RESCUE INFO

Adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment and is a responsibility that should be taken very seriously. Our dogs may have been lost, abandoned, abused or surrendered by a previous family and may require time to adjust to a new home. Many times there will be more than one application for a dog but we strive to match each dog with the most appropriate family.

Filling out an ONLINE ADOPTION APPLICATION is the first step in adopting a new furry family member. Once your application is received, it will be forwarded to a volunteer to set up a home visit and check your references. It is important that all applicants understand that it is the policy of Canine Castaways, Inc. that all pets in a possible adoptive home be spayed/neutered prior to adoption unless there is a medical reason for not doing so. Once you are approved for a dog, you will be invited to meet the dog at a date and time convenient to the foster family or at an adoption event. It is very important that you read and understand the ADOPTION CONTRACT prior to adoption. At this time, adoptions are limited to within the state of Florida.

Our goal is to place healthy, well-adjusted dogs. All of our dogs are vet checked including spayed or neutered; heartworm tested (preventive dispensed if negative and treatment started if positive); up to date on vaccinations (rabies, parvo, distemper, kennel cough); basic blood test performed; placed on flea/tick preventative; dewormed and provided with any other medical care necessary (dentals, surgeries, etc). All dogs have a numbered stainless steel Canine Castaways ID tag and are also microchipped for permanent identification. All vet records are provided to the adopter at the time of adoption along with a single dose of advantage / frontline and the remainder of the 6 month supply of heartworm preventive dispensed. Our adoption donation, which is normally $225 for an adult dog or $250 for a puppy, is to help offset these veterinary expenses. We also have reduced donations for heartworm positive dogs that require continued treatment ($200) and senior dogs 9 years and older ($150). Our adoption contract allows for a dog to be returned within 14 calendar days for a full refund regardless of the reason; otherwise, all donations are non-refundable after that time. If any significant pre-existing undiagnosed medical problems arise within the first month after adoption, Canine Castaways will pay for treatment at Animal Ark in Arcadia. If for any reason you decide you no longer can keep your adopted dog, the dog MUST be returned to Canine Castaways.

** PLEASE NOTE: Effective March 1, 2007, adoption donations were increased. This increase was necessary to cover the increase in vet costs along with the cost of the heartworm & flea preventive now provided to the adopter. **

Every new pet parent can get a PETCO Adoption Gift Booklet, packed with coupons good for free food and savings on toys, treats, supplies, grooming and more! The PETCO Adoption Gift Booklet is available year-round. Just take your pet's adoption papers to any PETCO location to get your booklet and start saving!

BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU ADOPT…

Adopting a dog is a lifetime commitment and should be taken very seriously. Not all rescues operate in the same fashion. Just because a rescue is asking a large adoption donation, doesn't mean that they have fully vetted the dog. It is very important to ask the following questions before you consider adopting a new dog into your household:

What veterinary records will I receive with this dog?

What vaccines (distemper, parvo, rabies, bordatella, etc.) have been done within the last year? Will proof be provided that these vaccines were given by a licensed veterinarian?

Has this dog had a heartworm test within the last SIX MONTHS? If so, what were the results? If positive, is the dog being treated? If negative, what preventative is the dog currently taking?

Has the dog been treated with a tick/flea preventative within the last month? If so, what is the brand name?

Is the dog spayed/neutered?

Is the dog microchipped? If yes, will I have to pay an additional fee to register the microchip?

If I discover that the adopted dog is not "working out" at my home, can I return it? Are there any conditions under which I will receive a refund of my adoption donation?

If the adopted dog becomes seriously ill immediately following adoption, will the rescue help with veterinary expenses?

Is the organization an IRS recognized 501c3 non-profit organization?

Is the organization registered with the State to solicit donations of any type?

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ADOPT A RESCUE DOG...

THINK ABOUT THIS: Your new dog may have been abandoned, abused or surrendered by a previous family. The dog had to adjust to life at it's foster home with Canine Castaways and is now going home to a new, unfamiliar place with strangers. Kind of scary if you think about it! Being gentle, considerate, kind and patient will help ease your new dog into its new family.

SCARED: Your dog might be afraid and unsure of his new surroundings. If he appears to be scared, keep him in a small, quiet area to start, and take it slow. Don't allow children to bother the dog if he is afraid; fear can result in nipping. Instead, give your dog plenty of time to adjust to his new surroundings, taking it one step at a time. Don't give up!

EXPECT MISTAKES: Even a potty trained dog can make mistakes in a new home. He doesn't know which door to go to or how to ask his new family what he wants. Keep a very watchful eye on your new friend and confine him when you can't watch him.

EXPECT BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: Your dog had a whole different set of rules in his previous home. He may have been allowed to sleep in bed or beg at the table. It's up to you to teach him your rules. Teaching proper behavior takes time and patience.

HOW LONG WILL ALL THIS TAKE?: Allow several weeks to adapt to his new surroundings and up to four months to fully adjust (Adults may take longer than pups). Adopting a pet is a lifetime commitment. We assume that you will make a patient and concerted effort to achieve a successful placement.

WHY NOT FREE?

WHY IS AN APPLICATION, HOME VISIT AND ADOPTION DONATION REQUIRED?

1. Rescues have learned that people do not value something that is free and/or easy to get and consider it more easily disposable.
2. Ethical rescues spay or neuter, give shots, heartworm test, and provide a loving home for these dogs while they wait for their forever family. Keep in mind that rescues are not funded with tax dollars to pay these expenses but are private organizations operated by volunteers and from donations. Adoption donations do not cover all expenses with many of the dogs but do help to defray the cost. Consider if you were to take a dog to the vet to be altered, health checked, heartworm tested, brought up to date on shots, etc. What would this cost you?
3. There are always people looking to take "free" dogs to be used for laboratory research, fight bait for larger dogs or even the next meal on their table. Hopefully our process helps to keep this from happening.

Adoption Contract

Online Adoption Application

SENIORS FOR SENIORS PROGRAM

We encourage the adoption of senior dogs by senior citizens. Even though many times we have added expenses in senior dogs, we offer them for adoption for a reduced donation of $150.

Click here to find out when and where to meet the dogs...