Pet Harbor is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in 2000 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia to rescue homeless Siberian Huskies, foster them, tend to all of their needs, and find them homes. From a network of foster homes, not a shelter, we accomplish our mission.
APPLY: There are two applications for adopting dogs. One is for folks who have never adopted from Pet Harbor before, the other for folks who have. APPROVAL: First, we do an initial review of the application. If the application has information within which conflicts with our standards and policies, we will email the applicants to inform them their application cannot be approved. If the application goes beyond the initial review, which most do, we will start processing the application. That usually involves calling all applicable references (vet(s), people who know your pet experience firsthand, landlord, homeowner association, local shelter). We engage in a back-and-forth Q&A with applicants. The more we are able to learn about applicants, the better equipped we are to after approval help make successful matches between humans and pets. Then we visit the home and family, whether virtually or physically. Then, if approved, we issue an approval email describing the next steps (the meet-and-greet and contract-signing processes). If not approved, we will issue a rejection email. MEET & GREET: Meet the pet(s) if you haven’t already. This almost always occurs at adoption events. Most events are held near Fredericksburg, Virginia or Fairfax, Virginia. The entire potential adoptive family must meet the pet before adoption. That includes all human and canine family members, not feline family members. CONTRACT: Enter into a contract. The contract requires adopters to, among other things, commit to: A lifetime of love for the new indoor family house member; Give the dog adequate food and shelter; Ensure the dog wears a Pet Harbor ID tag at all times; Provide the dog with routine veterinary care; Keep the dog on heartworm preventative 12 months a year; Give the dog plenty of exercise without: (a) allowing the dog to wander; (b) chaining the dog; or (c) letting the dog ride loose in the back of an open pickup truck; Purchase any required pet license; Return the dog to Pet Harbor Rescue if, for any reason, the dog cannot be kept by the adopter; Keep contact information current with Pet Harbor throughout the life of the dog; and Adhere to a prescribed schedule of updating us throughout the life of the dog so we can know how happy the dog is! DONATION: Make a donation to our organization. As a 501(c)(3) organization. donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. NOTE: We do NOT at this time accept personal checks or credit cards. We accept only cash, cashier’s check, certified check, or postal money order. The minimum required in no way comes close to covering our costs. Veterinary work is done before pets are adopted. Adoption donations can be as much as the adopter chooses but must be a minimum of: dogs age 6 months to 8 years, $335; dogs younger than 6 months of age, $500; dogs age 9 and up, $100. BE PATIENT: Wait, if required. Animals recovering from treatment for heartworm or other diseases cannot leave our organization until the veterinarians assure us their health allows it. ENJOY!: Welcome the new family member. Give him/her lots of love and a permanent home. KEEP IN TOUCH: Our adopters give us a call or drop us a line and photograph every now and again to let us know how they and their new family member(s) are happier every day. We require updates for the life of the pet. The update schedule includes updates 24 hours after adoption, one week after adoption, one month after adoption, etc., and annually after the first year.
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