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LET'S BE CLEAR.

ADOPTION POLICIES + PROCESS.

THANK YOU FOR OPENING YOUR HEART TO ADOPTION! BEFORE YOU APPLY, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW OUR ADOPTION POLICIES, PROCESS, AND FREQUENT QUESTIONS TO START ON THE RIGHT PAW!

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LAINEY
RESCUED MAR. 2024

ADOPTION PROCESS.

WE’RE SO GRATEFUL YOU’RE CONSIDERING ADOPTION! HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT, BEFORE YOU APPLY:

  1. GET TO KNOW OUR DOGS: TAKE SOME TIME TO BROWSE OUR AVAILABLE DOGS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR PERSONALITIES, NEEDS, AND QUIRKS. FINDING THE RIGHT MATCH IS ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE IT’S A GREAT FIT — FOR BOTH OF YOU!
     

  2. REVIEW OUR POLICIES & PROCESS: (HEY, YOU'RE ALREADY DOING THIS PART, GREAT JOB!) UNDERSTANDING OUR EXPECTATIONS ENSURES A SMOOTH ADOPTION FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
     

  3. APPLICATION: ONCE YOU’VE FOUND A DOG YOU’D LOVE TO MEET, FILL OUT OUR ADOPTION APPLICATION AT HBWI.ORG/ADOPT.
     

  4. APPROVAL PROCESS: AFTER WE RECEIVE YOUR APPLICATION, WE’LL BEGIN OUR APPROVAL PROCESS. THIS USUALLY TAKES 5–7 BUSINESS DAYS. ALL ADULTS (18+) LISTED ON THE APPLICATION ARE SUBJECTED TO A BACKGROUND CHECK. WE WILL ALSO VERIFY PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OR, IF YOU RENT, CONTACT YOUR LANDLORD TO CONFIRM PET APPROVAL.
     

  5. VETERINARY CHECK: IF YOU HAVE CURRENT OR PAST PETS, WE’LL CHECK FOR AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH A VET. BE SURE TO GIVE YOUR VET PERMISSION TO SPEAK WITH US.
     

  6. APPROVAL: ONCE APPROVED, YOU WILL RECEIVE CONFIRMATION VIA EMAIL. AN ADOPTION COUNSELOR WILL REACH OUT TO SCHEDULE A CALL TO DISCUSS THE DOG AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. PLEASE NOTE WE MAY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER A DIFFERENT DOG WHO MAY BE A BETTER FIT BASED ON YOUR LIFESTYLE AND THE DOG’S NEEDS. FROM THERE, WE’LL CONNECT YOU WITH THE DOG’S FOSTER TO SCHEDULE A MEET AND GREET.
     

  7. MEET THE DOG: MEET YOUR POTENTIAL NEW BEST FRIEND!* IF IT’S A GOOD MATCH, YOU CAN BEGIN A 5-DAY FOSTER-TO-ADOPT TRIAL TO MAKE SURE THE FIT IS RIGHT FOR EVERYONE. THE ADOPTION FEE IS DUE AT THE START OF THE TRIAL AND IS HELD AS A DEPOSIT UNTIL ADOPTION IS CONFIRMED. IF THE DOG IS NOT A FIT, WE WILL RETURN YOUR DEPOSIT.

    *PLEASE NOTE YOU ARE EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO THE DOG'S FOSTER HOME, OR ANOTHER AGREED LOCATION, FOR THE MEET AND GREET.

     

  8. CONFIRM ADOPTION + HOME CHECK: IF THE TRIAL GOES WELL, YOU’LL OFFICIALLY ADOPT YOUR DOG! WE WILL MAIL YOU THE ADOPTION FOLDER WITH IMPORTANT PAPERWORK, CONTRACTS, AND RESOURCES. A HOME CHECK WILL FOLLOW — THIS MAY BE DONE IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY, DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCATION AND OUR COUNSELOR AVAILABILITY.

APPLY TO ADOPT

READY TO START YOUR ADOPTION STORY? APPLY HERE!

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  1. YOUR ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD MUST CONSENT TO THE ADOPTION. ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, MUST BE LISTED ON THE ADOPTION APPLICATION. INCLUDE THE AGES OF ALL CHILDREN. PLEASE LIST THE FULL LEGAL NAME (FIRST, MIDDLE, LAST) OF RESIDENTS 18 YEARS AND OLDER.
     

  2. A VALID AND CURRENT HOME ADDRESS IS REQUIRED. THIS ADDRESS MUST MATCH THE ONE LISTED ON THE APPLICANT'S VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ANOTHER FORM OF GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID.
     

  3. PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS MUST BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD AND PRESENT A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ANOTHER FORM OF GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID PRIOR TO STARTING THE ADOPTION TRIAL.
     

  4. IF RENTING, WE REQUIRE LANDLORD APPROVAL VIA WRITTEN LETTER AND PHONE CALL. WE ACKNOWLEDGE ANY AND ALL BREED RESTRICTIONS. WHILE BREEDS ARE APPROXIMATE, WE WILL NOT PLACE A DOG IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE DO NOT FEEL IT IS WELCOME.
     

  5. CURRENT DOGS MUST BE UP-TO-DATE APPROPRIATE TO THEIR AGE. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: ANNUAL VACCINATIONS: DHPP, BORDETELLA, RABIES, SPAYED/ NEUTERED, ANNUALLY HEARTWORM TESTED AND NEGATIVE, AND CURRENT ON PREVENTATIVES. WE EXPECT PREVIOUS AND DECEASED PETS TO HAVE HAD THE SAME VETERINARY CARE.
     

  6. SURRENDERING OR RE-HOMING ANIMALS MUST BE NOTED ON YOUR APPLICATION.
     

  7. WE REFRAIN FROM PLACING DOGS YOUNGER THAN 6 MONTHS INTO HOUSEHOLDS WHERE RESIDENTS ARE AWAY FOR 4 OR MORE HOURS AT A TIME.
     

  8. WE SPAY AND NEUTER ALL DOGS. IF ADOPTING AN UNALTERED DOG, IT MUST BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED. WE SCHEDULE AND COVER THE COST OF THIS PROCEDURE AS PART OF OUR ADOPTION AGREEMENT, UNLESS YOU ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF OUR GENERAL ADOPTION MAP. WE SPAY/ NEUTER AT APPROX. 6 MONTHS OLD.
     

  9. WE ADOPT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF WISCONSIN; HOWEVER, IF INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A PUPPY, PLEASE REFER TO OUR ADOPTION MAP. THIS MAP IS BASED ON SPAY/ NEUTER CLINIC LOCATIONS.
     

  10. WE DO ADOPT OUTSIDE OF OUR ADOPTION MAP. WE ENFORCE A SEPARATE SPAY & NEUTER POLICY FOR PUPPIES ADOPTED OUTSIDE OF OUR GENERAL MAP. IF INTERESTED IN ADOPTING FROM OUTSIDE THE MAP, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY.
     

  11. APPLICANTS OVER THE AGE OF 70 MUST PROVIDE A CO-SIGNER ON THEIR ADOPTION APPLICATION AND ADOPTION CONTRACT. THIS CO-SIGNER SHOULD BE A RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL (UNDER THE AGE OF 70) WHO AGREES TO ASSUME LIFETIME CARE OF THE DOG, IF NEEDED.

ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS.

APPLY TO ADOPT

READY TO START YOUR ADOPTION STORY? APPLY HERE!

HAPPY TAILS!

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