We are a multi race culturally ethnic group.
*Explaining Things 101* How we/I operate
We are not an open shelter facility; we are a foster-based rescue program. All dogs that come to us first arrive at a private property where they undergo intake evaluations and receive necessary veterinary care, including spaying or neutering and all other medical appointments.
After their initial evaluation, each dog is assessed physically, mentally, and emotionally, and we create a tailored training plan to aid in their rehabilitation. The timeframe for each dog’s readiness varies.
Once they have completed their rehabilitation, we begin searching for a suitable foster home or adoptive family. Please respect our process and knowledge when I share that the dog you are pursuing is not a match. Our rescue foster dogs, as well as all current/involved pets’ best interests, are my priority.
Maisey had a meet and greet on a Sunday. The adapters were pushy and refused my guidance. Since Maisey is a foster through Chihuahua Rescue Indiana I had no choice but to proceed and accommodate. Adopters did not take anything I shared into consideration.
Of course, they demanded an immediate meet and greet. After working a double shift 7 days in a row, including that Sunday, I made the drive to meet in Indy because there was no way I was meeting these people without a volunteer present.
And my luck, the Ring doorbell recorded it all. 4 hours (that I did not have) wasted just so this person complained about my appearance and proceeded to say Maisey was not a good match for the same reasons I originally stated.
And another thing, just in case someone needs to hear this, politics have no space in rescue, much less during meet and greets. Regardless of what side you go for. I’m going to shut down that conversation immediately. – Cindy
