Adopting from Safe Harbor Farm
WHERE DOES SHF GET THEIR DOGS?
Safe Harbor Farm rescues most of its dogs from municipal shelters where they are slated for euthanasia. Sometimes they are rescued from horrid high-volume breeders (a.k.a.puppy mills). Less often, they are acquired through owner turn-ins.
WHAT ARE THE DOGS LIKE?
Many of these dogs come to us scared & confused. The home that they knew (as bad as it was) is no longer, and they don't immediately know where to fit in. Fortunately, dogs naturally live in the moment, and our shelter's balanced pack of dogs is there to help where people alone cannot. New dogs quickly find their nitch and become ready to move on to better things.
Although a dog's age and the need for medical or surgical care is almost never an issue for us when the dogs arrive, all dogs considered for our program must get 3 1/2 out of 4 points on our temperament test, and they all must get along with other dogs and with cats.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
At our Kindness Clinic, each dog gets bathed, combed & clipped, neutered, heartworm-tested and vaccinated for rabies, distemper & parvo. Frontline for fleas is applied and heartworm preventative is started. Many dogs receive additional veterinary care (wound care, heartworm treatment, treatment for skin issues, special diets... even enucleations & amputations).
Psychological wounds are treated at our Rehabilitation Center. Calm, respectful behavior is reinforced, while excitable, nervous or dominant behavior is quickly addressed. All dogs get crate-trained. They get leash-trained and taught basic manners following Cesar Millan's protocols.
Our volunteers put A LOT of work into our foster dogs!
WHAT DOES SHF's ADOPTION PROCESS ENTAIL?
There are 6 basic steps (No, you cannot just skip to Step 6):
(1) read this ENTIRE page to understand our dogs and what we require from new adoptive homes.
(2) peruse our Petfinder link (below) to see which dogs are available for adoption
(3) fill out an adoption application (link below), then call your vet's office to tell them to expect our call (some vets will give out information only if they have your approval ahead of time). If you haven't had pets in over 4 years, call around to various veterinary offices and put together a DETAILED budget for veterinary care to submit in lieu of a vet's reference.
(4) allow a few days for our volunteers to check your references. Especially on weekends, it may be hard for us to catch up with them.
(5) take pictures for your "virtual" home visit (front yard, back yard, kitchen, living room, all 4 sides of any fenced-in areas & their gates. Ask the kids to help, and include existing pets in the pictures.) Note: An additional on-site home visit may or may not be done at this point, prior to adoption approval.
(6) make an appointment to bring your entire family and all existing dogs to meet the dogs at Safe Harbor Farm (at this point you have been pre-approved for adoption and your new dog can go home with you the same day!).
WHAT IF I DON"T KNOW WHICH DOG IS BEST FOR ME?
Never fear! We urge everyone to come to Safe Harbor Farm with an open mind. It is not unusual to come expecting to bond with one dog, only to find that another dog (or even two!) makes for a better match. Often, too, a dog picks his humans (and not the other way around). This is great fun, and a VERY rewarding experience for all!
WHAT IF I LIVE OUT-OF-STATE?
Out-of-area adoptions are possible when ALL household members (including existing dogs) travel to Safe Harbor Farm to meet and spend time with their new adoptee. The pre-approval process is the same for in-area and out-of-area applications. We do NOT ship animals to anyone at anytime. Unneutered puppies will not be adopted out of state since they must return to our clinic at 5 months to be neutered..
HOW DOES SHF SET THEIR ADOPTION FEES?
Safe Harbor Farm aims to cover the average cost of veterinary care that each of our rescued animals receives. A higher fee for the more popular "purebreds" allows us to discount our fee for terrific mixed breeds.
Additional tax-deductible donations are always needed, and they are very welcome.
Safe Harbor Farm rescues most of its dogs from municipal shelters where they are slated for euthanasia. Sometimes they are rescued from horrid high-volume breeders (a.k.a.puppy mills). Less often, they are acquired through owner turn-ins.
WHAT ARE THE DOGS LIKE?
Many of these dogs come to us scared & confused. The home that they knew (as bad as it was) is no longer, and they don't immediately know where to fit in. Fortunately, dogs naturally live in the moment, and our shelter's balanced pack of dogs is there to help where people alone cannot. New dogs quickly find their nitch and become ready to move on to better things.
Although a dog's age and the need for medical or surgical care is almost never an issue for us when the dogs arrive, all dogs considered for our program must get 3 1/2 out of 4 points on our temperament test, and they all must get along with other dogs and with cats.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
At our Kindness Clinic, each dog gets bathed, combed & clipped, neutered, heartworm-tested and vaccinated for rabies, distemper & parvo. Frontline for fleas is applied and heartworm preventative is started. Many dogs receive additional veterinary care (wound care, heartworm treatment, treatment for skin issues, special diets... even enucleations & amputations).
Psychological wounds are treated at our Rehabilitation Center. Calm, respectful behavior is reinforced, while excitable, nervous or dominant behavior is quickly addressed. All dogs get crate-trained. They get leash-trained and taught basic manners following Cesar Millan's protocols.
Our volunteers put A LOT of work into our foster dogs!
WHAT DOES SHF's ADOPTION PROCESS ENTAIL?
There are 6 basic steps (No, you cannot just skip to Step 6):
(1) read this ENTIRE page to understand our dogs and what we require from new adoptive homes.
(2) peruse our Petfinder link (below) to see which dogs are available for adoption
(3) fill out an adoption application (link below), then call your vet's office to tell them to expect our call (some vets will give out information only if they have your approval ahead of time). If you haven't had pets in over 4 years, call around to various veterinary offices and put together a DETAILED budget for veterinary care to submit in lieu of a vet's reference.
(4) allow a few days for our volunteers to check your references. Especially on weekends, it may be hard for us to catch up with them.
(5) take pictures for your "virtual" home visit (front yard, back yard, kitchen, living room, all 4 sides of any fenced-in areas & their gates. Ask the kids to help, and include existing pets in the pictures.) Note: An additional on-site home visit may or may not be done at this point, prior to adoption approval.
(6) make an appointment to bring your entire family and all existing dogs to meet the dogs at Safe Harbor Farm (at this point you have been pre-approved for adoption and your new dog can go home with you the same day!).
WHAT IF I DON"T KNOW WHICH DOG IS BEST FOR ME?
Never fear! We urge everyone to come to Safe Harbor Farm with an open mind. It is not unusual to come expecting to bond with one dog, only to find that another dog (or even two!) makes for a better match. Often, too, a dog picks his humans (and not the other way around). This is great fun, and a VERY rewarding experience for all!
WHAT IF I LIVE OUT-OF-STATE?
Out-of-area adoptions are possible when ALL household members (including existing dogs) travel to Safe Harbor Farm to meet and spend time with their new adoptee. The pre-approval process is the same for in-area and out-of-area applications. We do NOT ship animals to anyone at anytime. Unneutered puppies will not be adopted out of state since they must return to our clinic at 5 months to be neutered..
HOW DOES SHF SET THEIR ADOPTION FEES?
Safe Harbor Farm aims to cover the average cost of veterinary care that each of our rescued animals receives. A higher fee for the more popular "purebreds" allows us to discount our fee for terrific mixed breeds.
Additional tax-deductible donations are always needed, and they are very welcome.
Cesar Millan with Patchoulli & Banjo, two Chihuahuas from Safe Harbor Farm
San Diego, CA - June, 2010
San Diego, CA - June, 2010
Existing animals must be spay-neutered, up-to-date on their vaccines, free of fleas and mites, FeLV tested & vaccinated (cats) and heartworm tested & on preventative (dogs).
SHF rarely adopts animals to people under 23 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.
Renters must include a copy of their lease agreement with their adoption application. They can be faxed to 910 743-0817.
All newly adopted pets must be examined by the vet of your choice within three days of adoption. Follow-up visits may be needed in rarer occasions.
ALL adopted animals MUST, BY CONTRACT, be returned to Safe Harbor Farm's doorstep in case their adoptive family can no longer care for them for any reason. Our committment to them is lifetime.
-- All SHF pets are 100% recycled! --
SHF rarely adopts animals to people under 23 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.
Renters must include a copy of their lease agreement with their adoption application. They can be faxed to 910 743-0817.
All newly adopted pets must be examined by the vet of your choice within three days of adoption. Follow-up visits may be needed in rarer occasions.
ALL adopted animals MUST, BY CONTRACT, be returned to Safe Harbor Farm's doorstep in case their adoptive family can no longer care for them for any reason. Our committment to them is lifetime.
-- All SHF pets are 100% recycled! --
| • | exercise & training! (it’s unfair to expect your pet to understand your rules, boundaries & limitiations if you haven’t spent the time to give him what he needs - DAILY exercise - and teach him what you need - a well-behaved pet) |
| • | total parasite control (ZERO tolerance for fleas, ticks, heartworm & intestinal parasites!) |
| • | quality nutrition (no generic pet foods with questionable protein sources) |
| • | quality shelter (no dogs chained outside day-in, day-out) |
| • | companionship (dogs & cats are social animals, not statues) |
| • | annual examination by a good veterinarian (with supportive care, laboratory work & treatment as recommended) |
About SHF | Kindness Clinic | Spays | Our Wish List
Workamping at SHF | Volunteering | Statistics
Take a Tour | Memberships | Surrender a Pet | Positions at SHF
Copyright 2011 - Safe Harbor Farm
P.O. Box 493, Maysville, NC 28555
252-422-6770
Updated 2-17-12
Workamping at SHF | Volunteering | Statistics
Take a Tour | Memberships | Surrender a Pet | Positions at SHF
Copyright 2011 - Safe Harbor Farm
P.O. Box 493, Maysville, NC 28555
252-422-6770
Updated 2-17-12
All dogs go home with a 4# bag of Science Diet, and each new household can receive a free Cesar DVD, complements of Cesar Millan's Foundation. Frontline for fleas & a year's supply of heartworm preventative is also available at an extremely good price!
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New owners should come prepared with a leash and an adjustable collar or harness, and they should be prepared to take their new dog (and a stool sample to check for intestinal parasites) to their vet within 3 days. Note: we are a cash-only facility. We do not take checks or cards.
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New owners should come prepared with a leash and an adjustable collar or harness, and they should be prepared to take their new dog (and a stool sample to check for intestinal parasites) to their vet within 3 days. Note: we are a cash-only facility. We do not take checks or cards.
SHF'S ADOPTION POLICY
SHF strives to find LIFELONG, RESPONSIBLE homes for the pets that they place. Lifelong can mean 10-18 years!
A responsible home provides:
SHF strives to find LIFELONG, RESPONSIBLE homes for the pets that they place. Lifelong can mean 10-18 years!
A responsible home provides:
"mixes" - $175
“purebreds” 6 months or older $200
large breed "purebreds" up to 6 months of age $250
small breed "purebreds" up to 6 months of age $300
Dobermans, Shih Tzus, Pugs, Boston Terriers & Yorkies $300
Certain Senior dogs $100
Adopting two good friends at a time? Take off $25
(we LOVE adopting friends together!)
“purebreds” 6 months or older $200
large breed "purebreds" up to 6 months of age $250
small breed "purebreds" up to 6 months of age $300
Dobermans, Shih Tzus, Pugs, Boston Terriers & Yorkies $300
Certain Senior dogs $100
Adopting two good friends at a time? Take off $25
(we LOVE adopting friends together!)
