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ADOPT A PET
PROCESS
1. View our adoptable animals and find your new furry friend.
2. Complete and submit the corresponding adoption application. Emails and inquiries do not count as an application.
3. Your application will be processed in the order received.
4. Our team may contact you for a phone interview, proceed to do reference calls, and conduct a home check. Additional steps may be taken as part of the screening process if there are resident pets in the home.
5. If your application is approved, we will schedule a meet and greet with you.
6. If the meet and greet goes well, we will schedule an adoption day.
7. On the adoption day, you will sign our Adoption Agreement paired with paying the Adoption Fee. For dogs, please bring a personal collar and leash. For cats, please bring a personal carrier.
Click HERE for our adoption disclaimer.
REQUIREMENTS
To be considered for adoption, you must:
*Be 21+ years old
*Have a valid ID with name and current address
*Complete and submit our adoption application
*Agree to have a phone interview, have references called, and have a home check
*All resident pets in the home must be up-to-date on vaccines and spayed/neutered
*All members of the household must be aware of and agree to the adoption
*Renters must share with us a copy of the pet policy from their landlord or management
*Sign our Adoption Agreement and pay the Adoption Fee
ADOPTION FEES
Cat Adoption Fees:
Kittens (under 1 year): $275
Kitten Pair: $500
Adult (1 year-8 years): $175-$275
Senior (9+ years): $125
Senior Citizen Discount: $25 off
*Fees subject to change*
Dog Adoption Fees:
Puppy (under 1 year): $425
Adult (1 year-7 years): $305
Senior (8+ years): $200
Senior Citizen Discount: $50 off
*Fees subject to change*
Our adoption fees cover:
*Age-appropriate and state-required vaccines
*Spay or neuter
*Microchip
*FIV/FeLV test (cats)
*Heartworm test (dogs)
*Dewormer
*Flea and tick prevention
*Wellness exam
OUR PILLARS OF ADOPTION
1. Tailored Matchmaking
We are determined to ensure that every adoption is a perfect match. We understand that adopting a pet is a big decision, and that's why we work closely with our adopters to find the right pet that fits their family, home, and lifestyle. Our goal is to make adoption a positive and successful experience,
2. Transparency
It is a two-way street. Our screening process with applications allows us to get to know potential adopters on a more thorough level, and we always disclose all available information about each pet, including any health and behavior concerns, empowering you to make an informed decision about your new companion.
3. Assistance
We understand that adopting a rescue pet, especially for the first time, can be both exciting and overwhelming. Our experienced team will provide the necessary support and resources to ensure you and your pet start off on the right paw throughout the entire adoption process. Resources include an adopter packet curated by our team. We also offer guidance post-adoption, should you need it.
4. Impact
By adopting from High Tails, you not only gain a companion for life, but you also play a significant role in saving the lives of homeless pets. Every adoption opens up space for another animal in need, therefore, adoption not only saves one life but two. Plus, as a bonus, you become a member of the High Tails Alumni Family!
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Where are foster families primarily located?Our fosters are, at most, one hour away from our partner vets.
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How long would I foster for?We aim to have committed fosters that can house an animal until adoption (no matter the length of time) or per the specific needs of the individual animal. Since we are foster-based, we rely on families to house animals as we do not have a physical shelter. The amount of total animals fostered is up to the foster family to decide, there is no minimum requirement.
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How does my foster animal receive veterinary care?We will coordinate veterinarian appointments with you for your foster animal. We ask all foster families to provide transportation of their foster animal to appointments with our partner vets. We always try to schedule vet appointments with a partner vet closest to your home. Please note, however, that veterinary care and the number of trips to the vet can vary depending on the individual needs of the animal. The standard care all our dogs and cats receive are: age-appropriate and state-required vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip, FIV/FeLV or Heartworm test, dewormer, flea and tick prevention, and a wellness exam.
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If you are foster-based, how do I receive supplies and how much will I get?We will either coordinate supply pick ups/drop offs and or ship supplies to your home. Foster kits and supply assistance can vary depending on the individual needs of the foster family, the foster animal, and the amount of donations the rescue receives. We always provide foster families with free supplies.
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What type of dog or cat do you have available for foster?We are not a breed or age-specific rescue, therefore, the specific type of animal available to foster varies. Please note we can only intake a dog or cat into the rescue if we have an available foster home, so we are always in need of fosters! The general animals available to foster are: kittens, puppies, adult cats, adult dogs, senior cats, senior dogs, special needs cats (FIV+), and special needs dogs.
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When do foster animals get adopted?We cannot guarantee when a foster animal will get adopted. We post our animals on social media and adoptable pet platforms, and we host meet and greet events so our animals can get adopted as quickly and efficiently as possible. We encourage foster families to share their fosters online as well.
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I never fostered before, can I still foster?Yes, we welcome both first-time and experienced fosters! Our team works with all our fosters to ensure they thoroughly understand what fostering entails and we provide support throughout the entire process. We also have Feline and Canine Foster Handbooks and additional handouts that outline foster expectations as well as helpful tips, tricks, and general pet care information that our foster families are given so they always have a reliable resource on hand.
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Can I adopt my foster?We are more than happy to discuss adoption with our foster families if they are interested in adopting their foster.
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How do I ensure my foster will get along with my personal pets and adjust well to living in my home?We take safety seriously and we work diligently to ensure resident pet's and foster animals get along. Introductions are handled on a case-by-case basis and our team of professionals will work with each foster family individually on how to safely introduce a personal pet to a foster animal, and how to integrate their foster animal into the home. We may request to meet and evaluate your personal pet as part of the screening process (this typically occurs for dogs). Some families choose to not fully integrate their foster animal into their home and instead have a designated foster room. Usually this occurs for cats, and that is okay as well.
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Can I apply to foster with the intention to adopt?A “foster-to-adopt” is when a family has the intention of adopting their foster animal but is fostering until the pet is ready to be adopted. Foster-to-adopt's primarily occur when an animal, specifically kittens and puppies, are not fully vetted yet but can be transitioned from the foster home to their new adoptive home. Since we do not have a physical shelter to house animals, we rely on foster families to help us rescue dogs and cats. We welcome individuals to apply to foster with us with the intention to adopt.
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How do prospective adopters meet my foster animal(s)?The safety and privacy of our foster families is of utmost priority. We work with all our fosters to coordinate meet and greets whether it is in-home or at an alternate location depending on the comfort level of our fosters. We do prefer in-home meet and greets as an animal will most likely act like their true selves in a familiar environment, but we always respect the concerns and wishes of our foster families.
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Is your foster application binding?No! All of our applications are NOT binding in any way. Our applications are a way for you to express interest and to assist our team with matching families with pets.
Mission
High Tails Animal Rescue, NFP is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit animal rescue and welfare organization. We are both volunteer-run and foster-based serving the Greater Chicagoland area and Northern Suburbs of Illinois. Our organization rescues cats of all breeds and ages and finds them permanent homes while helping the occasional dog. We rescue primarily from animal controls and shelters, and assist our established partners with owner abandonment cases and friendly strays. Not only do we save lives, but we are also actively committed to advancing animal welfare by being an educational resource for families, promoting responsible pet ownership. To achieve our mission, we network amongst fosters, volunteers, rescuers, transports, and pet professionals.
The High Tails team invites you to apply to adopt, foster, or volunteer with us today.
Contact
General: Info@HighTailsNFP.org
Adopt, Foster, Volunteer: Apps@HighTailsNFP.org
Events and Partnerships: Events@HighTailsNFP.org
Address
P.O. Box 2205, Glenview, IL 60025
Hours
As a foster-based rescue, we do not have a physical shelter for the public to visit. Meet and greets with our animals are reserved for approved applicants to respect the privacy of our fosters.
All applications are processed within 5 business days unless stated otherwise.
Need to get in touch? Send us a message and we will get back to you within 48-72 hours. As a 100% volunteer-run rescue, we appreciate your patience.
EIN #88-3685894
