Adoptions  

-- Our goal is not to place a pet in a home as soon as possible. It is to perfectly match each pet with a new adoptive home. It's all about the animals.--

-- All SHF pets are 100% recycled! --

     Safe Harbor Farm rescues dogs from several high-kill municipal shelters.  It less often acquires animals through owner turn-ins and via other rescue groups.  Although age and the need for medical or surgical care is almost never an issue, all dogs considered for our adoptions program must get 3 1/2 points out of 4 points on our temperament test, and all animals must get along with other dogs and with cats.

     Some of these dogs come to us with emotional wounds.  The home that they knew is no longer, and they don't immediately know where they fit in.  Fortunately, dogs naturally live in the moment, and our shelter's balanced pack of dogs helps (thanks to what we've learned from Cesar Millan), where people alone cannot. New dogs quickly find their nitch and become ready to move on to better things.

     At Safe Harbor Farm, each dog gets a veterinary examination and heartworm testing, plus their vaccines.  Most need surgery (spays, neuters, wound care, even enucleations & amputations). Some need additional medical care and training.  We do it all.  We put A LOT of work into our foster pets!

     Please keep this in mind when you peruse the pictures of happy faces awaiting new homes.  Safe Harbor Farm is a RESCUE, not a PET STORE.  And thank you for opening your heart and your home to a rescued pet (and not one mass-produced by a truly horrible puppy mill).

           

Cesar MIllan with Patchoulli and Banjo, two Safe Harbor Farm dogs
at the Great Dog Adventure in San Diego, CA - June 2010

spay-neuter surgery
distemper combo vaccine
rabies vaccine
up-to-date FRONTLINE flea prevention
FeLV and FIV testing (cats)
heartworm testing (dogs)
4# bag of Science Diet
One night's free board (cats) at SHF's feline center

SHF Minimal Adoption Donation  

domestic kitty, 7 months old or older      $100
domestic kitty,  up to 7 months old      $120
"purebred" kitty, 1 year or older      $135
"purebred" kitty, under 1 year   $150
declawed kitty, add $45
FeLV vaccination, add $15
Multi-cat discount  (domestics only) = $25
(we LOVE adopting friends together!)

dog ("mixes") -  $175
dog (“purebreds”) - 1 year or older    $200
dog ("purebreds") - up to one year   $250
Dobermans, Shih Tzus, Pugs, Yorkies & Boston Terriers   $300
senior dog specials    $100
Adopting two at a time? Our multi-dog discount is $25
(we LOVE adopting friends together!)

FAQ: "How do we set our adoption fees?

A: We aim to cover the cost of the average veterinary care each of our rescued animals receives.  The higher fee for the more popular "purebreds" allows us to discount for terrific mixed breeds.  Additional donations are always needed, and are very welcome!

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SHF Adoption Policy  

SHF strives to find responsible lifelong homes (10-20 years!)
for the pets that they place. 

A responsible home provides

Existing animals in a responsible home are:

ALL adopted animals MUST be returned to SHF in case their adoptive  family can no longer care for them for any reason.

SHF does not adopt animals to people under 21 years of age.

SHF reserves the right not to adopt a pet to anyone for any reason.

SHF will never discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

All newly adopted pets should examined by the vet of your choice within three days of adoption, and follow-up visits may be needed (especially for heartworm preventative).

Renters must include a copy of their lease agreement with their adoption application.

Adopters of cats must provide a hard-sided carrier appropriate for the kitty's size.  Living where we have so many hurricanes, we urge everyone to have a carrier ready for each cat in their household, to be used in cases of emergency.