Ready to Adopt? Read our FAQs Below.
Please read our requirements and process for adoption prior to filling out the application below.
Congratulations on deciding to rescue an animal in need. Everything we do for these animals is based on helping them find a great forever home and we are excited for the lucky animal that you will welcome into your home.
Requirements for Adoption
You must be over 21 to adopt.
You must fill out either a Cat Adoption Application or a Dog Adoption Application (an incomplete application or inaccurate information can delay or disqualify your application).
All resident animals must be up to date on shots and have been altered (or a vet letter as to why they are not altered).
Provide a detailed history of your animal's medical care, including the history of vaccinations, spay/neuter procedures, and any other relevant medical treatments.
All members of the household must be in agreement to adopt an animal.
All members of the household are required to be at the meet and greet prior to final adoption.
You are required to have your animal spayed or neutered per IL state Law. Failure to do so will result in the relinquishment of your animal back to HWMAR. **
Obey all local ordinances, including pet containment, licensing and leash requirements.
** Per Illinois state law (225 ILCS 605/3.3), you are REQUIRED to have your animal spayed or neutered within 14 days of being deemed healthy by a licensed veterinarian. This is Non-Negotiable.
The Process
Potential adopters will be subject to a phone or face to face interview, provide information about your home, and a reference check, including veterinary, prior to adoption. All family members, including canine, living in the home must meet the dog/cat prior to adoption. We don’t adopt on a first come, first serve basis, but try to match the best home for each animal. We reserve the right to deny a potential home if we feel it is not in the best interest of the animal and does not necessarily reflect our feelings about you as a pet owner.
Our rescue is 100% volunteer based and many work full time jobs on top of saving animals. We take pride in creating an excellent adoption experience for our adopters, but some days it may take longer to get a response than others- please be patient!
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Our current application formats best on a computer vs a cellphone. The more information you can provide the better! You can fill out an Application to adopt a cat, or adopt a dog.
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You will receive an email from our adoption team within 24 hours asking for you to submit pictures of your home, yard and a copy of a utility bill or ID, verifying your address. Get those cameras ready!
Tip: Please provide both interior and exterior photographs.
Tip: We love to see your current four legged companions in the photos (two legged ones also)!
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Once the adoption team receives your home photos, they will call your vet and discuss your past history of care, verify if your pet is spayed/neutered, history, and if they are currently up to date on core vaccinations.
Tip: We also check to make sure your pet is on heartworm preventative too-
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Your reference can be a neighbor, friend, coworker that has been to your home. This is their chance to tell us how awesome you are and some fun facts about you!
Sorry, no relatives please.
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After application(s) have been approved for a dog or cat, our adoption team will then go through them with our amazing foster parents, who have a better understanding of that particular animal’s needs. They will then decide who they want to do phone interview(s) with!
Note: If you have been chosen for a phone interview, you will receive an email saying so.
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The exciting meet and great stage! If you have been selected, the foster will schedule a time and location for you and your family (four & two legged) to meet and see how it goes. If all goes well, you will go home with your new buddy that day (adoption contract completed, non-refundable adoption fee paid online and microchip registration)!
Note: Sometimes a second meet and greet is needed. Please don’t expect perfection between your current animal and the new animal right way, it’s typically not love at first woof or meow! (if you have a medical issue preventing your animal from traveling, please let us know.)
If you weren’t selected, don’t worry, there are lots of other great animals looking for someone just like YOU!
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Take your new friend home, love on them, send lots of pictures to family and friends. Post pictures on Instagram and Facebook (be sure to tag Hoof Woof & Meow)! Most importantly… please give them time to decompress and show you their true wonderful selves! Cats need to be in their own space and allowed to get used to their new home.
Adoption Fees Include
Prior to adoption, animals will receive:
Wellness Exam
Microchip
Fecal Test (and applicable deworming)
Initial DHPP/FVRCP
Rabies Vaccine (if 4+ months old)
Spay/Neuter Policy: Animals 6 months and older are already spayed or neutered before being available for adoption. For younger animals, we'll provide an alteration contract outlining the procedure and timeline. Per Illinois law, all our adoptable animals must be altered by 6 months of age. This surgery will be performed at our expense by one of our trusted partner veterinarians. Our medical coordinator will contact you to schedule the procedure once your new furry friend reaches the appropriate age.
Dog Adoption Fees
Puppies Under 2 Years Old
$400
2-7 Years Old
$350
7+ Years of Age
$175
Cat Adoption Fees
Under 1 Year of Age
$200
1-4 Years Old
$175
5+ Years of Age
$100
Why Adopt?
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More than one million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States. When you adopt, you save a loving animal by making them part of your family and open up shelter space for another animal who might desperately need it.
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Most animals we take in are found dumped and roaming the streets, trying to survive. Many are rescued from hoarding or abusive homes. Many animals end up in shelters due to human problems like a move, finances, or divorce. What do all these animals have in common? They just want to be loved by a family.
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When you adopt from HWMAR, the cost of the spay/neuter, microchipping, and age appropriate vaccines are included in the adoption price.
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Pets give you unconditional love! Caring for a pet can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment and lessen feelings of loneliness. And when you adopt, you can also feel proud about helping an animal in need!
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By adopting from us, not only have you saved one life, but also now that space has opened up in our foster home to save another animal that is waiting to find their forever home.
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There is nothing better than the feeling of rescuing an animal in need.
