Help A Hound, Inc. Canine Rescue FAQ's

FAQ's

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTION FEE?

ANSWER: Medical Records, Spay or neuter surgery,Rabies vaccination, DHLPP vaccination, Bordatella vaccination (Kennel Cough),Initial general deworming, Heartworm test, Microchip, Tags, Flea and tick treatment or preventative,treatment for ear mites as needed, a general physical examination by a certified Vet and a health certificate, plus any transportation and pull costs for the animal to be removed from Death Row or a Puppy Mill.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY RULES AND SO MUCH PAPERWORK TO ADOPT A DOG?
I have personally heard many people ask "Why do these agencies make it so hard to adopt a dog, and some are so expensive?"

ANSWER: When the questions is asked it sounds to me as if the animal is "only a dog". Dogs are a large part of my family and always have been. They should be considered as such when considering adding one to your family. The reason there are rules, home visits, applications, and a contract are:

1. The dog is up for adoption because the first family, for whatever reason, did not want to , could not, or would not keep the dog. Many of these dogs have spent their entire life devoted to a family and are suddenly thrown away for all sorts of reasons. Maybe they got old and urinated on the carpet, a new baby came along, they had health issues the family couldn't deal with. The list is endless.

2. The breed of dog you are interested in may not be appropriate for your lifestyle, perhaps too hyper, not active enough, too much of a lap dog, high strung, sheds to much, not good with kids, other animals, etc. and the dog would end up homeless again.

3. The safety of your family and that of the dog could be at risk, ie; a dog who doesn't like kids and you have 5 wonderful little people at home.

4. The paperwork and home visit tell us you are who you say and that you are equipped to properly care for the animal you are interested in.

5. We are an instant gratification society and don't always think things through until it is too late. We (the Rescues) are your conscience-learning from you and giving you information to assist you in making a well informed decision.

6. Lastly, an adoption donation does more things than you know, just a few of these things are:

a: It pays for the Vetrinary care the animals receive including, spay/nueter, shots, worming, surgical procedures, testing, medications, food, housing, heat, cooling, cages and maintainence on the cages and runs plus fencing, etc.

b: It lets a Rescue know you can afford to care for the dog. Let's face it we take better care of something we have money invested in.

c: It helps to offset the cost of the transportation to get them where they are going, and helps with the very expensive care the dog has received before going home with you.

d: It assists in the Rescue continuing the rescue effort, without money to sustain it a rescue can not complete its mission.

7. Almost all of the animals we rescue are from situations have made the animal a stray, abandoned, abused, neglected, or many are puppy mill dogs. So many are initially "broken" either in spirit or physical condition. Repairs are expensive!

We do not make any money from these animals. All monies received through donations or adoption donations are put toward the care of the animals PERIOD.

What happens If I make a donation deposit for adoption and then change my mind?
ANSWER:Donation deposits are non-refundable, if you have put a deposit donation on a specific dog, that dog will be held for you, if you change your mind that dog could have been adopted by someone else who really was sure they wanted that particular dog. However, we will apply the donation deposit to another dog that we have on our available pet list for up to 30 days.

What happens if the adoption does not work out?
ANSWER:We will make every effort to keep this from happening through the screening process. We may make a recommendation for you to consider a different breed based on your family and lifestyle. However; things don't always work the way we plan. If the adoption fails, the dog (a contractual requirement) will be surrendered back to Help A Hound, Inc. No donations will be refunded.

Will Help A Hound find a dog of a particular breed, sex, age for me?
ANSWER:If you can not find a dog on our available pet list, we can check to see if there is any chance of the breed you are looking for being available from a shelter or mill in the near future. At that time you can make a decision. We can also put you in touch with breed specific rescues that will be more than willing to assist you in your search.

Are my donations tax deductible?
ANSWER:Yes, we are a 501 (c) (3) corporation and are registered with the Attorney General of Massachusetts AND Attorney General of New York to do fundraising and accept donations. We will mail you a receipt for any donations to the address that you have given us or we can e-mail it to you. Your preference.

Is there one place where I can meet all of the available dogs?
ANSWER:No, unfortunately not, all of our available dogs are in Foster care and an appointment must be made in order to meet the dog. You may however, speak directly with the specific Foster in order to get first hand information on the behavior, traits, habits, etc. of the dog you are interested in.

What will my donation money be used for if I adopt?
ANSWER:All donation monies are used to transport animals from the shelter or puppy mill that they are currently located in. These shelters are within the USA and the transportation is by ground animal transport. All animals coming in from out of state must be isolated for a period of 24-48 hours. A Vet must see the dogs in isolation and issue a health certificate before they can be placed in their Foster or new forever homes. The dogs must be current with all medical procedures, spay/neuter and vaccinations. Your donation money will go to offset all of these costs as well as for normal food, treats, toys, beds, collars, grooming if breed necessary, etc.

What will my donation money be used for if I donate and don't adopt?
ANSWER:All donation monies are used to transport animals from the shelter or puppy mill that they are currently located in. These shelters are within the USA and the transportation is by ground animal transport. All animals coming in from out of state must be isolated for a period of 24-48 hours. A Vet must see the dogs in isolation and issue a health certificate before they can be placed in their Foster or new forever homes. The dogs must be current with all medical procedures and vaccinations. Your donation money will go to offset all of these costs as well as for normal food, treats, toys, beds, collars, grooming if breed necessary, etc.

This section will be periodically updated.