WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO ADOPT?
Adopting a dog is a grand adventure. Here are a few things to consider:
AM I PREPARED FOR THE PATIENCE A NEW DOG REQUIRES?
Imagine going to a new place, where you didn’t know anyone or recognize anything. Dogs can take anywhere from one week to several months to adjust to a new home. Some adjust quickly and others take a while to come out of their shell.
WILL I BE ABLE TO ADJUST MY SCHEDULE AND LIFESTYLE?
When adopting, it is always best to pick an animal that will fit with your lifestyle. Though, even with the best matches, adjustments to your routine will be needed. Go into adoption thinking, “Can I make the needed adjustments to best help this animal?”
CAN I AFFORD THE SUPPLY AND VETERINARY COSTS?
A single dog costs around $80-100 a month in basic care (quality food, flea/tick/hw prevention, toy, treats, supplies). If the animal needs follow up veterinary care it can cost upwards of $150 at each visit. Pet insurance costs $30-$50 a month and is important to help avoid a $5,000 emergency vet bill in the future.
WILL I SEEK PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IF MY ADOPTED ANIMAL NEEDS HELP ADJUSTING?
If a problem arises with my newly adopted dog, will you persevere and show patience? If attempts to combat the issue yourself proves insufficient, will you seek professional help? The first question our rescue asks when we receive a request for a family to return a dog due to behavioral issues is, “Did you seek professional training / assistance?” In 95% of the returns, the families did not seek assistance in working with the animal. From there we encourage them to reach out to a trainer and offer suggestions. Those that follow through, change their mind on returning an animal and gain new confidence.
ARE YOU READY TO EXPLORE ADOPTION?
Adopting a new member to your family is a big decision! If you are unsure that you can provide all a rescue animal needs, it may be best to hold off on adopting for now. IF you feel confident that you are ready for a fur baby, please jump to the adoption process below:
1. FIND A DOG YOU ARE INTERESTED IN!
Read through our adoptable dog profiles HERE (scroll to the right on their photo). Ensure your household aligns with their Ideal Situation. Please be patient. If you do not see a match, keep an eye on our page. Also, be sure to check out other rescue and shelters.
Read through our FAQ to learn more about the rescue.
2. SUBMIT AN ADOPTION APPLICATION.
Fill out an application online listing the name of the dog you want to adopt. Submitting an adoption form does not mean you’re committing to adopting the animal, it simply expresses your interest in the animal and consideration in their adoption.
We are not accepting general inquiries, only applications for specific animals.
3. ONCE THE ADOPTION FORM IS COMPLETED FOLLOW UP WITH US ON FACEBOOK
4. EVERYTHING IS SUBMITTED, NOW OUR TEAM IS REVIEWING.
Since each dog has their own set of needs, we do our best to look for a situation that is the best match for that specific animal. After reviewing all the adoption forms, we will call one family to arrange a meet up. We always do our best to update the other interested families on whether the dog is pending or being adopted.
5. MEETING THE RESCUE DOGS!
If you are a match, we will call to share more info about the animal, answer questions and set up a meeting. We may opt for in-home meets and we do our best to accommodate everyone. At the meet and greet, we gauge how everyone interacts. We look to see if the kids, dogs and adults will be a harmonious match.
6. ADOPTION TIME!
A PAWS Administrator will confirm the adoption and assist you in signing the paperwork and paying the adoption fee. Next: family photo time! We also email out a copy of the adoption papers, medical records and animal registration within 72 hours following the adoption.
Adult adoption fee is $200 and Puppy adoption fee is $300.
7. FOLLOW UP
Always feel free to send updates to our Facebook page or send us your dog’s instagram so we can follow their adventures! Use our hashtag #PAWSofHawaii to get featured in our story. We love updates and keep up with the dogs we’ve adopted out over the years. If trouble arises, please reach out to us for advice!
If you are unable to keep your adopted PAWS of Hawaii rescue dog, they need to be returned to us. Why? So we can ensure they receive all needed care and can find a great home. We put A LOT of effort into our rescue dogs. We truly care about where each of them ends up.
MĀLAMA PONO
