SOUTHEAST BLOODHOUND RESCUE, INC.
Requirements for adoption

1.                  A complete application form, with verifiable references both personal and veterinarian.                  Applications usually take 7-10 days to process.  Please make sure you references are aware that they will be contacted to avoid unnecessary delays.

2.                  The adoptive family must provide a substantial fenced in area for the bloodhound and a adequate amount of daily exercise.  Occasional exceptions are made for adoptions to families seeking an older, indoor only pet.  However, dogs under the age of 4 will not be adopted into homes without a securely fenced yard.

3.                  No Bloodhound will be staked out on a cable, rope, chain or other means of restraint.

4.                  The hound cannot be allowed to run free with no barriers. A loose bloodhound is a GONE bloodhound. Underground Electric Fencing systems DO NOT WORK with Bloodhounds.

5.                  Regular veterinarian care must be provided; this includes, but is not be limited to, yearly heart worm testing, monthly heart worm preventative, monthly flea and tick treatment, yearly shots including those recommended by the American Board of Veterinarian Practice.  Rabies as determined by the local and state laws.

6.                  New owners will provide indoor housing for the Bloodhound.  In some cases there will be Bloodhound that does not want to be in a home.  In those special cases, the dog can be left outside with adequate shelter for the element that includes an insulated dog house, shaded areas and sun areas for the dog to relax and live in.

7.                  Owners must provide nutritious food, clean water and other items to maintain the nutritional and mental health of the animal.

8.                  All adoptions are subject to unannounced home visits to insure that the Bloodhound is being adequately cared for.

9.                  SEBR must be notified in the event of the dogs death and the reason for the death.  This also applies to any dog that escapes from its adoptive family and what the outcome of the missing dog is.

10.              SEBR must be notified of any change of address or telephone number during the time the adoptive family has possession of a dog adopted from them.

11.              Applicants must be 21 years of age and demonstrate adequate financial stability in order to maintain the Bloodhound.

Southeast Bloodhound Rescue is not responsible for any actions, damages, liability on the part of the Bloodhound once the adoptive family takes possession of the dog.  A signed adoption agreement and donation must be completed prior to taking the dog from its foster home.

 HOW ARE ADOPTIVE DOGS AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES BROUGHT TOGETHER?

Adoption are decided by compatibility, not a “first come, first served basis”  We ask that you be as honest as possible about what you want in a dog, what you expect of the dog, etc.  Many of our foster families and our Board are very accustomed to matching dog with families.  Rely on them for advice and direction as to which Bloodhound will make a good companion for you and your family.

 As the adopting person/family you will be required to retrieve your bloodhound from his/her foster family.  We highly recommend that you visit with the bloodhound you are interested in prior to signing the final adoption papers.  That visit will help insure that you and the dog get along and that this will be a life time match for both of you.  Expect to spend some hours driving to the foster home to meet your possible new companion, this could be a most rewarding time that can insure that you and your new companion are well-suited to each other and your family.  For adoptive families that live in the northeast region who cannot make the long trip down to pickup an adoptive dog, there is a ground, rescue-only transport service available with set pickup locations in the southeastern states and set drop-off locations in the New England states.  Peterson Express Transport Service's regular schedules and rates can be found at www.petsllc.com for more information.  Only in rare instances will SEBR ship a dog to an adoptive family and all expenses incurred are the sole responsibility of the adoptive family.  Remember Airline Travel is extremely expensive for both transportation and health requirement and requires a great deal of coordination on both ends.  In some exceptional circumstances volunteer ground transport maybe arranged.   

ADOPTION DONATION PROCEDURES

SEBR requires a $25.00 application fee, which must accompany the adoption application.  No application will be processes without the fee.  Once the application is accepted, there is a donation required for each bloodhound obtained from SEBR.  This donation helps to cover the cost of medical expenses (eg: spay/neuter, UTD shots, Parasite screening, Heart Worm Testing, Heart Worm treatment if necessary, Heart Worm prevention, Flea and Tick prevention and other medical expenses that can be incurred by the Bloodhound in foster/rescue care. 

 Effective 7/15/06: the standard adoption donation will be $250.00 to be paid prior to the adopting family taking home there new Bloodhound.  Only certified checks, money orders, postal money orders, or a bank check made payable to Southeast Bloodhound Rescue, Inc. are acceptable forms of payment.  Adoption payment may also be made via Pay Pal, however a users fee of $20.00 must be added to the payment to cover the expenses of Pay Pal. (Total Pay Pal Payment $270.00) 

The application fee will NOT be refunded should the applicant decide not to proceed with the adoption, fail to adequately address SEBR questions, fail to provide checkable references or refuse SEBR’s request for a home visit. In the event of an adoption from SEBR, the application fee will be deducted from the adoption donation. SEBR is under no obligation to disclose the reasons for rejection of the application.  This decision remains with the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 If the Bloodhound you have chosen fails to adapt well to the adoptive home during the first four weeks, the applicant will receive a refund in the amount of $250.00 within a four to six week period after returning the dog to the foster home where it was originally acquired.  Please discuss with the Rescue coordinators to determine if there are any reasons that the entire donation fee will not be returned.  Any expenses involved in returning the dog to its foster family are the sole responsibility of the adopting family and this is understood and agreed to by all parties prior to the adoption taking place. 

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES 

After a period exceeding the first 4 weeks, the adoptive family decides it must give up the adopted bloodhound, the dog MUST BE returned to SEBR.   

Should the family/adopter find that they can not longer satisfactorily care for the adopted dog due to financial, housing, family problems, etc. SEBR must be notified and the dog returned to the rescue.  

Under no situation will the dog be turned over to another person, family, shelter, veterinarian clinic or such entity without the express written consent of the Director of Rescue.   

Arrangements must be made to return the dog to an agreed upon location where the transfer can be made back to SEBR.  There will be no refunds under these special circumstances.  SEBR does expect that the adoptive family will drive at least half the distance to the return site.

ADOPTION APPLICATION This application may be printed and, upon completion, mailed to Southeast Bloodhound Rescue,