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 When
you consider whether to adopt an animal, it is helpful to come up
with a list of reasons for having a pet. For example, pets can
provide companionship and support, help us stay fit and even extend
our lifespan.
Pets can also help kids learn compassion and responsibility and
provide them with comfort.
However, pet ownership has some potential downsides, too. Pet care
can be time consuming. If you are often gone from home, owning a pet
might not be a great idea. In addition, owning a pet can be costly
due to various expenses such as food and veterinary care.
If you have weighed everything out and decide to an adopt a pet,
consider contacting the Humane Society of Logan County, which has
several pets available for adoption.
In order to be considered for a pet adoption, there are some
guidelines you must meet. For example, you must be at least 18 years
of age, have valid identification with your present address, and
have the knowledge and consent of all adults living in your
household.
If renting a home, you must provide written permission from your
landlord or rental agent. If you are living with parents or other
adults, you must have written permission from your parents or other
adults.
You also need to ensure a stable and loving
environment with the financial resources to provide medical care and
other proper care as needed.
To provide an animal with a suitable forever home, the Humane
Society has several guidelines to be agreed upon by potential
adopters.
As part of the agreement, adopters are asked to pay an adoption
donation to help defray HSLC's expenses for food, shelter, spaying
or neutering, vaccinations and veterinary care.
Adopters must also agree to obtain a proper municipal license if
required under local law plus comply with local and state statutes
and ordinances.
Another part of the agreement regards veterinary care, which
includes providing the animal with necessary vaccinations the
veterinarian advises. The adopter must agree to obtain immediate
veterinary care if the animal gets sick or injured, taking full
financial responsibility for veterinary care.
As part of the agreement for [general] care of the animal, adopters
are asked to be responsible for the care for the animal for its
entire lifetime. Additionally, they must agree that the animal will
not be sold, given to or adopted by anyone else, and will not
transfer ownership to any firm, corporation, or organization
including another rescue facility or research facility.
Agreeing to this care entails an understanding that the adopted
animal is an indoor pet allowed full access to the home. Adopters
must agree to provide the animal with fresh water, wholesome food,
adequate exercise and loving attention.
Adopters must promise that under no circumstance will the animal be
trained to show any aggressive or agitated behavior or encouraged to
show territorial behavior. Instead, the animal will be a family
member and only participate in good citizenship, basic training,
search and rescue, therapy training or service training.
Unless directed by a licensed veterinarian for reasons connected to
the health and welfare of an animal, adopters must agree that
cosmetic surgery will not be performed under any circumstances. This
includes tail docking and ear cropping.
In signing the agreement, the adopter acknowledges an understanding
that HLSC does not guarantee the health, temperament, or training of
the animal.
The next parts of the agreement are a release followed by an
indemnity agreement with adopters and their spouses, heirs,
executors, personal representatives and assigns agreeing to never
bring a claim or suit against HSLC.
In signing this part, the adopter acknowledges understanding that
this agreement discharges HSLC and its directors, officers,
founders, employees, representatives, and volunteers from any
liability to the adopters and the others listed.
The liability relates to bodily injury, illness, property damage,
death or other loss that may result from the adoption, behavior, or
activities of the animal. Additionally, those involved with the work
at HSLC will be released from any liability for HSLC’s negligence or
liability that may result in bodily injury, illness or property
damage, death or other loss to the adopter.
In the indemnity agreement, adopters, their spouses, heirs,
executors and personal representatives agree to hold HSLC harmless
for all bodily injury, illness, property damage, death or other
losses.
HSLC would also be released from paying any
attorney’s fees and cost of litigation that results to anyone else
or any other entity because of the adopter’s negligence or
liability. These include lone acts or omission by the adopter and
combined acts of the adopter with others.
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Finally, the agreement says that in the event the
agreement, including all its covenants and conditions, is breeched
by the adopter, HSLC has the right to rescind the agreement and
demand the immediate return of the animal.
If the adopter fails to return the animal with a reasonable time
specified, HSLC then has the right to take any necessary legal steps
for the return of the animal. The adopter would then be responsible
for all legal costs involved with this return in addition to a fee
of $500.
Once the adopter enters into the agreement and its specified
conditions, it binds both parties. The agreement is then signed by
the adopter and an HSLC representative.
The conditions and guidelines set forth in the agreement help ensure
the animal will be taken care of in a good manner.
If you meet the guidelines and are willing to agree to the
conditions, there are some steps you must follow.
First, you need to fill out an application with information such as
address and length of time at your present address.
In the application, you will need to list who will be responsible
for the animal and whether they will be kept inside or outside. For
animals that will be kept outside, you will need to explain the
circumstances.
You will then need to list all of the pets you presently have or
have had in the past five years. This list will include their names,
species, ages and breeds. It will also indicate how long you owned
the pet, whether they were spayed or neutered and why you no longer
have the pet.
Those who have owned pets in the past will need to provide the name
and address of their veterinarian.
Anyone who has adopted a pet from a humane organization before needs
to provide the name of the shelter. If you have ever released an
animal to a shelter, you need to tell how long ago it was and the
name of the shelter.
Next, the HSLC gathers information by getting proof from landlords.
Veterinarians may be contacted about their care of your current or
previous animals.
Before allowing someone to adopt an animal, the
Humane Society volunteers will need to meet the applicant.
The waiting period for adoption will depend on how long the Humane
Society has to wait for calls back from landlords and/or
veterinarians. Without hurdles, it might just take a couple days for
the adoption to be approved.
The adoption fees for cats and dogs vary. For kittens and cats
between one and eight years old, the fee is $169. For seniors cats
over eight years old, the fee is $139.
For puppies and dogs between one and eight years old, the fee is
$230. For senior dogs over eight years old, the fee is $200.
A $15 Rabies tag fee for Logan County is added to these fees.
In the last step of the process, adopters will need to sign the
agreement with the guidelines listed earlier.
If you have read this entire article, you must really care about the
issue of adopting pets from the Humane Society. The elaborate
requirements may surprise you, but this demonstrates the society’s
commitment both to animals and to the people who care for them.
Adopting a pet is a major investment of time, energy, money, and
love. Here at LDN, we wish you the best in your adventure of
adoption.
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