Important Provisions for a Pet Adoption Contract

The provisions within a pet adoption contract are very important to help ensure a safe adoption process. Animal shelters and animal rescues want to ensure the best for the animals. Most of these pets have been in a poor situation once, and shelters and rescues want to make sure it doesn't happen again. It is important for rescues to outline their requirements well in a pet adoption contract. There are many provisions an animal shelter or rescue may include in their contract.

  1. Health

    • It is virtually impossible for an animal rescue to guarantee the health of any animal. Even after being checked over by a veterinarian, it is difficult to guarantee a pet will remain healthy. Most rescue pets come into shelters with very little known about their background. There is little to no knowledge of the health of their parents or if they received all medical care required throughout their life. It is important to note that in an adoption contract, and to outline that as a rescue you cannot guarantee anything.

    Return Policy

    • If your rescue group is going to offer a return or refund policy, that should also be spelled out in the contract. Note what the terms are, such as the length of time an adopter has to bring a pet back and still receive a refund, if at all. If there is no such policy in your organization, be sure to mention that as well.

    Providing Care

    • In your pet adoption contract, outline your requirements for providing care for the pet. Will you require the pet to be spayed/neutered if it has not been? Also, it is important to require health care as needed, including regular vaccinations and emergency care, if necessary.

    Behavioral

    • Along with being unable for a rescue to guarantee the health of a pet, it is also an important provision to include a notation about not being able to guarantee the behavior of a pet once it departs. Rescues and shelters can do their best to test every pet's temperament, but not knowing a pet's full history makes it impossible to determine how the pet will behave in different situations.

    Safety from Abuse and Neglect

    • One of the most important provisions in a pet adoption contract might be the provision that forbids the adopter from abusing or neglecting their pet. Also, outline specifically what the consequences may be if abuse or neglect is determined. Contacting the authorities or reclaiming the pet are possible steps. Always be specific regarding how the situation will be handled if abuse and neglect is found.