Until we change the hearts and minds of people, there will always be pet overpopulation and suffering. Each year in Lowndes county alone, there are countless animals that are abandoned, unwanted, neglected, and abused. The mission of D.A.R.E.’s foster/adoption program is to rescue as many animals as possible from a lifetime of misery, despair, and over-breeding.

Once in our foster program, we believe it is important to socialize and train each pet to the best of our ability in order to make it a happy, well-adjusted, loving pet that would be a wonderful addition to your home, whether “you” are an individual or family. It is extremely important to us that we make a good adoption match, both for the pet, as well as you, the adopter.

We are so happy that you are considering adopting a pet from D.A.R.E Animal Rescue. By choosing the adoption route, you are choosing to be a part of the solution to the pet overpopulation problem. There is no doubt that adoption saves lives.

We hope you will click on the link to learn more about the adoption process and then complete the online adoption application. Once you have submitted the application, one of our volunteers will respond to your email.

We look forward to hearing from you soon. A pet in need “needs” you. DARE to make a difference.

HOW TO ADOPT

We are so happy you are considering adopting a pet from D.A.R.E. Animal Rescue. We are committed to making the best adoption matches possible. For that reason, we ask our adopters to complete an application that will help us make a good match. We will always take into consideration your expectations, as well as the needs of the pet.
Please read over the following adoption process before completing the online application. Thank you again for your interest in adopting one of our pets.

Adoption Process:

1. Complete application.
2. Veternarian and landlord checks will be completed if applicable.
3. Home visit with the adoption screener will be scheduled.
4.  After all checks are complete, arrangements will be made for you to meet the pet.
5.  If you decide to adopt, we will arrange for a two-week trial adoption.
6. After trial adoption, if it looks like the pet is a good match for you and your family, the adoption process will be finalized.
7. Adoption contract will be signed and adoption fee collected. The adoption fee is $100 and includes the following:
   • Spay or neuter
   • Health exam
   • Vaccinations
   • Deworming
   • Heartworm test (dogs)
   • Leukemia/aids test (cats)

REQUIREMENTS:

Age Guidelines for Adopting

D.A.R.E. Animal Rescue is dedicated to matching pets and families together in forever homes. Adopters must be at least 21 years old to adopt a pet from D.A.R.E. Animal Rescue.

Often the question is raised about how old children should be before adopting a dog or cat, puppy or kitten. Many experts agree that children experience a multitude of benefits from growing up alongside dogs and cats.

                 " Sometimes the best match for young families is not a puppy or kitten, rather an adult dog or cat."

Here are some reasons why:

Puppies and kittens are fragile.

They are tiny and can be easily overlooked by young children. This is not only dangerous for the pets, but young children can easily trip and fall over the pets. Small-breed dogs and puppies generally tend to be more nervous than larger breed dogs. This nervousness can lead to the dogs nipping or growling at young children who aren't aware how to properly interact with small animals. Kittens, as well as cats, usually do not like to be chased or picked up and are often scared by loud noises. Children are often bit and scratched because they do not understand when to leave the pet alone.

Puppies and kittens have not learned manners yet.

Unfortunately, dogs and cats do not train themselves! Young children are sometimes frightened by the energy level of young pets. Until puppies and kittens are fully trained, they may scratch, nip, jump, etc. This is not due to aggression, the pets simply do not know better because they have not been trained. Regardless, these behaviors are understandably frightening to young children.

Puppies, in particular, require a lot of work!

They are not house trained and have not gone through obedience training. Sometimes, puppy training coupled with the care required by babies and toddlers can prove overwhelming to parents. If dogs are not properly trained and socialized during their formative months, they can develop lifelong behavioral problems.

Children, just like puppies and kittens, go through different socialization and developmental stages.

For example, children 3-4 years of age are still learning impulse control. Sudden outbursts, or impulsive grabs at a pet might frighten them and cause an adverse, frightened response. Sadly, if puppies and kittens have negative experiences with children during their socialization period, they can develop a lifelong fear of small children. Between ages 5-7, children learn empathy and are better equipped to treat dogs and cats properly. Be aware that boys under the age of 9 are the most common victims of dog bites.

In accordance with our goal to place pets in lifelong forever homes, D.A.R.E. Animal Rescue has developed age guidelines to assist potential adopters in finding their best match:

1. "6 under 6": Puppies under 6 months old are best-matched with families whose youngest child is 6 years of age or older, unless the puppy in question is a small breed.
2. Small breed puppies (under 30lbs full-grown) and toy breed adults (under 15lbs) are best-matched with families whose youngest child is 8 years of age or older.
3. Kittens and cats are best matched with families whose youngest is 6 years of age or older.
4. Some puppies or kittens, dogs or cats tend to be skittish around young children. Decisions will be based on the personality and confidence level of the pet.

Current Pets

All current pets must be spayed/neutered and up to date on shots. Dogs must also be up to date on heartworm prevention.

Fencing

Although most of our dogs are placed as indoor dogs, they still need lots of exercise and play time in a safe environment. We base our fencing requirements on the needs and activity level of each dog. Most of our larger, more active dogs need a fenced-in yard. Free-roaming, kennels, chains, or tie-outs are not options for our dogs.

First Time Dog Owners

Often times, we find that first time dog owners know very little about dog behavior and training. This lack of knowledge often leads to a dog being returned. For that reason, we offer a free dog behavior/training class to give new owners the tools they need to be successful dog owners.

Military

Deployment, PCS, Call To Arms, are some of the reasons why single military find themselves in a position to give up their pets. Sadly, when that time comes, some find it almost impossible to re-home their pets. Often, family and friends do not want to take on the responsibility, and pet rescues are busting at the seams.

Our primary objective is to find forever homes for our pets and to promote responsible, life-long pet ownership. Many of our pets have already been abandoned or re-homed. We try very hard to ensure that it does not happen again.

Due to past experiences, we are looking to organizations that bring education and awareness to military personnel before they make the life-long commitment to adopt.

For all single military, we ask you to look at your current situation and ask yourself if this is the right time to adopt. If so, then part of the adoption process will be an education / awareness program.

We Love Our Military Personnel and We Thank You For Your Service

Thank you for understanding.

Click Here to View the Adoption Application