Puppy Love, Inc. Rescue Adoption Contract
This agreement is made on ________, by and between the Puppy Love, Inc. rescue representative, "rescuer", and
Adopters Name ________________________________, "adopter". The adopter understands and agrees that in
receipt of this dog he/she releases and holds harmless the rescuer and any other person or organization working with the
rescuer with responsibility or liability from any and all claims, damages and costs to the adopter:
Dog Name: Breed:
Sex:
Date of Birth/Approximate Age: ___________hereinafter referred to as "this dog" or “the dog".
Puppy Love, Inc. rescue acknowledges receipt of a donation from the adopter in the amount of $395 to aid with
reimbursement of veterinary care, transportation and other expenses.
The adopter hereby acknowledges the following provisions as defined:
DONATION The donation is not a fee or sale price, but a request to reimburse rescuer for veterinary expenses, or any
other expenses incurred for the care or transportation of the dog by the rescuer. Minimum adoption fee is $395 inclusive
of the transportation cost.
COLLARS AND TAGS The dog will not wear a pinch (cleat) collar, a choke collar or any similar article around the neck
for the purpose of any basic training, any basic correcting, or for permanent use of identification. A gentle leader collar
may be used for basic correcting or training to leash walking. Harnesses are strongly recommended to prevent slipping
out of collars and to aid leash walking. A leash is required when the dog is taken out in a public area that enforces a
leash law.
CHOKING WARNING NEVER allow a dog to bite and tug on another dog’s collar or to place a dog into a crate with
their collar on. Choking and/or strangulation are possible when a dog becomes entangled in another dog’s collar or their
collar becomes entangled on their crate.
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP The adopted dog is solely a pet for adopter, and adopter agrees that the dog shall not
be sold, given to, or adopted to anyone else unless approved by rescuer, nor shall there be any transfer of ownership to
any firm, corporation, or organization of other homeless animals, such as another rescue or research facility.
Violation of this agreement will result in court costs and attorney fees payable by the adopter if necessary for the rescuer
to redeem the dog in the event the adopter relinquishes ownership to a third party not approved by rescuer.
GOOD ENVIRONMENT The dog will reside indoors in the adopter's home and live as a family member and companion
only. The dog will not be kept outdoors during the adopter's working hours, or at any other time left alone outdoors while
the adopter is not at home. The dog may be confined to a room such as a bedroom or mudroom, or any other room of
adequate size and protected from the elements of weather.
The adopter is not to expose the dog to harmful objects, poisons, or other living creatures that may endanger the dog's
life. The dog may not be crated for longer than eight (8) continuous hours in a twenty-four (24) hour period of time; less
time is obviously preferable. The crate must be large enough for the dog to lie comfortably on its side, fully stand and turn
around within the crate.
An outside shelter, such as a doghouse, is not acceptable as a residence, but can be used only when needed in extreme
heat, cold, or rain when the dog is let out into the yard for short periods of time and only when the adopter is at home.
HEALTH PROGRAM The rescuer's dog, adopted as a puppy less than 12 months of age, shall begin heartworm
preventative at four (4) months of age when receiving the rabies shot as required by law. The dog shall remain on
heartworm preventative indefinitely throughout the entire lifespan of the dog. The dog shall also have booster shots of
DA2PP at ages 4, 6 and 12 months of age and annually thereafter. Rescuer’s dogs come from high-risk exposure to
distemper, parvo and other contagious disease. They require a more aggressive booster schedule than typically
followed in low risk veterinary treatment areas.
The rescuer’s dogs require 1 dose of heartworm medication within 30 days of the dog's arrival. Rescuer’s dogs are
exposed to infectious mosquitoes throughout the year, and, though given a prevention dose the day the dog leaves the
south, it is possible to become infected if an infected mosquito bites the dog during transport. HEARTWORM
PREVENTION MEDICATION, SUCH AS HEARTGUARD, SHOULD BE GIVEN THROUGH THE FIRST WINTER THEY
ARE IN THE NORTHEAST AND IDEALLY EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR FOR LIFE.
The adopted dog will be seen by a veterinarian within ten (10) business days of the adoption date to start the heartworm
preventative program and to get a fecal test done to be sure the dog is free of parasites. Rescuer reserves the right to
check with the veterinarian at anytime to verify that all the basic health requirements are being met. Renewal of rabies
vaccine is required by law and therefore by the terms of this contract.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - HEALTH, TEMPERAMENT and BREED Rescuer makes no explicit or implicit guarantees in
reference to the health, temperament and/or the breed of the dog. The dog is adopted "as is", and the adopter assumes
all responsibility for treatment of any and all existing conditions or any other conditions of physical or temperament
changes that may occur. Rescuer will provide the dog with the basic vaccines, heartworm test and sterilization before
adoption if the age and current health of the dog permits.
While the rescuer makes every effort to place only healthy animals, the rescuer cannot guarantee the health of any
animal, and shall not be held responsible for any medical expenses that may be incurred. Rescuer will provide
information received from the veterinarian exam, observations on the temperament of the animal and a best guess of the
breed(s).
COSMETIC SURGERY Unless directed by a licensed veterinarian for reasons related to the health and welfare of the
dog, cosmetic surgery will not be performed under any circumstances, including, but not limited to, tail docking, ear
cropping, debarking or declawing.
REMEDY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE It is agreed that rescuer shall retain superior title to the animal, limited to and for
the express purpose of assuring the dog's well-being, and will only exercise its superior claim in the event it appears to
rescue that the proper and humane care, as specified in the above adoption provisions, is not being provided, in which
case the dog may be taken through a claim and delivery proceeding.
The adopter further agrees that, if the dog must be redeemed through a claim and delivery service, the adopter will be
held liable for all court costs and fees for the adopter's attorney and for rescuer's attorney. This has been provided to the
adopter with adequate time to review and ask questions prior to signature. The adopter has read, understands and
agrees, and freely signs this contract.
TRANSPORTATION The dog will not ride in the back of a pickup truck under any circumstances, including tied in the
back of a pickup or in an unsecured crate/kennel in the back of a pickup. The dog shall not remain in any vehicle in
extreme heat, with windows down, or unattended for any amount of time.
RESCUER'S RESERVATION OF RIGHTS Rescuer reserves the right to follow up on this adoption, and to inspect the
animal and where the animal is kept for the sole purpose of determining compliance with the terms of the contract at
anytime during the entire lifespan of the dog. If the terms and conditions of this contract are not followed by the adopter,
and/or any misrepresentations have been made by the adopter, rescuer reserves the right to terminate this contract and
the adopters will agree to allow a representative of rescuer to reclaim the dog without notice or refund.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND NOTIFICATION The adopter agrees to notify rescuer no less than ten (10) business
days prior to change of address, or change of environment that will affect the dog, and no more than five (5) business
days after any incident involving animal control and/or complaints arising from said ownership of the dog.
If the dog becomes lost, seriously injured, and/or permanently disfigured, or for any reason the dog dies, the rescuer must
be notified within five (5) business days. Notification of rescuer is to include all veterinarian, animal control or other related
paperwork.
CONFIDENTIALITY This is a confidential agreement between the adopter and the rescuer. Maine law requires rescuer
report date of adoption, age of dog, the adopters name and address, and phone number to the Animal Welfare Program.
The adopter acknowledges and permits rescuer to provide the required information.
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