Dog Adoption Contract

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Congratulations on adopting your new dog! Please read this contract carefully as it is a legally binding document. Review and agree to each of the terms and conditions at the required locations, and sign and date at the bottom of the page. All fields are mandatory. If you have any questions about the contract terms and conditions, please contact adopt@ruraldogrescue.com to discuss. Thank you for adopting through Rural Dog Rescue!
Dog Adoption Contract

Dog Adoption Contract
Terms & Conditions*
- Rural Dog Rescue (the “Rescue” or “we/us”), and the Undersigned (the “Adopter(s)” or “you”) in consideration of the mutual covenants in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, intending to be legally bound by this Agreement, agree to the following Terms & Conditions.
- The Dog: We are placing the following described dog/puppy (the “Dog”) with you, the Adopter(s), for adoption by you as a companion dog and family member (the Adoption” or “Placement”).
- Donation: As consideration to receiving the Dog, Adopter(s) shall make a $450 donation to Rural Dog Rescue to defer or reimburse the Rescue for any and all medical expenses, or any other expenses relating to the Dog incurred by Rescue prior to its placement
- Spay/Neuter: If the Dog is not old enough to be spayed or neutered. Adopter(s) agrees to have it spayed or neutered by five months of age or by the guidance of your veterinarian. Spays/Neuters must be done at one of our approved clinics. If done elsewhere Rural Dog Rescue will reimburse up to $180 of the adoption fee. The Rescue must be notified when the appointment is made, and we will call the facility and pay for the spay and neuter. Failure to spay or neuter by five months of age is a material breach of this Agreement and upon which this Agreement shall be voidable by the Rescue and may reclaim the Dog. Adopter represents and warrants that it will have the Dog spayed or neutered in compliance with the above provision, if applicable.
- Veterinary Care: Adopter(s) agree to provide all necessary medical care to the Dog in a timely manner. Adopter(s) agree to keep all vaccinations current and provide preventative medication to protect against fleas, ticks & heartworm. Upon execution of this agreement, any veterinary problems that may arise, including serious illness requiring emergency care or surgery is the responsibility of the Adopter(s) and Adopter(s) shall be responsible for all related costs. All of our dogs are given a thorough veterinary exam, updated vaccines, fecal test, deworming and flea treatment and are treated for any medical needs. To the best of our knowledge, we are giving you a healthy pet unless otherwise noted. Unless directed by a licensed veterinarian for reasons related to the health and welfare of the Dog, Adopter(s) agree that cosmetic surgery will not be performed on the Dog under any circumstances, including, but not limited to, tail docking or ear cropping.
- A NOTE ABOUT HEARTWORMS: Your dog has been tested for heartworms at the time he was pulled from the shelter. The test result is either Negative Or Positive. Negative: If he has tested negative then he/she has been started on heartworm preventative. Please note that the earliest that heartworm antigen and microfilariae can be detected is about 5 and 6 months post infection! This means if the dog tested NEGATIVE today but was bit by an infected mosquito last month – he can still test POSITIVE 6 months later. The rescue is not responsible for the treatment of heartworms after the dog has been adopted. Positive: If he has tested positive then he/she was treated for heartworms using the recommended 3 shot method or if other arrangements have been made prior to adoption, will be treated for heartworms by one of our approved rescue partners. Please note that your dog may still test positive for 12 months after and may need a second treatment. The rescue is not responsible for the second treatment of heartworms after the dog has been adopted. For more information visit: www.heartwormsociety.org
- Dog Care: The Adopter(s) agrees to follow the Dog Care Guidelines: (1) The dog should not be allowed off leash except within adequate fencing or has been taught to recall. (2) The dog will not be chained to a doghouse or chained outside to any type of object or outbuilding. (3) The dog is not to live in a garage, doghouse, or any type of outbuilding. (4) The dog will wear a collar or harness with an ID tag when outside of its home. (5) The dog will be leashed when it is taken out in a public area which enforces a leash law, in any area which requires total control over the dog at all times, and in any area which requires the dog to be leashed at all times when walking in a residential area. (6) Shelter from weather must be provided for the dog at any time that the dog is outside, if the weather is extreme heat, extreme cold, or any other weather condition that may endanger the health of the dog. (7) The dog is not to remain solely in a crate while indoors, only while adopter is not at home, if at all, and not for more than eight (8) hours a day. (Puppies no more than 4 hours at a time without a potty break). (8) The dog is not to be left with small children at any time when unattended by an adult. (9) The dog must remain on heartworm preventative all year round, receive annual shots and other proper veterinary care. (10) The dog is to have adequate food, water, and shelter at all times. (11) The adopter shall refrain from physical abuse of the animal and from otherwise treating the animal in an inhumane manner.
- Obedience Training: Adopter(s) acknowledge that the rescue highly recommends they take the Dog to a beginner’s obedience class to teach COMMON basic obedience commands (sit, down, stay, how to walk on a leash, house training, etc). Separation anxiety is a common issue some rescue dogs experience. In the event behavioral issues with the Dog arise, Adopter(s) agrees it will work with a trainer to resolve such issues at its own cost.
- Return Policy: Returning a dog is evaluated on a case to case basis. Before contacting the rescue to return the dog, the following criteria must be met: (1) The dog has been with you for a minimum of 30 days; (2) You have completed a 4-6 week basic obedience class to work on COMMON issues that a new dog might have: house training, walking on a leash, basic commands, crate training, separation anxiety. OR you have worked with a private professional trainer (in person visits not telephone calls) for a minimum of 4 sessions; (3) If after working with a trainer, the Adopter still intends to return the Dog, the Adopter will provide notes from the trainer and contact information for the trainer who they worked with prior to discussing returning the dog. If after working with a trainer, the Adopter(s) can no longer keep the Dog, Adopter(s) represent and warrant that they will return the Dog to the Rescue. It is agreed and acknowledged that violation of this provision is a material breach of the Agreement and may result in court costs and attorney fees payable by the Adopter(s) if necessary for the Rescue to reclaim the Dog if returned anywhere else; (4) If the dog has developed aggression issues and has been declared dangerously aggressive by a licensed veterinarian, behaviorist or trainer and that rehabilitation is not possible, then the adopter agrees to forward the recommendation to Rural Dog Rescue and agrees to euthanize the dog by a licensed veterinarian of their choice; (5) The adopter acknowledges and agrees that Rural Dog Rescue does not have a facility/kennel/adoption center and is100% foster based and this means a dog that has been approved to be returned will be put on a waiting list until space becomes available; (6) The adopter agrees that if Rural Dog Rescue agrees to take the dog back that they must either keep the dog or pay to board the dog until a space becomes available.
- No Warranty: While every effort is made to provide accurate history and assessment of a dog, the Rescue makes no representations, warranties, or statements regarding the Dog’s breed, lineage, history, health, temperament, or physical condition. All warranties with regard to the Dog, including any implied warranty of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, where they are applicable, are hereby specifically disclaimed.
- Euthanasia: Adopter(s) represents and warrants they will not euthanize the Dog except in the case of the Dog’s terminal illness or injury, or old age accompanied by pain and suffering or severe aggression and euthanasia has been recommended by a veterinarian and/or trainer/behaviorist and in that case, the euthanasia must be performed by a licensed veterinarian.
- Release & Indemnification/No Liability: Upon receipt of the Dog, Adopter(s) shall become sole owner of the Dog and hereby covenants and agrees to forever release, discharge and hold harmless rescuer and its agents from all responsibility or liability arising from the Dog. Adopter hereby releases the Rescue, its officers, directors, and other agents from any and all liability for personal injury, property damage, legal fees, or veterinary care, or any other expense or liability incurred by Adopter arising from this Agreement. Adopter agrees to indemnify the Rescue, its officers, directors, and other agents from any and all such claims and to pay, without limitation, any costs related to such injury, damage, or liability, including, in the case of litigation, any attorney’s fees incurred by Rescuer, its officers, directors, and other agents in its defense thereof.
- Breach of Agreement/Liquidated Damages: Should it become necessary for the Rescue to take action to recover an adopted Dog, or otherwise enforce the provisions of this Agreement, the undersigned Adopter(s) shall be responsible for all court costs and all attorney fees representing either the Adopter(s) or the Rescue.
- Severability: In the event any provision or part of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, only that particular provision or part, and not the entire Agreement, will be inoperative.
- Entire Agreement/Modification/Binding Effect: This Agreement (including the attached Voluntary Release/Waiver of Liability) is the entire agreement between you and us, and supersedes any prior understandings between you and us with respect to the subject matter of this agreement. No modification of this Agreement will be valid unless in writing duly signed by both you and us. This Agreement is binding upon you and your heirs, assigns, successors, personal representatives and executors.
- Voluntary Release/Waiver of Liability: This Voluntary Release/Waiver of Liability (the “Release”) is made and entered between the undersigned and Rural Dog Rescue (the “Rescue”) effective as of the below-indicated date. The undersigned desires to adopt an animal from the Rescue, and as an inducement to the Rescue to agree to the adoption, the undersigned hereby represents, acknowledges and agrees as follows: (1) I acknowledge that, due to the unpredictable nature of animals, certain risks and dangers may occur while caring for an animal, including risks of injury to person and property, and that I have voluntarily agreed to make the adoption contemplated herein with full knowledge of such risks and hereby voluntarily assume all of such risks. (2) I agree that I will not make any claims against, sue or attach any property of the Rescue, its directors, officers, agents, employees and/or volunteers for any injury or damage caused by any animal(s) adopted from the Rescue. (3) I hereby voluntarily release, discharge, waive and relinquish any and all actions or causes of action for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death occurring to me or third parties as a result of any action or activity of any animal(s) adopted by me from Rural Dog Rescue. It is my intention by this instrument to exempt and relieve the Rescue from ALL liability for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death caused by negligence or otherwise. (4) I hereby agree to hold the Rescue and its directors, officers, agents and/or employees harmless and indemnify them from and against any liability, claims, judgments or expenses I may incur arising out of my adoption of an animal from the rescue and/or my ownership or care of any such animal thereafter. (5) I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THE FOREGOING, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT TOGETHER THEY CONSTITUTE A DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY BY THE RESCUE AND A RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS BY ME. I UNDERSTAND THAT I ASSUME ALL RISKS INHERENT IN MY DECISION TO ADOPT AN ANIMAL FROM THE RESCUE AND ANY RELATED ACTIVITIES. I VOLUNTARILY SIGN BELOW TO EVIDENCE MY ACCEPTANCE OF THE ABOVE PROVISIONS. (6) If any portion of this Release is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance hereof shall continue in full legal force and effect. (7) This Release is governed by the laws of the District of Columbia applicable to agreements entered into and fully performed therein.
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