FAQs

What is A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue’s mission?

Our mission at A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue is to rescue abandoned, neglected, abused, or otherwise homeless household animals, and place these animals into permanent, stable, and caring homes. We also strive to promote public awareness of the need to spay and neuter pets, and hope to make pet owners more aware of the importance of proper medical and nutritional care of their pets. The members of A.D.O.P.T. are dedicated to this effort because each of us knows that...ANIMALS DEPEND ON PEOPLE, TOO!

I really like what your organization is doing. How can I contribute?

A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue is a growing organization and has many exciting ways in which you can contribute: become a volunteer, become a foster home, or donate to A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue! Please fill out a volunteer application or foster application online today. If you would like to donate, please visit our donations page.

I may want to volunteer with A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue. What does that mean and what should I do if I am interested?

Volunteering with A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue is a rewarding way to help abandoned and stray cats and dogs in the Ohio area. There are many different ways to volunteer with A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue, and you can do so for any amount of time. You can work directly with the pets at adoption events, or as a foster home (permanent, one time only, back up/vacation home, etc.). If you want to help A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue without being directly involved with the pets, you may be interested in becoming a special events or committee volunteer. Whether you have just an hour a month, or 40 hours a week to volunteer, A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue will be able to accommodate your schedule. Fill out an application today!

What does it take to become an A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue foster home?

The availability of foster homes is the single biggest bottleneck in A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue's ability to rescue pets. Please fill out a foster application if you have the time and compassion; we would love to add your home to our list of fosters!

How do I donate to A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue?

First, let us say a sincere thank you on behalf of all of our pets for considering contributing to A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue! Direct donations can be mailed to:

A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue, Inc.
P.O. Box 1861
Westerville, OH 43086

You can also donate online through PayPal on our Donate page.

I’m thinking about adopting a new pet. What should I consider before I make that decision?

Congrats! You’ve decided you’re ready to share your life with an animal. Get ready for one of the most rewarding experiences on the planet. There is nothing else like having a non-human companion to share life’s ups and downs with. When bringing a pet into your family, we cannot stress how important it is to adopt. Every day, perfectly healthy animals are euthanized to create more room in shelters and purchasing from breeders gives homeless animals less opportunity to have a home. Pet stores are possibly the worst place to get an animal, as the animals are obtained through horrible, abusive conditions. If you love animals, adopting from a rescue or animal shelter is the best option. Now that you’ve made the decision to adopt, you have many things to consider and prepare for. While rewarding, taking care of an animal is challenging and can be stressful at times. The more you understand about life with a pet, the less stressful it will be. We recommend checking out the following links as well as the list of considerations below to see if you are ready to a new pet to your family!

Living Space
Consider the size of your home or apartment. It should go without saying that a Great Dane is not suitable for a studio apartment. Think about the size of your space and if you intend to stay there. You could be living in a spacious place now, but have to downsize later. Does your living space come with a backyard to play in and explore? Your living situation is a big component in your pet’s comfort level.

Daily Schedule
Your lifestyle has a huge effect on your pet. If you’re away from home often, a dog isn’t the best pet choice. With a pet, your schedule is no longer yours. Feeding time, bathroom breaks and exercise must be incorporated into your daily routine. Not only that, but you will need to keep to the schedule to accommodate your pet’s needs.

Animal’s Activity Level
Puppies and kittens are adorable, but they have a TON of energy. It can be exhausting just keeping up with them every day. if you lead a more laid-back lifestyle, opt to adopt an older animal with less energy than a puppy or kitten. If your lifestyle is active, a young animal might be a great companion to have.
With activity levels, you also need to consider various breeds. There are many dog breeds that are known for their high energy, even after they grow out of their puppy stage. Dogs known for athletics and endurance like Cattle Dogs, Coonhounds, Huskies, and Terriers are best for high-energy people.

Financial Responsibility
We’re just going to be upfront: vet bills are expensive. And necessary. If you can’t afford to take your pet to the vet, you can’t afford to have a pet. You need to factor in vet visits, heartworm pills, and any other necessary medicine, as well as the potential for emergency vet visits and surgeries. Medical care is only part of the financial responsibilities of having a pet, too. Your monthly grocery bill will go up from pet food and treats and toys are necessary for exercise and mental stimulation. Before you adopt your pet, sit down and go through your monthly expenses and factor pet costs into your budget.

Training
With dogs, training is a big part of the relationship between the two of you. This is where you establish trust and dominance. Not just that, but you will run into fewer issues with bad behavior and teach your pup basic commands that can be very important to their own safety. There are many ways you can learn to train your dog, from books to classes taught by animal behavior specialists. Training takes a lot of hard work and patience, but it makes for a stronger relationship between you and your dog. While there are plenty of great resources available for training, group class are a great pick as they will help give your dog socialization skills and introduce you to fellow dog lovers!

If you have gone through this list and have considered all these items, then you are ready to share your life with another creature. If not, take time to examine these tips and make sure you are truly ready to adopt. It’s important to be as prepared as possible so you can enjoy every day with your new best friend.

I am interested in adopting a pet from A.D.O.P.T. How do I get more information?

Excellent! We are sure you will find the perfect pet for you in our program. The first place to start for more information is on our website on the Adopt page. There you can see a picture of the pet and some information about their personality. If you find a pet you are interested in getting more information on, please fill out an application.

What is an Adoption Event?

An Adoption Event is an opportunity for you to see some of the pets in our program, and possibly talk to the pet's foster parent or assigned coordinator to learn more about them. Adoption events are usually held for a couple hours on a Saturday or Sunday, generally at a local pet store that supports our organization through donations of food and/or space.

What are your adoption fees?

Cats (over 1 year old) are available for an adoption fee of $65. Kittens (under 1 year old) are available for an adoption fee of $85.
Dogs (over 1 year old) are available for an adoption fee of $250. Puppies (under 1 year old) are available for an adoption fee of $300.

Our Adoption fees cover the following:
  • Spaying or Neutering
  • Combination Vaccinations for Canine Distemper Virus
  • Bordetella Vaccines
  • Rabies Vaccine
  • Heartworm Test
  • De-Worming
  • Physical exam by board certified Veterinarian
Most ADOPT animals receive over $600 worth of veterinary care prior to adoption. This is made possible through the generosity of local veterinarians, adoption fees, and donations.

What should I expect when adopting a pet from A.D.O.P.T. Pet Rescue?

Our goal is to make sure you and your new pet are a great match! We will be available to counsel you throughout the adoption process. People often want to know the background information of their new pet which we will share with you if we have it! Most of our animals come from rural kill shelters and we simply don't have any knowledge of their lives prior to joining our rescue. We also pride ourselves on the excellent care we provide our pets once they are brought into the rescue. They receive a thorough veterinary exam, are vaccinated, given flea/tick/heartworm prevention, and treated for any new or existing medical needs that they may have while in our care. We spay or neuter our pets when it is age appropriate and determined safe by our veterinarians. All of this is included in the adoption fee.

I turned in an application on a specific pet. How can I find out where things stand?

Please understand that we are an all-volunteer organization and it can take us up to 7-10 days to get back with you in regards to your application. You may email us at adoptions@adoptpetrescue.org to obtain information on the status of an application. Please be sure to clearly leave your name and number and the pet's name and whether it is a cat, kitten, dog or puppy.