HART Adoption Procedures

Adoption Procedures
Below is a list of steps for adopting your next companion animal.

Easy Steps to Adoption

This document is also available in PDF format. Click the icon at the bottom of this page to download.

First: What you need to adopt

Applicants must be an adult responsible for maintaining their own household.
Picture Identification (Texas Drivers License Preferred)
Proof of home ownership - a mortgage or property tax statement. You can also print this information from your County's Central Appraisal District or Tax Assessor Collector websites.
If you rent - your Pet Addendum showing the pet deposit has been paid or your apartment complex's phone number. We will need to call them.
Your Vets name and phone number so we may call them for a reference or medical records showing your pets are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and dogs on heartworm prevention.

Second: Come visit us at one of our Adopt-A-Pets!
If you are wanting to meet a specific pet, you will want to contact us or the foster parent to make sure the pet will be at the next Adopt-A-Pet function. Due to limited space, we sometimes can't bring all of our animals. So be sure and ask, and we'll make sure he or she will be waiting for you.

Third: Visit with an adoption counselor and complete an application
While visiting us at one of our Adopt-A-Pet functions, there will be adoption counselors ready to help you and answer any questions you may have. You can have a completed Dog or Cat application form filled out at this time, or you can fill one out while you are there.

If Necessary: Further consultation and home visit if needed
HART will assist you in every way to help you find your new companion. In some cases, we may need to schedule a home visit to see if the surroundings and environment is appropriate for the animal you are interested in.

And Finally... Complete the adoption!
This is where you get to take your new best friend home, and experience endless love and affection from your new pal!

Tips for expediting same-day adoptions
If you plan ahead, you can take your new furry friend home very quickly. If you follow these tips, we can get you home quickly!

Get to the Adopt-A-Pet before noon. The earlier the better.
Bring your completed application with you.
Be prepared to wait and talk to an adoption counselor. Sometimes we are extremely busy and we really appreciate your patience!
We make every effort to review your application on site. If your application determines that you are a good match, you may be able to take your new pet home the very same day!
Please contact us either by voicemail or e-mail within 48 hours if you have not gotten a response on any application.

Adoption Statement
It is the desire and goal of the Humane Animal Rescue Team (HART) to find loving and forever homes with caring and responsible owners. We have developed an adoption application and procedure to help us identify the best homes for our pets. Our foster parents have had our adoptable animals in their homes and have learned something about their personality. We do our best to match personality and behaviors with the new family's lifestyle and environment. We do this to protect our pets so that family and pet can live together forever.

Adoption Statement
Prospective adopters must:

Be at least 18 years of age with the responsibility of maintaining a household (no full time students).
Have proof of current address.
Have picture identification (Texas drivers license preferred).
Have the consent and knowledge of all adults living in the household to adopt a pet.
Be able and willing to spend the time and money necessary to provide for the training, medical treatment and recommended veterinary care for the pet.
Have the resources to make a nonrefundable donation. The minimum donation for a cat/kitten is $100 and a dog/puppy is $125. We spend well over $200 on each of our pets, which includes medical care, boarding and food. Your donation is not to pay for the medical care of the animal that you are adopting; that has been paid for by previous donations. Your donation allows us to continue our rescue and adoption efforts.
Agree to consider the pet as a member of the family, provide indoor shelter and an environment that will keep it safe and secure.
Understand that HART pets are rescued from municipal shelters and HART cannot guarantee the health of the pet. They have all been to a veterinarian for vaccinations and testing, and are all spayed/neutered and micro-chipped prior to adoption.
Place personal ID on the animal as soon as possible and register the microchip.
Complete and application

Additionally

No animal will be adopted to a resident where pets are not allowed. Verification with a copy of the lease or verbal permission by telephone will be obtained prior to approving the application. Confirmation of home ownership will also be verified prior to approving the application.
Families with children under the age of seven years of age, who are first-time pet owners, should not fill out an application to adopt a kitten or puppy under the age of six months.
We do not adopt puppies to first-time dog owners who live in an apartment.
A secure fence of appropriate height is recommended and may be required for certain dogs. An adopter without a fenced yard must be willing to commit to talking the dog on a leash several times a day, regardless of weather.
We cannot ship animals. We will consider applications from out of the are but you must be willing and be able to make the trip here to meet the pet you are interested in and to complete the adoption process.
Adopting a new pet into the family takes a great deal of devotion, commitment and sometimes COURAGE. There are NO PERFECT pets any more than there are perfect human beings. You will need to be patient and do everything in your power to help this pet become a beloved member of the family - forever. If you do not believe in your heart-of-hearts that you have what it takes to see it through, don't make an irrational decision that could mean the difference between a pet's - and your - happiness, if not LIFE.

A HART representative should contact you within 48 hours of receipt of your application. Please contact us either by voicemail or e-mail if you have not heard from us to find out the status.

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