Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I know if a RARE adoptable is still available?
Q. Are all of the RARE adoptable animals posted on the website and/or Petfinder.com?
Q. I submitted an interest form over 3 business days ago and I haven't heard back yet.
Q. How do I adopt an animal from RARE?
Q. How do I foster an animal with RARE?
Q. I live in an apartment. Can I adopt a dog?
Q. Are RARE adoptable animals spayed/neutered?
Q. Are RARE adoptable animals microchipped?
Q. How much are the adoption fees to adopt from RARE?
Q. There is an animal(s) that is being abused and/or neglected that I know about. What should I do?
Q. Does RARE take "owner surrenders"?
Q. Can RARE help to spay/neuter ("fix") my own dog or cat?
Q. Will RARE adopt to me if my current animals are not fixed and/or not on heartworm prevention?
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Q. How do I know if a RARE adoptable is still available?
A. We are normally proficient at keeping our list of adoptable animals current. If the adoptable is still listed on our website, they are still available. If an adoptable is "in adoption trial" or "pending adoption trial", that note will be included in their name field. If the adoptable is no longer on our website in the "Available Dog" or "Available Cats" section, they are not able to be selected on the interest form. However, the "Best Fit Dog or Puppy" or "Best Fit Cat or Kitten" can be selected instead and we can determine if there is another adoptable that may be the best fit.
Q. Are all of the RARE adoptable animals posted on the website and/or Petfinder.com?
A. There is always an influx of adoptable animals that come into our program. It is important to know that not all of our adoptable animals are posted at once in order for them to be properly assessed and vetted. This also helps us to prevent a bottleneck of interest forms that would normally reduce our response time.
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Q. I submitted an interest form over 3 business days ago and I haven't heard back yet.
A. We make every effort to contact every potential adopter, foster, volunteer, etc. that submits an interest form within 3 business days. However, due to the high volume of calls, emails and inquiries, we are often overwhelmed. If you have not received a response to your Interest Form, please email us at info@rarerescue.org with a reminder and we will contact you as soon as possible.
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*You only need to complete ONE interest form, unless your information has changed. Please let us know via email if you see another adoptable of interest or have any questions.
Q. How do I adopt an animal from RARE?
A. Finding the best fit for each animal/family is the basis of our adoption process, rather than "first come, first served". We require our quick adoption interest form to be completed first to provide us with information in order to match you/your family with the best fit.
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Step 1. Read our ADOPTION PROCESS. *Our adoption process includes a 30 day trial period.
Step 2. Complete the DOG ADOPTION INTEREST FORM or CAT ADOPTION INTEREST FORM.
Step 3. Please give us at least 3 business days to contact you by phone or email.
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Q. How do I foster an animal with RARE?
A. We ALWAYS need fosters! Without fosters, we are not able to save more lives. If you are not able to adopt at this time, please consider fostering! We will provide food, medical, toys, etc. You provide the love! Click here for our Foster Interest Form.
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Q. I live in an apartment. Can I adopt a dog?
A. We do not require a fenced yard for every dog. Each dog has a different energy level, personality and needs to be happy and healthy. Some may require a fenced yard OR extensive exercise, while others may not. Each adopter has a different lifestyle. Our priority is to match the needs of the dog with the most appropriate adopter.
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Q. Are RARE adoptable animals spayed/neutered?
A. Yes, all of our adoptable animals are spayed/neutered prior to adoption.
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Q. Are RARE adoptable animals microchipped?
A. All dogs, cats, and rabbits are microchipped prior to adoption.
Q. How much are the adoption fees to adopt from RARE?
A. Adoption fees vary, depending on the adoptability of each animal and other factors. Some animals may require several hundreds of dollars or more in medical care but may be a senior, a less desirable breed, have special behavioral or medical needs. In this case, their adoption fees would be lower to increase their adoptability and help offset their expenses for future medical or training needs. On the other hand, some animals may be highly adoptable, due to their breed, color, size, temperament etc. and will have adoption fees to reflect those attributes and help to offset the higher number of cases that result in a deficit for our organization.
Q. There is an animal(s) that is being abused and/or neglected that I know about. What should I do?
A. If you know of an animal that is being neglected, abused or abandoned, please:
Contact your local authorities:
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Animal Control for city or county depending on location.
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You can also contact us to find out if we are able to help in any way or refer you to the appropriate agency.
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You can also contact your congressmen and congresswomen to urge them to continue to improve upon Animal laws in Tennessee, or the state in which you reside.
Q. Does RARE take "owner surrenders"?
A. We occasionally accept animals surrendered by their owners, depending on space and foster home availability, and it is by appointment ONLY.
Q. Can RARE help to spay/neuter ("fix") my own dog or cat?
A. If you are interested in our RARE "FIX" Spay/Neuter Program, please call (615) 330-4769 for more information and to find out if there is a participating clinic in your area. You can also visit spaytennessee.org to find the closest spay/neuter program to you.
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Q. Will RARE adopt to me if my current animals are not fixed and/or not on heartworm prevention?
A. No. Unless there is a medical reason why your animal(s) cannot be spayed/neutered and kept on heartworm prevention documented by a licensed Veterinarian. There countless animals that are homeless and heartworm positive. Our rescue efforts are necessary because of these reasons. Not even all of the rescue organizations in the world right now can save them all. Please do your part to not contribute to overpopulation and the spread of fatal diseases that can be prevented.
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