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Thank you for considering adoption! There are many Shibas
out there who need loving homes. If you're interested in adopting
a Shiba Inu, be sure to read the following steps. Adopting a Shiba
will change your life, and we want to make sure that both you and
the adopted Shiba will be happy with your decision. If you have
questions after reading the steps below, please contact us.
- Complete an Adoption Form. As the first step
in being considered for adopting a Shiba, every potential adopter
must fill out NESRA's Adoption form. The form gives us basic information
about your lifestyle, family and the type of Shiba you're looking
for. This helps us find the right Shiba for you. After you complete
the Adoption Form, it goes into our files. When necessary, it
may be shared with other Shiba rescuers. We ask that you occasionally
email us with updates to let us know if your application should
remain active or be removed.
- Talk with a NESRA volunteer. We will email
you with detailed information about Shiba Inus and what to expect
as a Shiba owner (in other words, what it's really like to live
with a Shiba). Because our goal is to find a "forever home"
for the adopted Shiba, we want to make sure you have an accurate
expectation of the breed's temperament and what's involved in
the care of a Shiba. Shibas are not for everyone, so we will discuss
the breed with you and be sure you are prepared to add a Shiba
to your life.
Please take this opportunity to ask whatever questions you may
have about Shibas. We may request additional information from
you at this time
- Provide a vet reference. If you own or have
owned a previous pet, please be prepared to give us permission
to contact your vet as a reference.
- Participate in a home visit. All applicants
undergo an extensive interview process that may involve email
correspondence, phone conversations and a home visit, where a
NESRA volunteer comes to your residence. Please note that we do
not place Shibas without an interview and a home visit. If you
do not agree to a home visit, we cannot place a Shiba with you.
The home visit is not intended to "police" or "check
up on" you; rather, we focus on finding the right Shiba for
your individual situation. We ask that all family members and
other companions who will be part of the Shiba's daily life be
present during the home visit. Questions from all family members
are encouraged!
During a home visit we
will give you tips on how to Shiba-proof your home, and we'll check
your yard for possible hazards. Some household items that aren't
obviously dangerous may pose a risk to dogs, and we will point those
out to you. This doesn't mean your house has to be "perfect"
- we are only trying to prepare you for a Shiba! If the yard is
enclosed by a fence, we will inspect the fence carefully to make
sure it is in good shape and does not have any openings through
which a crafty Shiba could escape.
The home visit is intended
for education and discussion. It's designed to help both you and
NESRA. We want to make sure you have realistic expectations of how
a Shiba will affect your home, and we want to give you a chance
to ask questions and talk about Shibas face-to-face with an experienced
Shiba owner.
- Meet the Shiba: After the home visit, if we
have a Shiba Inu that might fit your lifestyle, it's time to meet
the Shiba. If the Shiba is being fostered by a NESRA volunteer,
the foster home will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient
time to meet. If the Shiba is a courtesy listing (click here
to see what that means), you and the surrendering owner will be
asked to contact each other and set up a meeting. When you meet
the potential Shiba, be sure to think about whether the Shiba
will fit your lifestyle. Spend some time with the Shiba and observe
how he or she reacts with you, your family members and other people.
The Shiba may be shy around you at first, so be sure to ask questions
about his or her personality. If everyone (and the Shiba) think
it's a suitable fit, we'll move on to the next step.
- Completion of Adoption: If you are adopting
a Shiba that's fostered by NESRA, you will be asked to sign an
adoption contract and pay an adoption fee. This fee covers part
of the cost of the medical care that your Shiba received while
being fostered. Before being adopted, the fostered Shiba receives
a veterinary exam, any necessary vaccines, a heartworm test, begins
a heartworm preventive medication, is microchipped and if necessary,
is spayed or neutered. You will be provided with all of the Shiba's
medical records.
- Welcome your Shiba into your home: Congratulations
on your new Shiba! Please remember that this is a new and potentially
overwhelming situation for your Shiba, particularly if he or she
has been in more than one home previously. Give your Shiba time
to settle in. We are always here if there are any problems, to
address your concerns or to give you advice. We ask that you stay
in contact with NESRA and let us know if any problems arise (or
to tell us your happy stories!).
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