Q. Why should I adopt from Help Save Pets (HSP)?
A. Adopting from HSP give you the satisfaction of giving a home to a cat or dog that was destined to die at a kill shelter, but rescued by HSP and transported to us via something we call the Rescue Railroad. Not all of our pets are “second hand”, many are puppies and kittens from areas with no demand for them in that area. Prior to adoption our animals are all spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccinations, tests, and have an identification microchip inserted to identify them should they be lost.

Q. Where are you located?
A. We have four locations, all listed on the contact us page. The individual pet listings will indicate where a specific cat or dog is located with a phone number for the location so that you can get up to the minute information on the availability of the dog or cat.

Q. Do you put any pets down if they are not adopted in a certain time period? How long do you keep pets who are brought to your facility?
A. Animals are normally sheltered until they find homes, no matter how long it takes, unless they are seriously ill or dangerous.

Q. Are all pets shown online still available? Can you hold a pet for me if I call?
A. We update the pets shown on line daily. Adopted pets are removed, new pets are added. It is highly likely that a pet shown on line is available. However, our goal is to place homeless pets in permanent homes and holding them would potentially deny them a home while we wait for someone who may or may not show up and may or may not actually adopt the pet. If you see a pet online which seems right for you, please call the number shown on each on line pet description and you will be given the up to the minute information on the availability of the pet. If still available, we recommend you come in immediately to meet the pet and fill out an application if you determine you want to adopt.

Q. What can you tell me about the background of a specific animal?
A. Our animals for the most part come from shelters and pounds typically with no history on health, parentage or previous owners. The shelters that they are rescued from are run by the local county or town. They are usually overwhelmed and understaffed, record keeping is minimal. As such there is little or no information forwarded to us about the pet. Occasionally we will know something and are happy to share what we know, but that happens very seldom.

Q. I live more than 50 miles away from your facility. Can I still adopt a pet from you?
A. We do NOT allow adoptions of puppies younger than six months old to anyone more than 50 miles away from our facility. We don’t make exceptions. For dogs older than 6 months and cats, we will consider an adoption and work with someone more than 50 miles away who may be interested in an older or special needs animal that has limited opportunities to find a home. However, we don’t hold animals and we don’t want to encourage anyone to drive a long distance only to be disappointed that the animal is no longer available. Also, you still need to meet all the requirements for adoption. There are so many animals in need of homes; we encourage you to adopt an animal closer to where you live.

Q. Is it difficult to adopt?
A. Every shelter has its own policies for approving adoptions. Our adoption screening process is designed to ensure that each animal is placed with a responsible person, one prepared to make a lifelong commitment with the resources available to care for and house a pet, so the animal doesn’t end up back in a shelter AGAIN. Our first priority is to help the animal find the best home possible where it can live out ALL of it’s remaining years and be properly cared for.

Q. Why do you require the purchase of heartworm preventative for dogs and cats?
A. Dogs and cats are susceptible to heartworm infestations spread by mosquitoes which can get into your house, making indoor cats vulnerable also. In dogs, a heartworm infestation blocks the heart and eventually leads to death. It's treatable if caught early, but is an expensive and very painful treatment, much like chemotherapy, that takes a month to complete. Heartworm affects cats differently. As the worms take root in the heart, they shed eggs and break off into the bloodstream compromising the liver. This is always fatal and no treatment is available once a cat is infected. We are looking for good homes for our pets that will provide them with appropriate preventative care and insist on heartworm preventative as a necessary component of responsible pet ownership.

Q. Am I required to bring in my dog to meet the dog I choose to adopt?
A. We can provide a place for your dog to meet a new friend and we recommend meet and greets when adopting, however, it’s your choice, we do not require it.

Q. Do you visit my home as part of the adoption process?
A. We only do home visits for bully breed (Amstaff Terrier or Bull Terrier) adoptions.

Q. If I find a pet that seems right for me, what happens? May I simply take the pet home?
A. The Adoption Process page describes the steps and requirements to adopt an animal. If you meet all the requirements and the adoption is approved, you could potentially take your new pet home immediately. However there are times a day or two is required to get required documentation on the vaccinations of your existing pets or lease/bilaw information.

Q. How much does an adoption cost? What is included?
A. See the Adoption Process page for these details.

Q. Is this pet good with kids?
A. Our pets come from pounds and shelters where they are about to be put down and come with little or no background information. Their interaction with children is unknown and we do not have test children to try out with them. We attempt to flag any pets that we would not recommend with children, and we’ll do our best to help you select the best pet for your household, however the final decision and responsibility about what pet to adopt lies with parents. Training is always helpful, not only for the dog, but for the entire family to know how to manage a new dog.

Q. Where do you get your puppies and kittens from?
A. People assume that pounds and shelters are mostly for adult animals and puppies or kittens are in great demand, wouldn't be at a pound, and surely wouldn't be euthanized at the pound. The sad fact is that pounds are full of puppies and kittens that irresponsible people who don't spay and neuter their pets have surrendered or abandoned. Most are euthanized unless somebody locally adopts them, but in rural areas where you can get puppies and kittens from your neighbors, very few people go to the pound to adopt. These babies require extra effort to care for, extra space, and they get ill easily, so they are frequently destroyed as soon as they arrive. We rescue as many as our resources permit and do our best to manage any illness that may occur, but if you've ever sent a child to kindergarten or day care, you understand that illness in youngsters travels quickly. Many rescues do not take in the very young for this reason, however we feel the effort and expense is justified to save these young animals.. We never deal with breeders or puppy mills.

Q. Is this an animal shelter or an animal hospital?
A. Help Save Pets RESCUE is a separate entity from the animal hospitals that house our animals. The animal hospitals donate the space to house our animals and provide daily routine care, medical care, and a place to show animals/process adoptions. In turn, Help Save Pets pays for all the medical care, surgeries and vaccinations that our animals receive from the doctors, administers the day to day business of our rescue group (including fundraising) and manages the volunteers who help with animal intake and showing animals for adoption.

Q. Why was my puppy or kitten altered at such a young age?
A. All pets available for adoption from HSP are spayed or neutered PRIOR to becoming available for adoption. Kittens and puppies as young as 8 weeks old are spayed or neutered. Many shelters endorse this policy of early spay/neuter in cats and dogs. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association believe the practice to be a safe, effective tool to help end pet overpopulation and has numerous health benefits, including a drastically reduced cancer rate later in life.

Q. Why do you require that other cats and dogs in my household be altered before you will approve an adoption?
A. Experience has taught us that adopting into a home with an intact dog or cat can cause behavior problems that can escalate and can lead to one or more of the animals ending up back with us or at another pound or shelter.

In addition, for every animal we rescue, we are forced to pass up several more that won’t live another week. Many of them are puppies and kittens. It’s heartbreaking and discouraging to look into their eyes knowing their fate. However, it is also a motivator for us as an organization to promote and insist on sterilization of all companion animals to reduce and work towards eliminating this regrettable and tragic situation.

Q. Is it OK to let a cat go outside?
A. Outdoor cats are exposed to many dangerous things including being hit by a car, eaten by a coyote, disease exposure, fights with other animals and more. The fact is, outdoor cats live an average of 6 years, while indoor cats can live from 15 to 20. Isn't that the dealmaker right there?

Q. Is this dog housebroken?
A. We will not claim an adult dog to be housebroken, unless we have had the dog in our own home and verified that it is indeed housebroken. However, even after doing that we can't predict if when any dog goes into YOUR home that they'll immediately recognize it as their living area and as a place NOT to relieve itself. Some do, but some need a transition period to lean that your home is their home also. Their behavior while at a shelter in a cage is not an accurate indicator of how they'll do in a home.

Q. What happens after the pet goes home with me? Does HSP offer any resources to help with the transition period?
A. HSP offers two programs to help post adoption:

• A New Pet Health Assurance Program provided by our partner veterinary clinics is available. This will cover the cost of treating shelter related illnesses should one occur, for 60 days after your adoption date up to $500.

• Also, a trainer is on staff to conduct puppy classes (which are required when adopting a puppy), training classes for teen and adult dogs are also available as well as advice anytime on helping you transition a new pet into your home.