Because our goal is to find the best home for all of our foster cats, our adoption process includes a number of steps to help us determine which cats would work well in your household, and to help you determine which cat will be perfect for you or your family.

1. The Application

The process begins when you complete and submit the Adoption Interest Form. Please fill the form out completely; the more information we have about your household, the more quickly we can evaluate your needs and what animals would be good in your home.

2. The Interview

Within a day of receiving your interest form, one of our volunteers will speak with you over the phone to see if we have a pet that is a match for you (or if the pet you’re interested in is a good match). For example, we will ask about your home and members of your household, your lifestyle, and your pet history. At this time the we may suggest you meet a different pet whose personality and energy level they feel more closely matches your needs.

Based on our conversation with you, we may feel that your household is not a good match for the pet you have in mind. It is always hard for us to turn a potential adopter away, but we feel that our first obligation is to the pets in our foster homes.

3. The Information Verification

We will confirm ownership of your residence or may contact your rental property manager to ensure that pets are allowed on the premises. We may also contact your veterinarian to ask questions about the veterinary care that you have provided to your current or former pets. We will also evaluate your home/apartment exterior for things such as a fenced-in yard, screens on windows, house/yard are well taken care of, quiet street, etc.

4. The Meeting

We will invite you and all members of your household to visit the animal’s foster home to meet your prospective pet. This is the first opportunity you have to meet the pet, and is the most important aspect of making the final decision (on your part and ours) to proceed with the adoption. If the match appears to be a good one, you can take the pet home that day or choose to take time to think about your decision.

5. The Adoption

Before taking your new companion home, you and the foster home will sign the Animal Rescue & Care Fund contract, which stipulates (among other things) that you will take your new pet to the vet at least once per year, will not declaw (for cats), will return the pet to us if for any reason you can no longer take care of it, and that all other pets in your family are neutered or spayed. Once the contract has been signed, you are free to take the pet home, along with a starter kit provided by us (food, animal carrier, litter box, scoop, toys, etc.).

6. The Follow Up

We will follow up with you to ensure that everything is working out with your new pet, and to see if you have any questions. We want to help make the transition easiest for you and your new pet, so we are always available to discuss concerns and answer any questions.

7. The End

Everyone lives happily ever after!