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The Adoption Process

Thank you for your interest in adopting an animal from CARE! In order to make the best possible match between you and your new companion (thus ensuring a positive lifelong friendship), we at CARE follow a comprehensive adoption process as described below:

STEP 1: Choosing Your Potential Companion

Read through the profiles of our adoptable animals and see who might fit in well with your lifestyle and personality. We try to be as descriptive as possible, but if you have any questions about a particular animal, or would like us to suggest an animal that would fit your particular needs, feel free to contact us at: adoptions@careinitiative.org

STEP 2: Filling Out the Adoption Application

Once you've chosen an animal that you would like to meet and get to know, fill out our Adoption Application. Please be sure to be honest and provide the necessary references. We do check them.

The Adoption Application can be found here. Simply click on each field and type in your responses using Acrobat Reader. Once completed, save a copy on your computer and send the application back to us via email at: adoptions@careinitiative.org

If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can download it free from Adobe.

STEP 3: Phone Interview

CARE's Adoption Coordinator will get back to you within 48 hours after you have submitted your application for further discussion. If it seems like you and the animal you've requested are a good match based on the application and this interview, we will schedule a meeting for you and the animal.

STEP 4: Meeting Your Potential Companion

At this meeting, we ask that you bring all members of the animal's new family so that we can assess how everyone interacts together. If this meeting does not go well, CARE's Adoption Coordinators will be happy to try and introduce to you another animal who might be a better fit.

STEP 5: Home Visit

After a successful introduction with the animal and his/her prospective new family, CARE's Adoption Coordinator will schedule a home visit. At this time, we will ask you specific questions about how the animal will be incorporated into your lifestyle. We will also be able to identify possible issues, and advise you on how best to prepare for a smooth transition.

STEP 6: Finalizing the Adoption

We're almost there! Before you can bring your new companion home, you must sign our Adoption Contract and pay the adoption fee. Because our adoption fee may or may not even defray the cost of care for the animals during their stay at CARE, we appreciate any and all donations beyond the adoption fee!

STEP 7: Bringing Your New Companion Home

As soon as your payment has been cleared, your new companion is ready to go home!