Are You Ready To Adopt?
Adopting an animal
Adopting an animal is rewarding and you will become part of the journey of saving an animal’s life, but it is a long-term commitment, and the following points should be considered before you decide to adopt.
Pre-Enrollment
Fill out this form to pre-enrol and be prepared when a suitable pet is available.
What To Consider Before Adoption
- Can you afford an adoption fee of $350-$450 for a puppy/dog or $120-$300 for a cat/kitten
- Are you financially stable to meet the ongoing needs of an adopted animal e.g. annual vaccinations, monthly parasite control, food, grooming, unexpected or emergency veterinary costs
- Animals are a long-term commitment. Average lifespan of a dog 10-13 years and a Cat 10-15 years are you committed to care for an animal for this long.
- Consider any plans you may have for future travel? What options do you have for the care of your animal when you go away
- Are you considering having children? Dynamics of your lifestyle changes when a baby arrives. This is not an excuse to rehome your animal.


06. Think about your lifestyle. Do you have time to invest into the on-going care, training, exercise, enrichment and socialisation of an adopted animal
07. Renting and having an animal. Do you have landlord permission? What would you do if you had to leave your rental property as finding a rental is difficult when you have animals.
08. Do you have other animals? Have you considered how your existing animals will cope with the introduction of a new animal. You need to have realistic expectations about what might happen and how you will deal with the issues
09. You will need to be patient and understanding as your rescue animal adjusts to your lifestyle. Rescue animals can come with issues that may not be present on adoption. There is no such thing as the perfect rescue animal
10. Have you researched the best-suited breed for your lifestyle and living environment?
If you are unsure if adopting is the right decision and would like to talk to one of the Doolittle’s team, please email admin@ddar.org.nz