Frequently Asked Questions About Adoption
Where are your animals from?
All of the animals in our care have either been rescued from a Victorian pound or have been surrendered by the owner for various reasons, such as they can no longer afford to care for the animal, or they have had to move and cannot take the animal with them.
Why do I need to pay to adopt an animal?
Each animal under our care undergoes thorough veterinary checks, is desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, and receives regular worming and flea treatments. Additionally, some animals require specialised veterinary care like dental work, orthopaedic procedures, or other surgeries to ensure they enjoy the highest quality of life possible. Our monthly veterinary expenses are substantial, and adoption fees play a crucial role in covering these costs and sustaining our care for animals in need.
A Note about our Adoption Fees
For the animals in our care, we spare no effort to ensure they find loving homes. Our Adoption Fees are on a sliding scale to increase adoption opportunities for all animals. Fees for highly adoptable pets help subsidise those for senior animals, pets with complex medical needs, or behaviour challenges, ensuring every animal gets the second chance they deserve.
Can I pay off the adoption fee via a payment plan?
We provide payment plans through Zippay however, there will be an extra processing fee. Learn more here
Can I bring my own dog to the shelter to meet dogs?
Yes! We encourage that people looking at adopting another dog bring their current pooch along to the meet and greet; this to ensure that both dogs are compatible. However, we do require that your dog is fully vaccinated before the meeting to not only protect our rescue dogs, but your dog as well when entering the shelter environment. An appointment is required for meet and greets.
Why do animals need to be temperament tested before coming to SCAR?
As per council regulations, all animals leaving our care must not pose a threat to the community. Each animal is temperament tested by our experienced staff.
Do you adopt out animals that are not desexed?
No, all SCAR animals are desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, and given parasite prevention before adoption. Desexing is not only a legal requirement for shelter animals prior to adoption, it also stops unplanned litters of puppies and kittens from being born, reducing the strain on our animal welfare system, preventing unwanted behaviours such as territorial spraying in cats, and protects SCAR animals from any future risks associated with having litters.
What if my newly adopted SCAR animal doesn't get along with my current pets?
Most animals meeting for the first time will not be the best friends you would hope them to be. Human relationships need to be built over time, and it is no different in the animal world. Most settling in/teething issues can be avoided with slow and careful introductions of new pets, and ongoing training can also help avoid further problems down the track. Our knowledgeable staff can advise you on the best way to introduce your new pets and assist with any initial settling in issues. Our adoptions do come with a cooling-off period, but in most cases a new furry member of the family should be given at least 3 weeks to settle in.
Can I return the pet I adopt if it doesn't work out?
Of course! We are here to support you and our animals, so we don’t see adoption returns as failures, but rather as a great opportunity to learn more about our animals.
We do our best to minimise transitions for SCAR animals and will provide you with all the information and support to give you and your new family member every chance to develop a great relationship and stay together. However, we also understand that sometimes the animal that you have fallen in love with is not the right fit once you get them home.
We do require that any adopter who is having settling in issues or thinks that the animal may not be a great fit for them, gets in touch with us early so that we can help you. Of course, we want to hear from you when things are going well too, as this makes our day!
Please never think that our team will judge or think anything negative about any questions you have or any decision that you make.
Our policy on returns is:
- Once you adopt an animal, you are given a 7-day trial period to see how the animal settles into your home and if they are a good fit for you and your family. If you choose to return the animal within this seven-day period for a justifiable reason, we will refund you 75% of your adoption fee.
- Once you adopt an animal, you are given a 7-day health guarantee, which guarantees the good health of your new pet for those 7 days. If anything happens in this 7-day period to your animal health wise, that may be linked to their time with SCAR, we will cover their medical care at our veterinary clinic, or if you choose to return your pet, we will refund you the full adoption fee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Surrendering
Why do I have to pay a surrender fee?
SCAR is a not-for-profit organisation which does not receive any government funding. The small surrender fee payable on surrender of an animal, goes towards the care of the animal during their stay in our care.
I just found a stray animal in my yard; can I surrender it to SCAR?
You cannot surrender an animal to SCAR unless you are the legal owner of that animal. We are not a pound, therefore we cannot hold stray animals here. If you find a stray animal, please contact your local council for collection, or drop the found animal off to your local veterinary clinic or pound in the hope that it can be reunited with its owner ASAP.
Does SCAR ever euthanise animals?
At Second Chance Animal Rescue, we pride ourselves on doing everything possible to give every animal that comes into our care a true ‘second chance’ at a happy ending and to rehabilitate the animal physically, mentally, and behaviourally prior to rehoming! We will only ever consider euthanising an animal for two reasons:
- If they are terminally ill and suffering or
- If the animal displays a temperament which is deemed a high risk to people or other animals.
We take euthanasia very seriously and are guided by our veterinarians and professional behaviourist. Our animals always find homes, as there is no time limit to their length of stay in our care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering
How old do I have to be to volunteer at the SCAR shelter?
At least 16 years of age.
What kinds of tasks will I be doing to help?
There are many different jobs that you will undertake when volunteering at the SCAR shelter, including cleaning, dog walking, cat socialising, administration assistance, animal training and enrichment. Each day is very different and will see you learning lots of interesting things about animal welfare. We also have events which often require volunteers also, such as adoption days, pet expos and much more.
What should I wear when volunteering?
Wear Comfortable Shoes and Clothing
– Wear clothing that is suitable for bending, lifting movements and being around animals.
– Shorts/pants/leggings/jeans with a comfortable t-shirt and jumper is recommended.
– Closed toe, comfortable shoes with good grip are required.
– Please Note: A detailed guide will be provided for reference when you sign up to volunteer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Foster Care
What does foster care involve?
We regularly have animals that are in need of some extra attention and care before they are suitable for adoption. Being a foster carer is an incredibly rewarding experience for all involved, and most importantly, it allows us to continue to find homes for animals that may be in need of a little extra care. The foster family is responsible for the daily care of the animal in their home.
Do I pay for food for my foster animals?
SCAR is lucky enough to be sponsored by our friends and major nutrition partners, Hill’s Pet Nutrition which means that all of our animal’s food is donated by this amazing company and our foster carers are supplied with the food needed to care for their temporary foster animals. You will also be provided with toys, beds, treats and anything else you may need – all you need to provide is the TLC!
What happens if a foster animal becomes sick in my care?
If your foster animal requires veterinary care, you are required to contact a SCAR representative as soon as possible and depending on the problem, take the animal to our nominated veterinary clinic.
Can I adopt the animal I am fostering?
Our foster carers are normally given the first option to adopt the animal they are fostering once it is ready for adoption, unless that animal has been pre-adopted before going into care.
How long will I need to look after an animal if I foster?
Each animal requires a different length of stay in foster care depending on why the animal has been placed into care in the first place. They may be too young or too weak for a required procedure, or they might just need a peaceful respite from the stress of the shelter for a while. Sometimes an animal might need some extra training, or they may just need the chance to experience the love and support of a family – sometimes for the first time!
The length of stay also varies depending on how long that animal takes to find the right family. If, at any stage, you can no longer look after the animal you are fostering or are going away, we will always take that animal back into our care.
Fun Facts You Should Know
Have More Questions?
Give us a call on (03) 9357 0834 to speak to our friendly shelter team who can answer any further questions you may have regarding adoptions, rehoming your pet or joining our team as a volunteer or foster carer!
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Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.