Adoption FAQ's
Q: What type of animals do you rescue?
A: while we primarily rescue dogs from all over the US; we do rescue cats, and other small animals on a case by case basis.
Q: Where are the dogs currently available for adoption, and can I visit them?
A: SPR is a shelterless organization. Our dogs and puppies rely on foster homes for their care, which may be anywhere in MA, including Martha's Vineyard. The majority of our dogs are located in southern states, and travel to Massachusetts when ready for adoption. If coming directly from the south, we sometimes adopt our large adult dogs as “foster to adopt”, with the intent on adoption. All potential adopters must fill out an application for adoption.
Q: What kind of dogs do you rescue?
A: All dogs are individuals and only a small percentage of their genetics dictate their physical appearance. Here at SPR we do our best to indentify which breed we believe a dog may be based on the breeds they most resemble. Check out this info graph from the Animal Farm Foundation for more information.
Q: I will be ready to adopt next month, should I put in an application now?
A: We unfortunately cannot hold dogs for adoption. We encourage you to apply only when you are ready to take a pup home within the next week or two.
Q: Can I meet the dog prior to adoption?
A: Yes, in most cases but only once you’ve filled out an application for adoption. We do offer priority to those willing to adopt sight unseen, as the majority of our dogs that transport to Massachusetts from southern states are headed from boarding or foster homes to kennels post transport. The less transitions, the better.
Q: Where are you located?
A: We are licensed in Massachusetts. Our main volunteers are located across parts of Cape Cod, South Shore and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. We are not open to the public. We have a small team in RI as well.
Q: If you are not a operating shelter, what does “foster based” mean?
A: The best place for a rescue to heal, decompress, and come into its own is in a home environment. This also enables us to assess its needs and personality to make the best match possible with our adopters. Foster homes are critical to our ability to rescue. We have some foster homes in the south and throughout Massachusetts. If you have a temporary place for a dog or cat to land, please consider FOSTERING - an animal’s life depends on it.
Q: What breed are your dogs and how big will this puppy be?
A: Occasionally we do end up with a purebred surrender, but our adopters will tell you that their southern mutts are the best dogs they've ever had. The full grown size of any of our puppies is an estimation based on a visual determination of their breed mix and age vs. weight when rescued.
Q: What are the requirements to adopt?
A: The first step in the Adoption Process is the application. Each application is dealt with on an individual basis. We do not adopt as first come, first serve. We do not adopt beyond MA, RI, or parts of NH (Seasonal MA residents are case by case).
Q: How long does the application process take?
A: Our applications are processed by volunteers. Depending on the volume of applications at any given time, the process will begin within 1-7 days. Timing will also depend on how quickly we can reach references, and your home tour/ additional info has been provided.
Q: Will you let me know when you receive my application and if I am in the “running”?
A: We will only send out an email notifying the applicant if we feel they’re not a good candidate to adopt from our organization at that time. If you do not hear from us, don’t worry we still have your application! We send out a weekly newsletter(check spam) of availability so that our applicants have first choice! Simply follow the instructions on the newsletter. It’s best to communicate with us via email only prior to hearing from an adoption coordinator. Please do not message us about your application on social media. (All applications for a particular dog of high interest, will be processed before a decision is made. This process could take several weeks.)
Q: I sent an application to another rescue group and never heard anything back. Will your group keep me informed of the status of my application?
A: We will do our best. You may receive a "getting to know you" phone call or text from one of our volunteers who be happy to answer your questions regarding the status of your application process. If the dog you are interested in does not get placed with you, we will make attempts to reach out to you in regards to new incoming dogs as we will place you on our wait-list. If you are not interested in the upcoming groups we offer, it is up to you to reach out about your application the next time you're interested in one of our available animals. Our goal is to find wonderful homes for the dogs and one of the most important aspects is good communication. If you do not hear from us right away - please have patience. YOU MUST FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR APPLICATION VIA EMAIL OR BY REPLY TO OUR NEWSLETTER BEFORE WE WILL CONTACT YOU. Please understand that many times we have people who fill out applications with many other rescues and then we never hear from them again!
Q: What would prevent me from successfully adopting one of your rescues?
A: The majority of our adoption denials are due to lack of proper vetting of current pets. Also, decisions are based on your personal references and home tour/visit. This decision is also on a per dog basis. Sometimes we feel that an adopters home situation is not the right fit for the dog they're interested in at the time.
Q: Why are you asking for personal references?
A: We need to know the person and who you are. Personal references are very important in finding out whom the applicant is so that we can make a determination if this would be a good home for one of our dogs.
Q: What types of questions will you ask my friends?
A: We ask basic questions such as relationship to applicant, length of relationship, how they feel about the applicant in regards to pet ownership.
Q: What questions will you ask my veterinarian?
A: Is the pet up to date on all required vaccinations, have heartworm tests been done on a timely basis, proper preventative medications purchased, are the dogs on flea prevention, does the applicant pay their bills promptly and would they advise placing a rescued dog with the applicant.
Q: Why is the adoption fee so high?
A: All dogs are fully vetted upon arrival for their current age. Our Adoption Donation per dog starts at $575.00. There are exceptions to this which are stated in the bio for the dog. All of our expenses for current fosters, vetting and transport costs on most of our dogs exceed $575. Copies of all vetting will be supplied to the adopter. Only under certain circumstances do we not have any background health information on dogs before they arrived in our care.
Q: Because this is an older dog would you take any less for the Adoption Donation?
A: Our Adoption Donations are not negotiable. The donation is meant to help cover the vetting costs of all the dogs in our program. A 1 year old dog can come in and only need $150 worth of vetting and have an Adoption Donation of $625, but then a 8 year old dog can come in and need over $800 worth of vetting and have the same $575 Adoption Donation. We do not set the Adoption Donation according to their vetting costs. There is a required $50 deposit for puppies that have not been spayed or neutered prior to adoption due to their age. Dogs over the age of 9 months old all have the same $625 Adoption Donation. This helps us cover vetting for those babies that need more than others. Regardless of age, all our babies get whatever medical attention they need. We hope that you now understand why we cannot lower Adoption Donations because of age.
Our Fees as of 11/01/2021
Puppies/Dogs under 3.5 years : $625*
Dogs 3+ years: $575
Benefactor Puppies under 12 months: $750-900*
Benefactor Dogs 12 months & up: $650-800
*if a puppy is intact, there is a $50 refundable deposit in addition to the fee.^
Q: What is a Benefactor Puppy or Dog and why is their fee higher?
A: No. Like all donations, it is non-refundable.
Q: What does the adoption fee cover?
A: The adoption fee covers:
Age appropriate core vaccines - $50-100
Flea/Tick prevention - $15-25
Heartworm prevention - $15-25
Spay/Neuter (if old enough) - $90-600
Microchip implant - $15-45
Microchip lifetime registration - $13
Boarding - $50-1000
Transportation - $100-250
MA isolation - $150
Total Cost for SPR: $498-2,358
Costs to SPR not factored in above are treating the dog or puppy for any injury or illness prior to adoption that can cost us into the thousands.
Q: If we adopt a puppy what guidelines do we have to meet for neutering/spaying?
A: A neuter/spay agreement is requested at adoption. A date is determined by the adopter and rescue for spay/neuter. A neuter/spay deposit of $50 is requested at time of adoption and is refunded in the form of a discounted coupon of neuter/spay that is supplied by our vet, if you choose to use one of our partnering veterinary offices. *This deposit is non-negotiable for intact puppies. Sterilization of any adopted dog is a REQUIREMENT.
Q: We haven't had a pet since we moved to this town so our vet reference isn't local, nor is it recent. Is that okay?
A: We evaluate each application on an individual basis. We understand that applicant's may not have had a pet in their lives for some time because of personal choices and may now be ready to bring a dog into their lives. We then base our evaluation on personal references, current lifestyle, and the home tour/visit.
Q: We are new to rescue, and have never adopted a dog before. Does this disqualify is?
A: We evaluate each application on an individual basis. We love first time adopters, and appreciate your willingness to learn and become involved by giving a dog or puppy a second chance!
^conditions apply.
A: while we primarily rescue dogs from all over the US; we do rescue cats, and other small animals on a case by case basis.
Q: Where are the dogs currently available for adoption, and can I visit them?
A: SPR is a shelterless organization. Our dogs and puppies rely on foster homes for their care, which may be anywhere in MA, including Martha's Vineyard. The majority of our dogs are located in southern states, and travel to Massachusetts when ready for adoption. If coming directly from the south, we sometimes adopt our large adult dogs as “foster to adopt”, with the intent on adoption. All potential adopters must fill out an application for adoption.
Q: What kind of dogs do you rescue?
A: All dogs are individuals and only a small percentage of their genetics dictate their physical appearance. Here at SPR we do our best to indentify which breed we believe a dog may be based on the breeds they most resemble. Check out this info graph from the Animal Farm Foundation for more information.
Q: I will be ready to adopt next month, should I put in an application now?
A: We unfortunately cannot hold dogs for adoption. We encourage you to apply only when you are ready to take a pup home within the next week or two.
Q: Can I meet the dog prior to adoption?
A: Yes, in most cases but only once you’ve filled out an application for adoption. We do offer priority to those willing to adopt sight unseen, as the majority of our dogs that transport to Massachusetts from southern states are headed from boarding or foster homes to kennels post transport. The less transitions, the better.
Q: Where are you located?
A: We are licensed in Massachusetts. Our main volunteers are located across parts of Cape Cod, South Shore and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. We are not open to the public. We have a small team in RI as well.
Q: If you are not a operating shelter, what does “foster based” mean?
A: The best place for a rescue to heal, decompress, and come into its own is in a home environment. This also enables us to assess its needs and personality to make the best match possible with our adopters. Foster homes are critical to our ability to rescue. We have some foster homes in the south and throughout Massachusetts. If you have a temporary place for a dog or cat to land, please consider FOSTERING - an animal’s life depends on it.
Q: What breed are your dogs and how big will this puppy be?
A: Occasionally we do end up with a purebred surrender, but our adopters will tell you that their southern mutts are the best dogs they've ever had. The full grown size of any of our puppies is an estimation based on a visual determination of their breed mix and age vs. weight when rescued.
Q: What are the requirements to adopt?
A: The first step in the Adoption Process is the application. Each application is dealt with on an individual basis. We do not adopt as first come, first serve. We do not adopt beyond MA, RI, or parts of NH (Seasonal MA residents are case by case).
Q: How long does the application process take?
A: Our applications are processed by volunteers. Depending on the volume of applications at any given time, the process will begin within 1-7 days. Timing will also depend on how quickly we can reach references, and your home tour/ additional info has been provided.
Q: Will you let me know when you receive my application and if I am in the “running”?
A: We will only send out an email notifying the applicant if we feel they’re not a good candidate to adopt from our organization at that time. If you do not hear from us, don’t worry we still have your application! We send out a weekly newsletter(check spam) of availability so that our applicants have first choice! Simply follow the instructions on the newsletter. It’s best to communicate with us via email only prior to hearing from an adoption coordinator. Please do not message us about your application on social media. (All applications for a particular dog of high interest, will be processed before a decision is made. This process could take several weeks.)
Q: I sent an application to another rescue group and never heard anything back. Will your group keep me informed of the status of my application?
A: We will do our best. You may receive a "getting to know you" phone call or text from one of our volunteers who be happy to answer your questions regarding the status of your application process. If the dog you are interested in does not get placed with you, we will make attempts to reach out to you in regards to new incoming dogs as we will place you on our wait-list. If you are not interested in the upcoming groups we offer, it is up to you to reach out about your application the next time you're interested in one of our available animals. Our goal is to find wonderful homes for the dogs and one of the most important aspects is good communication. If you do not hear from us right away - please have patience. YOU MUST FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR APPLICATION VIA EMAIL OR BY REPLY TO OUR NEWSLETTER BEFORE WE WILL CONTACT YOU. Please understand that many times we have people who fill out applications with many other rescues and then we never hear from them again!
Q: What would prevent me from successfully adopting one of your rescues?
A: The majority of our adoption denials are due to lack of proper vetting of current pets. Also, decisions are based on your personal references and home tour/visit. This decision is also on a per dog basis. Sometimes we feel that an adopters home situation is not the right fit for the dog they're interested in at the time.
Q: Why are you asking for personal references?
A: We need to know the person and who you are. Personal references are very important in finding out whom the applicant is so that we can make a determination if this would be a good home for one of our dogs.
Q: What types of questions will you ask my friends?
A: We ask basic questions such as relationship to applicant, length of relationship, how they feel about the applicant in regards to pet ownership.
Q: What questions will you ask my veterinarian?
A: Is the pet up to date on all required vaccinations, have heartworm tests been done on a timely basis, proper preventative medications purchased, are the dogs on flea prevention, does the applicant pay their bills promptly and would they advise placing a rescued dog with the applicant.
Q: Why is the adoption fee so high?
A: All dogs are fully vetted upon arrival for their current age. Our Adoption Donation per dog starts at $575.00. There are exceptions to this which are stated in the bio for the dog. All of our expenses for current fosters, vetting and transport costs on most of our dogs exceed $575. Copies of all vetting will be supplied to the adopter. Only under certain circumstances do we not have any background health information on dogs before they arrived in our care.
Q: Because this is an older dog would you take any less for the Adoption Donation?
A: Our Adoption Donations are not negotiable. The donation is meant to help cover the vetting costs of all the dogs in our program. A 1 year old dog can come in and only need $150 worth of vetting and have an Adoption Donation of $625, but then a 8 year old dog can come in and need over $800 worth of vetting and have the same $575 Adoption Donation. We do not set the Adoption Donation according to their vetting costs. There is a required $50 deposit for puppies that have not been spayed or neutered prior to adoption due to their age. Dogs over the age of 9 months old all have the same $625 Adoption Donation. This helps us cover vetting for those babies that need more than others. Regardless of age, all our babies get whatever medical attention they need. We hope that you now understand why we cannot lower Adoption Donations because of age.
Our Fees as of 11/01/2021
Puppies/Dogs under 3.5 years : $625*
Dogs 3+ years: $575
Benefactor Puppies under 12 months: $750-900*
Benefactor Dogs 12 months & up: $650-800
*if a puppy is intact, there is a $50 refundable deposit in addition to the fee.^
Q: What is a Benefactor Puppy or Dog and why is their fee higher?
- Dogs and puppies with benefactor or higher adoption fees are sometimes purebred dogs or other rescue dogs that are in high demand for one reason or another. They are typically quickly adopted, even with their higher fees. Their increased adoption fees allow them to act as benefactors to other dogs in our care that require special medical care and a better chance at adoption. Some dogs spend over a year in our care and require expensive surgeries, heartworm treatment and professional training. Benefactor dogs help support the care of the dogs most in need with Sandy Paws Rescue.
A: No. Like all donations, it is non-refundable.
Q: What does the adoption fee cover?
A: The adoption fee covers:
Age appropriate core vaccines - $50-100
Flea/Tick prevention - $15-25
Heartworm prevention - $15-25
Spay/Neuter (if old enough) - $90-600
Microchip implant - $15-45
Microchip lifetime registration - $13
Boarding - $50-1000
Transportation - $100-250
MA isolation - $150
Total Cost for SPR: $498-2,358
Costs to SPR not factored in above are treating the dog or puppy for any injury or illness prior to adoption that can cost us into the thousands.
Q: If we adopt a puppy what guidelines do we have to meet for neutering/spaying?
A: A neuter/spay agreement is requested at adoption. A date is determined by the adopter and rescue for spay/neuter. A neuter/spay deposit of $50 is requested at time of adoption and is refunded in the form of a discounted coupon of neuter/spay that is supplied by our vet, if you choose to use one of our partnering veterinary offices. *This deposit is non-negotiable for intact puppies. Sterilization of any adopted dog is a REQUIREMENT.
Q: We haven't had a pet since we moved to this town so our vet reference isn't local, nor is it recent. Is that okay?
A: We evaluate each application on an individual basis. We understand that applicant's may not have had a pet in their lives for some time because of personal choices and may now be ready to bring a dog into their lives. We then base our evaluation on personal references, current lifestyle, and the home tour/visit.
Q: We are new to rescue, and have never adopted a dog before. Does this disqualify is?
A: We evaluate each application on an individual basis. We love first time adopters, and appreciate your willingness to learn and become involved by giving a dog or puppy a second chance!
^conditions apply.
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