We are a small group of volunteers dedicated to helping homeless, abandoned animals in harms' way find humane, life affirming alternatives to "euthanasia"; we save healthy, loving, adoptable dogs whose days are numbered in stressful, crowded high kill shelters in the surrounding area; we care for feral and unadoptable cats in our one of a kind, cage free, safe-haven sanctuary in Chesapeake VA.
Step 1: Read this document in full. It answers most questions we receive regarding the rescue and the adoption process. If you still have questions, please message us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/2ndChanceHabitat). Step 2: Complete the Adoption Application. You may request an application via our Facebook page or by emailing [email protected]. Applications work best from a computer rather than a phone. Completed applications should be emailed to [email protected]. Step 3: Your application will be reviewed by an Adoption Coordinator. If any information on the application is incomplete, it may not be reviewed. (Ex: if you don't give us your landlord or vet's phone number, we won't be able to review it and will mark it incomplete). Please be sure to contact your vet before you submit your application and give them permission for us to speak with them. If, based on your application, you are a potential adoption candidate, applicable reference checks to include personal references and a vet reference check will be completed. Step 4: If you are considered to be a potential adoption candidate based on the application review and vet reference check, you will be connected with the dog’s foster or other rescue personnel to schedule a meeting with the dog. If you have other pets, we encourage them to be present. All members of the family living in the home should meet the dog before the dog enters your home as a foster to adopt or adoption. Step 5: A representative from Second Chance Habitat will reach out to you to schedule a Home Visit. This is a very important step in the adoption process. The representative is there to make sure your home environment and lifestyle is a good fit for the pet you are interested in. Our staff want the best for the dogs we adopt as well as the people adopting from us. In some instances, the visit will be by Facetime or Zoom, as determined by the rescue. Step 6: Your Home Visit report will be reviewed by the rescue. If you are determined to be an Approved Adopter based on your Home Visit, an Adoption Coordinator will contact you to discuss the status of any specific dog/puppy you are interested in adopting. They will assist in coordinating pick up or delivery of the dog. You will be required to sign a Foster to Adopt OR Adoption Agreement. Step 7: As the end of the two week foster to adopt period approaches, an Adoption Coordinator will reach out to see if you would like to move forward with the adoption. If you choose to adopt, an adoption agreement will be sent and should be signed by you within 2 calendar days, agreement returned, and adoption fee paid. If you decide the dog is not the right fit for your family, the dog will be posted as available for adoption and we will begin taking and considering new applications for the dog. You may choose to foster while we continue to search for a permanent home, or you may request that we take the dog back into our possession.