The Gist
Our Policies
We always want to ensure that the dogs that we place are in their furever homes, and that they have absolutely no risk of being returned to a shelter facility. Because of that, we have specific policies and a very elaborate process for adopting a new pet. The information provided here is to help you get a clear understanding of that process, our philosophy and our policies. It is easy to understand the appeal of that "cute" face, but there are much more factors in owning a pet. Remember, this is not just a pet, it is a family member and a commitment.
The Burning Questions
Ask yourself...
- Am I prepared for the financial responsibility (between $374 and $658 the first year) of owning a pet?
- Even though the kids say they will do it, am I willing to walk, feed, play with, and provide attention to this pet when the kids do not?
- Am I ready for another creature with the mentality of a four-year old?
- Can I commit to my new furry friend for more than 10 years?
Adoption Area
K9 Kindness Rescue adopts to portions of Central and Eastern Iowa, Northern and Western Illinois, Southwest Wisconsin, and Northeast Missouri including, but not limited to the locations listed below.
- In Iowa it includes: Ames, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Keokuk, Ottumwa, and Waterloo.
- In Illinois it includes: Bloomington, Chicago, Galesburg, Macomb, Moline, Peoria, and Rockford.
- In Wisconsin it includes: Madison and Prairie du Chien.
- In Missouri it includes: Kahoka.
Adoption Fees
Adoption fees are charged and due upon completion of the adoption process and the signature collected on the adoption contract. These fees go towards covering medical expenses of caring for the pet while in the care of K9 Kindness Rescue. Items covered by the adoption fee may include heartworm treatment and/or preventative, flea and tick treatment and/or preventative, vet check ups, surgeries, altering, food, toys, treats, or other tests.
Fees for dogs are posted on their bios for adoption.
The Process
By this point in the whole process you should have already checked out what Our Promise is, verified that you live within our adoption area (or if you don't, understand how out-of-area adoptions work), and understand that there are rescuing fees associated with your new pet - should you be selected.
The section below highlights the next steps to take in order to get the ball rolling and interacting with our organization. It's advised that if you have general inquiries about the pet you're interested in, that you contact us prior to submitting an application. You can also check the FAQs for answers to frequently asked pre-adoption questions and information regarding our adoption process and policies. Please use this information, as it is provided for your convenience.
The section below highlights the next steps to take in order to get the ball rolling and interacting with our organization. It's advised that if you have general inquiries about the pet you're interested in, that you contact us prior to submitting an application. You can also check the FAQs for answers to frequently asked pre-adoption questions and information regarding our adoption process and policies. Please use this information, as it is provided for your convenience.
- Fill out and submit an adoption application.
- The foster home will set up an appointment for you to meet the dog in which you are interested.
- A home visit is then required as part of the adoption procedure. All members of the household must meet the dog prior to completing an adoption process.
- References may be checked to ensure everything is on the up and up.
- If all things are in the clear, the adoption will then proceed and be finalized.
Things To Remember
The adoption process is not necessarily as open and shut as quickly running through the application, references, and then finalizing the adoption. Please take time to look over the following points and things to remember about our adoption process that isn't mentioned in the overall scope mentioned above:
- On the adoption application, we ask for three references and a vet reference. We ask this for the same reason employers request references.
- If you leave any questions blank, we reserve the right to disqualify your application.
- If you provide information that is determined to be false, your application will be disqualified.
- The average time to adopt one of our pets is approximately 7 to 10 days.
- We do not observe "first come, first serve" mentality. We judge applications by their quality and matching them with their pet.
- If you currently own pets, they must be current on all vaccinations and prevention. In addition, they must be altered. This will be confirmed by your veterinarian before adoption.
- Our procedure enables us to gather complete and well-rounded information in order to make an informed and wise decision that will lead to a lifetime relationship between a family and the pet.
- We do follow-up calls to help insure the placement is working, to hone our pet evaluation skills, and to help with any questions that may arise.
- Please realize that it may take up to two weeks for your pet to be comfortable in your home. It is possible that they may have some accidents during this adjustment period.
- Our procedure is about righting a wrong. If an animal is in our care, something has already gone wrong in its life. We want to find our dogs a home where they’ll be cherished and loved.