• Why do we choose to foster dogs prior to adoption?

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The main way that we come to receive our fosters is through urgent, special circumstances. We try to make the best decisions and help the dogs who need it the most. Fostering has the added benefits of being able to assess medical needs, provide basic training, check temperament, and socialize them with other dogs. When they are finally adopted, there is a much higher chance of success.

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• What is our foster process?

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When we receive a dog to foster, there is a standard process that we are very proud of. All of our fosters receive a quality leash, a martingale collar, and a microchip registered to Sunny Pits. They will also get medical treatment if they need it, including spaying/neutering (mandatory), flea/tick/heartworm prevention (mandatory), de-worming, and any surgeries/medication they need. All fosters are fed the appropriate premium dry food for their age/weight/dietary restrictions. All fosters are kept in an air conditioned environment with regular monitoring, access to toys, treats and other dogs. Crate training will be provided on a case-by-case basis as needed. No animal spends more than 10 hrs per day in a kennel (includes sleeping time). Feeding, sleeping, playing and potty break times are on a consistent, predictable schedule. Potty training, temperament testing, and socialization with people/other dogs will be completed prior to any adoption. All potential adopters are thoroughly vetted and encouraged to follow this model to the best of their ability.

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• What is our adoption process?

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In order to adopt a dog, one of our adoption forms must be filled out. Applications are not considered on a first come, first served basis. We consider and vet multiple applicants at once in order to ensure the best possible outcome for our dogs. We may conduct home visits or ask applicants for additional information. Once we have chosen a candidate, we take the dog for a meet-and-greet to make sure all goes well at the house. All applicants must agree to provide flea/tick/heartworm prevention and a microchip in Sunny Pits' name (microchip paid for by us). All dogs will be spayed/neutered prior to adoption.

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• Why is there an adoption fee?

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First, it helps recoup a small portion of the costs associated with our care for the dog. That way we can use more donation money for long-term projects and quality of life improvements for the animals. Secondly, it acts as a deterrent for people looking to get a free dog for nefarious purposes. After all, having a pet in your family is a big investment that should not be taken lightly. 

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• Your adopted pet was supposed to be trained. Why is he/she misbehaving?

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When bringing a new pet into your home, remember that it is just as jarring for them as it is for you. They may be confused at first, but as they adjust to your lifestyle and routines things will normalize. Also, keep in mind that all things learned can be unlearned. Raising your pet will still require work even after they have received training. Visit our Adoption Tips page to learn more about raising your new rescued pet.

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• Why are all adoptions spayed/neutered?

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One obvious reason is overpopulation. The point of adopting a pet instead of buying from a breeder is because we want to reduce homeless pets in shelters and rescues. If they can't reproduce, it reduces the number of dogs in need and promotes more adoption. It also offers numerous health benefits, including reduced risk of cancer, which is one of the top causes of death in dogs. Finally, we have a legal obligation as well. Visit this article from AVMA to learn more.

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• Why is flea/tick/heartworm prevention required in our adoption agreement?

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Let's tackle this one by one. Fleas. They're annoying. Nobody likes to be itchy and they can carry more diseases than we can count. Ticks. It's commonly known that ticks spread Lyme disease, which is one of the top causes of death in dogs. Lastly, heartworms are deadly, plain and simple. Many vets won't even accept your dog as a patient if you don't have your pet checked for them. 

 

The bottom line is that all of these things are completely preventable, and so we believe it is the duty of every pet parent to provide that prevention. 

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• Why do we choose not to rescue some dogs?

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This comes down to knowing our limits. We exist to help dogs. We believe that just because they are in a foster doesn't mean they can't have a loving family with all their needs met. We believe that placing quality care and attention to our process leads overall to more successful adoptions and less dogs back out in the street. At some point we have to call a limit for ourselves, but make no mistake, the pet rescue community is very strong and usually finds solutions in emergency situations.