Adoption Conditions:
- All family members and residents must consent to the adoption and responsibility of raising the pet.
- The welfare of the animal and the suitability of the potential adopter are a priority for the shelter, not necessarily whoever makes the first contact.
- The potential adopter/s must submit to an interview.
- A parent must also be part of the adoption process for anyone living with his/her parents; for a dog – under 26 years old, for a cat under 23 years old.
- Signing the contract gives the shelter the right to visit the adopter’s home and follow up with the pet’s welfare, and also to reclaim the pet if it is in the pet’s best interest.
- An adoption fee must be paid prior to adoption.
- No pet will be released unless it’s spayed, neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.
We are not from Riyadh. Can we adopt?
Yes you can, as long as you meet the adoption conditions and requirements.
Can I take the pet for a trial period and bring him/her back? Why not?
Usually, pets take time to familiarize themselves with their new home. Frequent change of homes can cause anxiety to the pets which in turn can affect their future behavior and therefore a chance of successful adoption.
As we want to follow the highest standards when helping our pets, we encourage the adopters to research the necessary care involved of the animal you intend to adopt and whether he/she can fit into your lifestyle before you commit to adopt and to this long-term responsibility for possibly 10 years or more.
Moreover, after all the time and effort that our volunteers have devoted to these pets, we feel that to then ‘try’ a pet adds to the perception that they are ‘sales rather than souls’, and we vehemently disagree with that perception.
Once you have undertaken your research and are certain that you are able to fulfill your responsibilities for the lifetime of the pet, you may apply for adoption. This is in the best interests of both the potential adopter and the pet.
Why must the adopter be 26 to adopt a dog, and 23 to adopt a cat?
Setting a certain age does not mean the adopter does not qualify as a suitable person. However, it’s our responsibility to provide suitable and permanent homes for those animals for years to come.
From our previous experiences, a lot of pets have been returned due to family rejection when the adopter is under the age we set. Sometimes, families ask the adopter to put the pet outside the home or put it in a cage or an inappropriate environment which makes the pet suffer instead of helping it.
On the other hand, if the family supports the adopter when they visit the shelter themselves, this reassures us that the welfare and care of the pet will be the responsibility of the family as a whole, as well as knowing the seriousness of the decision when accepting the pet as a new family member, and long-term commitment.
This will also prove that the family will welcome the pet and provide the necessary medical and psychological care entailed, and they will not treat the pet as a temporary responsibility, to be abandoned when he/she is no longer fun or when he/she gets sick.
We aim to provide the perfect permanent homes for our pets and to keep them out of any possible harm in the future. Setting these conditions will help us fulfill our goal and be in the best interests of the adopter and pet.
Why do you spay and neuter?
Spaying and neutering are considered a responsible practice. A lot of people irresponsibly breed their pets despite the large numbers of unwanted or abandoned pets. Additionally, a lot of people are unable to afford the responsibility of large numbers of pets for the long term, so they end up throwing them in the streets or asking the shelter to take them. Thus, spaying and neutering the animals before giving them for adoption decreases the chances of them being placed with an irresponsible owner.
Furthermore, spaying and neutering lessen the chances of animals escaping during the mating season, and keeps them from falling in the hands of animals traders who will put them in cages for life to only to produce and profit. Also, it has many medical and behavioral advantages.
Are your animals sick?
No, the shelter receives the animals in different conditions. Some of them are completely healthy and were living in a home where they received full care, others had certain injuries or illnesses. The shelter provides any necessary medical care and will not put the animals up for adoption unless they are fully healthy.
In the case of simple diseases that will not interfere with the adoption process (like fungus), that will be declared to the adopter as long as he/she will continue the treatment in their home in line with directions from the shelter’s veterinary, also you will be able to follow up with the vet until the end of the treatment. In this case, the adopter has helped an unwanted pet, which a lot of people might not adopt, and is in need of more care than the others.
What is the adoption fee? Why is it there?
A fee has been set out of our sense of duty and responsibility toward our animals, we are keen to find adopters who will take the adoption process seriously and have a long-term commitment towards this soul.
Adopting a cat or dog is a huge responsibility that could extend to 10 years or more, through those years, there are a lot of expenses such as, medical care, providing food, and medications.
Certain people may perceive the adoption process as a way of obtaining a free pet without thinking of the consequences of this decision, this could harm our animals, so to deter those people, we have set a small fee when adopting according to standard procedure in shelters worldwide.
All of our adopted animals are spayed/neutered, vaccination booklets are also attached (passport), and they are microchipped. the fee helps cover those costs – that the shelter is not for profit – but does incur costs! And Not wanting to pay the fee is an important indication of the lack of responsibility upon the adoption decision.
Can I volunteer? What are the conditions?
We welcome whoever wants to volunteer or help. Kindly apply through the volunteer form. Please let us know any experience that you have that will enable you to help us and any other relevant details.
I have a pet, can I give it to you?
Yes, through the handover request.
Can I leave my pet temporarily in the shelter and take it back after a while?
Yes, we provide boarding services, kindly coordinate via our WhatsApp number.
Traveling with your pet
- It depends on the country of destination. please read and research the conditions and procedures of your destination. also, contact the destination’s embassy to obtain more information.
- Vaccinations must be completed a month before the date of travel
- The pet needs to be microchiped, and to obtain a health certificate from a licensed vet clinic
- One week before traveling you need to visit the Ministry of Environment Water & Agriculture to obtain a certificate and to book on the same traveling airline you’re traveling on
What are the animal welfare laws in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? What are the financial penalties if an animal is abused?
If I witness any form of animal abuse, what should I do?
Contact the emergency and information center under the Ministry of Environment Water & Agriculture on the toll-free number 8002470000.