Adoption Process

WH_slider-Adopt_slim2Thank you for your interest in adopting one of our wonderful pets! Our process is designed to ensure the right match between you and your new furry family member. We appreciate your time and patience as we move through this process. It is our goal to make sure that you and your adopted pet will be happy together for years to come!

Step 1: Find a pet that you would like to welcome into your family. Haven’t selected one yet?
Take some time to review our cats and dogs available for adoption!

Step 2: We require all potential adopters to complete the Wagging Hearts Adoption Application and submit it for review. Submissions can be sent via:

  • EMAIL  adoptions@wagginghearts.org
  • FAX  1 (855) WAGGING
  • MAIL  Wagging Hearts, 260 E. Belvidere Road, #369, Hainsville, IL 60030

Step 3: Once we receive your application a Wagging Hearts representative will insure your specific interested rescue is still available for adoption and has not been swept up in forever love yet. We begin by calling on vet and personal reference checks supplied via the application. A home visit is scheduled with adopter upon approval. A meet and greet with other companion animals can be scheduled during in-home visit at adopter’s residence or at an assigned location depending on the temperaments and personalities of the animals. We ask that ALL family members be present for the meet and greet to insure the pet is a match for all involved in their development and care.

Step 4: After the in-home visit, if you and the Wagging Hearts representative feel this is a good match, we will move forward with finalizing the adoption paperwork, contract and collect adoption fee. Adoption Fees cover up-to-date vaccinations and preventative treatments, half of the spay/neutering, micro-chipping and anything else that is needed or required to insure quality care of each of our animals. We will do a 7-14 day phone follow up to ensure all animals are adjusting well and to answer any questions the new adoptive parents may have as well as a 30 day home visit to ensure everything is going well with everyone.

Please contact adoptions@wagginghearts.org for any questions, concerns or issues you may have and we look forward to hearing from you.

Adoption Fees

CATS and KITTENS

PUPPIES   12 months and younger:

YOUNG ADULTS  13 months to 4 years:

ADULTS   5 years to 8 years:

SENIORS   9 years and older:

BONDED PAIRS  Adopters only pay the applicable fee for the youngest animal and do not pay an additional fee for the other one. We welcome and are honored when the opportunity arises to keep pets bonded to one another with the semblance of family they have created while left alone.

Discounted fees are available for families looking to adopt more than one animal.

Adoption Fee Overview

PUPPIES   Receive first round of deworming at 6 weeks, second round at 8 weeks. First round of vaccinations given at 6 weeks of age, second round 8 weeks. Bordatella vaccination given at 4+ weeks of age. Second Bordatella vaccination given at 10-14 days after first vaccination date. Fee covers microchipping and 100% of alteration fees at time of procedure with our approved vet partners (If not already altered). If alteration is not completed by agreed date on adoption agreement, Wagging Hearts will remove the animal from adoptee’s care due to non-compliance of adoption agreement. No puppies go home with rabies unless they are over 4 months of age.

YOUNG ADULTS to ADULTS   Receive DHPPC, Bordatella, Lepto, Corona, Canine Influenza, Rabies, deworming, Heartworm Prevention Treatment: Flea and tick preventative , heartworm test, microchipping, as well as 100% of spay/neuter with our approved vet partner (if not already altered)

KITTENS   Receive their FVCRP shots, deworming, microchipping, as well as 100% of the cost of spay/neuter at time of procedure with our approved vet partners (If not already altered)

CATS  Receive their FVCRP shots, Rabies, FIV/Feline Lukemia testing, deworming, microchipping, as well as 100% of the cost of spay/neuter at time of procedure with our approved vet partners (If not already altered)

Adopter agrees to the following conditions when adopting an animal from Wagging Hearts:

  • Adopter agrees to pay the appropriate adoption fee for the Animal, which is non-refundable and will not be returned.
  • Adopter agrees, in the event that the Animal has not been altered, to take Animal to be spayed or neutered by agreeded upon date designated by Wagging Hearts. Date cannot be adjusted unless medically approved and Adopter understands they will be paying 50% of the cost of the procedure at time of services.
  • Adopter agrees to register microchip information at a one-time fee of $10.99 at time of adoption or by designated date. Date cannot be adjusted and noncompliance can mean removal of Animal from home.
  • Adopter agrees to take the Animal for a checkup, within 72 hours or 3 business days of the effective date in the Adoption Agreement to verify the Animal is 100% healthy and all care is now the responsibility of the Adopter by designated date.
  • Adopter agrees that since changes in the Animal’s health and behavior cannot be predicted, Wagging Hearts cannot make any representations or warranties regarding the Animal’s health, physical condition, age, or behavior.
  • Adopter is adopting the Animal as a permanent member of his/her household and agrees not to keep the Animal outdoors.
  • Adopter agrees to keep the Animal as a member of the family and never allow it to be used as a guard dog, fighting dog, or for experimentation or research.
  • Adopter agrees to contact Wagging Hearts in the event of loss or theft of the Animal. If at any time Adopter decides to forfeit ownership of Animal, Adopter will contact Wagging Hearts for assistance in placing the Animal in a new home.
  • Adopter agrees to abide by all applicable laws pertaining to animal control and ownership.
  • Adopter agrees not to relinquish the Animal to any organization or individual other than Wagging Hearts without prior written approval from Wagging Hearts.
  • Adopter agrees to provide proper and humane care, food, water, shelter, exercise, positive reinforcement training, and all other necessities for the Animal. Further, Adopter agrees to provide veterinary care for the Animal, at his/her own expense, both on a regular basis and in the event the Animal becomes ill or injured.
  • Adopter agrees to allow Wagging Hearts to inspect his/her home, the Animal, and the Animal’s living quarters at any time after adoption of Animal with proper notice of a phone call.
  • Adopter agrees that Wagging Hearts has the right to remove the Animal from his/her care should Wagging Hearts find that this contract is being/has been violated or if the Animal is not being cared for to the standards set by Wagging Hearts.
  • Adopter agrees that the behavior of the Animal is now his/her responsibility and that Wagging Hearts is not responsible for any damages or injuries caused by the Animal.
  • Adopter agrees not to alter the Animal through elective surgery such as tail docking, ear cropping, debarking, or declawing.
  • Adopter understands that the Animal has been microchipped and is registered with Adopter and Wagging Hearts rescue. Adopter agrees to leave the registration as such.
  • Adopter agrees to notify Wagging Hearts with updated contact information if he/she moves; including address and phone number within three (3) weeks of the change. Further, Adopter agrees to allow Wagging Hearts to contact him/her via this new contact information.
  • Adopter grants permission to Wagging Hearts to use the likeness of him/her and his/her family in photograph(s) that may be featured in publicly available materials without compensation. Adopter understands & agrees that such photograph(s) become the property of Wagging Hearts.

QUICK LINKS

Wagging Hearts Adoptables

Wagging Hearts Adoption Application

Wagging Hearts Events