ADOPTION POLICIES & FAQ
Thank you so much for your interest in welcoming a new best friend into your life!
To us, animal rescue is about placing every cat and dog into a loving, safe, and permanent home; therefore, we have a thorough adoption process designed to help you and our animals find the best match for each other. We do not do same-day adoptions (our process takes usually 2-7 days).
Please take a moment to read through our adoption procedures. (Click on each step read more about each part of the process.)
Step 1: Visit Animal Aid to meet our adoptables
Our free-roam shelter for cats is open to the public Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Come play, snuggle, and maybe even fall in love! Please note: All of our dogs and some cats are placed in foster care. If you wish to meet an animal in a foster home, you must fill out an adoption application first (see Step 2), and an adoption counselor will reach out to coordinate a visit.
Step 2: Fill out an Adoption Application
Please fill out an Adoption Application online or print the application and return to us via email, mail, or fax. You are more than welcome to visit cats who are living at our shelter before turning in an application; however, you must fill out an application before we can set up a meeting for any dogs or cats in foster care. Please note: Due to our lifelong return policy, we rarely adopt outside of the Portland metro area.
Step 3: One of our Adoption Counselors will contact you
Once we receive your application, you will be contacted by an Adoption Counselor to discuss the adoption process and answer any questions you have.
We try to make initial contact within 24 hours of receiving an application; however, because we operate a small staff and our adoption counselors are all volunteers, we cannot guarantee this timeframe. We appreciate your patience as you look to welcome a new cat or dog to your family.
Step 4: We’ll review your application
We will verify the information you’ve put on your application, including 1) ownership of your property or verifying with your rental manager that pets are allowed on premises, 2) contacting your veterinarian to confirm your patronage, and 3) contacting your personal references.
Step 5: Everyone Meets
We ask that everyone in your household meet your prospective cat or dog in advance of the adoption. In some cases, particularly with dogs, this may be the first opportunity you have to meet the animal face-to-face. An Adoption Counselor or staff member will be present to answer any questions you or your family have.
Step 6: Home Tour & Pick Up/Delivery
The final step in the adoption process is the home visit/tour. For cats this will be a video call. For dogs this will typically be in person during delivery of the dog. During this visit, the Adoption Counselor will check the premises to ensure that the cat or dog will be properly housed, as well as go over any special recommendations we might have for the animal due to medical needs, feeding guidelines, socialization recommendations, etc. If you are approved to adopt a cat we will make an appointment for you to come pick up the cat at the shelter.
You will be asked to sign an Adoption Agreement, a contract outlining your guardian responsibilities. We also either collect an adoption fee (for our STAR Animals) or request a donation to Animal Aid.
Adoption Fees
All of our animals are vaccinated, treated for parasites, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and cats are tested for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLv). All animals receive any necessary veterinary care (dentals, etc.) until the time of adoption.
Most of our animals do not have a set adoption fee; instead, we ask for a donation of your choosing at the time of adoption. Your donation enables us to continue helping animals in our community stay healthy and find loving homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Animal Aid’s cats and dogs come from?
We partner with several different animal welfare organizations throughout Oregon and beyond to assist cats and dogs in need. We are also periodically contacted by veterinarians asking us to take in cats and dogs from a variety of rescue situations.
Where do Animal Aid’s cats and dogs come from?
We partner with several different animal welfare organizations throughout Oregon and beyond to assist cats and dogs in need. We are also periodically contacted by veterinarians asking us to take in cats and dogs from a variety of rescue situations.
Are your pets healthy?
Yes. Our animals visit our partner veterinarians for testing, exams, vaccinations, spaying or neutering (if 4 months of age or older), and any other needed treatments. We also have a partner veterinarian who does weekly rounds with our Animal Care Manager to ensure that our shelter animals are healthy and thriving. All of our adoptable cats have tested negative for FeLv and FIV.
Why does Animal Aid prefer to adopt kittens in pairs, with another cat, or to a home with a kitten-tolerant resident cat?
Here are 5 good reasons to adopt two kittens together:
- One kitten can become lonely and bored, especially if the owners are working or in school for most of the day. Boredom is one of the top causes of problem behaviors.
- Two kittens socialize each other. When they play rough, they let each other know how much biting is too much. They learn what is acceptable play behavior and what is unacceptable aggressive behavior.
- One kitten can easily irritate an adult cat. Some families adopt a kitten when they have an older cat with the thought that the older cat will more easily accept a kitten rather than another adult cat. This is not necessarily true. The kitten will likely want to play constantly, not know boundaries, and pester the older cat until the older cat becomes stressed.
- Kittens find comfort in each other –just watch them sleeping curled together!
- When you adopt two kittens, you save two lives.
What exactly is a STAR pet?
STAR stands for Support The Animals Remaining. STAR pets, who are usually adopted quickly, provide financial support to other Animal Aid animals through their adoption fee.
The shelter animals they help support may need many months of medical or social rehabilitation before they are ready for their forever home. STAR pets all have a set adoption fee, specified on their personal adoption page.
What is the lifetime return policy for adopted pets?
Animal Aid commits to the animals we rescue for life, including post-adoption support and a lifetime return policy.
Our adoption contract states that you agree to return an Animal Aid alum directly to our shelter if a major life change makes it impossible for you to keep the pet in your home. The animal will always have a safe place to return to with us, instead of potentially ending up in a kill shelter again or on the streets.
Please note: Any donation you made at the time of adoption is nonrefundable.