ADOPTION APPLICATION AND PROCESS
Thank you for thinking adoption! Now what?!
If you are interested in adopting a DOG:
Please fill out the dog adoption application (found above) — one of our Adoption Coordinators will review your application, including vet and personal references, and be in touch ASAP. After follow up discussions and approval, we will schedule a meet-and-greet with the dog! Please email our Dog Adoption Team at Paws4SurvivalDogs@gmail.com with any questions.
If you are interested in adopting a CAT:
Please fill out the cat adoption application (found above) — we will be in touch to schedule a meeting if references/vet checks all look good! Please email our Cat Adoption Team at Paws4Survival@gmail.com with any questions.
**Please note: Paws4Survival does require that prospective adopters have spayed/neutered all pets, current & past. Thank you for understanding our dedication to reduce stray dog and cat populations.
FAQ
Q: I saw your adoptable cats on Petfinder/Facebook. Do you rescue cats too?
A: YES! We rescue dogs AND cats from Puerto Rico. Please see some of the cats we have available under the tab above. We post all of them on Petfinder as well. All cats travel to Massachusetts for adoption. Some may be in-store at PetSmarts in Braintree, Walpole, Hanover, or Bourne for viewing; as well as our small cage-free shelter in Holbrook, MA (by appointment only after an application is approved). For more information on our feline friends, please contact: paws4survival@gmail.com
Q: What is the adoption fee for dogs and cats?
A: Adoption fees may vary based on age or other factors; please confirm with your Adoption Coordinator. Canine adoption fees range from $400 - $500. Our adoption fee for cats is between $200-$350. The adoption donation goes toward the cost of veterinary care and transportation for the animal. All of our animals are spayed/neutered (unless they are a very young puppy or kitten), fully vetted, and vaccinated. Paws4Survival Rescue is funded completely by donations, and all of our “staff” are unpaid volunteers.
Q: I saw one of your dog's or cat's picture, and I want to meet them in person. What should I do?
A: The first step is to complete the appropriate dog application or cat application (found under tabs above). Our applications are designed to find the very best forever home for each animal, as well as ensuring that your future pet is a perfect fit! We strive to get back to you within 48 hours of receiving the completed application should we have any questions. Please understand our adoption coordinators are all volunteers with full-time jobs and families; highly sought-after pups/cats may see delays in application processing.
If an application is accepted, we will then schedule a meet-and-greet! Everyone who lives in your home must be present (including other dogs if you’re adopting a canine). Your Adoption Coordinator will inform you where the dog or cat is currently fostered — more often than not, prospective adopters will travel to the foster home location for the meeting (and to pick up the animal once adopting!) At this time, we cannot transport an animal to you.
Q: We're not ready to adopt a dog or cat at this exact moment, but can we submit an application ahead of time?
A: Yes! You can submit an application at any time, you do not need to have a specific dog or cat in mind. Ideally, please keep an eye on our adoptable dog’s page and email when you see a specific one you’re interested in. We will certainly try to keep all applicant’s apps in mind, however we receive so many applications in one day, we don’t want to overlook you.
Please note, many of our animals are adopted within 1-2 weeks of receiving applications. As a foster-based rescue, we cannot reserve or hold a pet for you. Thank you for understanding, as we have dozens of dogs & cats still in Puerto Rico anxiously awaiting their chance to fly north!
Q: Can you 'cat test' your dogs or 'dog test' your cats?
A: We are a foster-based rescue, so it's possible the dog may have lived with cats or cats have lived with dogs. If so, we can let you know how that interaction went. In the case where the dog has not been around cats before or vice versa, we may be able to test the interaction in your home. This would only be done after an adoption application was approved. We encourage very slow, safe introductions between all animals.
Q: Can you tell me about the dog's or cat's personality?
A: Yes, we will always provide information to the best of our knowledge. Each dog or cat is fostered in Puerto Rico, then settles into a foster home (or our cat shelter) after they travel north. Based on information we gather from the foster families, we can share details on the pet’s personality. Feel free to ask your Adoption Coordinator about specific questions/concerns you may have.
Paws4Survival cannot make any guarantees about how the dog or cat will behave once they are in their new home. We always recommend adoptive families be patient and loving, and be prepared to help their new furry family member become acclimated to their new home and environment.
Q: What is your policy about returning a dog or cat?
A: Every adoptive family will sign an Adoption Contract. Our contract requires that any dog/cat adopted from Paws4Survival MUST be returned to us and not placed with another family or shelter. We will always take a dog or cat back, regardless of the reason, and regardless of how long ago the adoption took place.