Pocket Pet Adoption Policies

In order to protect the pets we place in new homes, we have certain policies that are followed. As stated other places on the website, our goal is to be certain the adopted pet finds a new home for life, not just another temporary home where he or she will be re-homed after a few months or a few years. We reserve the right to refuse to adopt to anyone for any reason without explanation.

These policies are in place for the safety and well being of the pets. The main points are listed first. To see the longer explanation of "why" we have that policy, they are explained in detail under this list.

1. The primary caregiver must be an adult, not a child. The primary caregiver must be a person, not a "place" such as a "classroom" or a "retirement home".

2. Indoor housing required.

3. Pets will be adopted in same sex pairs only.

4. The adoption is non-transferable. You may not sell, adopt, or give this pet to anyone else. You must return the pet to Rabbit & Pocket Pet     Adoptions if you are unable to keep them.

5. Pets are adopted "as-is", no guarantees are made regarding health or temperament.

7.  The adoption fees are non-refundable if the pet is kept by you for more than 14 days.

8. Age of pets is an estimate in most cases.

Now that you have read the policies, please continue to the adoption application. By filling out the Adoption Application, you agree to the policies you just read. If you have questions about the policies, please read the full explanation for each of the policies below.

Policies explained fully.

1. The primary caregiver must be an adult, not a child. We feel that the adults are responsible for any pets in the family. The pet must be wanted by the entire family, adults included. If any member of the family does not want the pet, the pet will not be placed with that family.  

    1a. The primary caregiver must be a person, not a "place" such as a "classroom" or a "retirement home". The pet must live most of his or her time at the primary caregiver's house, not at the "place".

2. Indoor Housing required. Small animals are not adopted to those who intend to keep them outdoors. (For example, allowing them to run the yard unsupervised or leaving them outdoors unprotected at night when predators are around.) Indoors is defined as the area of the house the family lives in. If your garage or basement is also your family room, that's considered a family area! If the pet is allowed to play in the yard, the pet must be provided an area with secure fencing, and adequate supervision at all times. There are dangers outdoors! A supervised romp in a safe pen or supervised outdoor outings are not the same as keeping your pet primarily outdoors.

3. All small animals leaving as bonded pairs are bonded as same sex pairs only. Breeding is not allowed.

4. The adoption is non-transferable. You may not sell, adopt, or give away this pet to anyone else. The pet must come back to us in the event that the pet is found to be unsuitable for your household, even if it is 5 years from the adoption date. While we are very careful to ensure that the small animal you adopt matches up with your family, sometimes problems arise that are insurmountable. If there are such problems with the adopted pet that the adopter needs to return the pet, we ask that you give advance notice of at least 2 weeks.

We have a long waiting list of pets needing in, so when a pet is adopted, that space is filled very quickly. If the space has already been filled and the small pet needs to be returned, you will be asked to house the pet until space becomes available in a foster home. If there are money issues, we will help out with food and bedding until the pet can be brought back into foster care. We will work with you in emergency cases, but it can take up to a month for space to open or a foster home to be found. Please, please, please, give us as much advance notice as possible so that we can get a spot open for the pet to come back quickly.

We ask that you keep in close contact with us for the first month following the adoption so we can help work out any problems as they arise. Many problems can be worked out easily, so please let us help.  

5. Pets are adopted "as is", no guarantees are made regarding health or temperament. All pets are adopted into new homes with any and all KNOWN behavior problems, illnesses, injuries and needed treatments disclosed. We are not responsible for any disease or illness that we were unaware of at the time of adoption such as, but not including; fur mites, ear mites, Pasteurella, worms, malocludded molars, etc.

Any and all veterinary bills resulting from illness or injury either to the pet(s) adopted from us or a pet you already own are to be paid by you. We are not responsible or liable for any part of them. These pets come from all walks of life that we had no control over. While we try our best to ensure that they are healthy before adoption, we are not responsible for medical bills if a pet becomes becomes ill after being adopted.

We keep a close eye on the foster pets and work closely with a veterinarian if we notice a problem. Rabbits who enter the rescue unaltered are given a basic examination at the time they are altered, but do not otherwise receive veterinary check ups. Small pets such as rats, hamsters, mice and chinchillas are not taken in for a routine veterinary exam unless a health problem is noted. You are encouraged to take your new pet to a vet for a check up upon adoption. If there is a concern about the pet's health before adoption, we will pay for a pre-adoption veterinary examination.

    5a. We are not responsible for any bodily injury, disease transmission, or property damage that might occur after you adopt this pet. We do our best to determine the personality, health, and habits of all the pets who are in the foster program. Because pets are living beings, we cannot guarantee that they are not going to chew something of yours, dig on the carpet or decide that your antique books are food. We also cannot guarantee that they do not bite or scratch, any animal can inflict bodily injury on a human or other animal. We will disclose all information we have about their personality as it was shown at a foster home and as a previous owner described them, if we made contact with a previous owner.

6. The adoption fees are non-refundable if the pet is kept by you for more than 14 days. This means that the adoption fee is not refunded if the pet doesn't work out after the initial 2 weeks at your house. Under certain circumstances, such trying to bond a pair and it's not working, we will make an exchange but it's at our discretion. Speaking of the adoption fee, we do not have non-profit status yet, so the fee is not tax deductible.

7. Age of pets is an estimate in most cases. We do our best to give an accurate age based on any information given to us by the person who gives the rabbit up.  Be aware that many pets are found as strays, it is simply not always possible to know for sure how old they are if they are not found as babies. So, our age estimates are just that, estimates. We will tell you if we are guessing or positive on the age we give you.  

Now that you have read the policies, please continue to the adoption application. By filling out the Adoption Application, you agree to the policies you just read.

Written 1/15/00 Updated 1/7/11