Adoption FAQs

The adoption process can take up to a week, depending on the volume of applications we receive. Our dedicated volunteer team has other work and family obligations in addition to helping the rescue. We strive to be as efficient and responsive as possible. Each adoption application requires thorough screening, and on average, we receive over 400 applications per month. Please understand that our primary responsibility is to the dogs entrusted to our care, and be patient if you do not receive an immediate response.

We understand that our screening process may seem extensive and occasionally result in the elimination of some good homes. However, our process has been developed through years of experience, and we stand firmly behind it. Our goal is to place dogs from Tails of Hope into their forever homes, and we take this responsibility very seriously. We want to ensure the best possible match between the dog and the adopter, minimizing the chances of a dog being returned to the rescue. By conducting a thorough application process, we can do our due diligence and make informed decisions.

Benefactor dogs are often purebred dogs or other breed mixes that are in high demand for various reasons. The increased adoption fees for these dogs help support the care of other dogs in our rescue that require special medical attention or have a harder time finding homes. By adopting a benefactor dog, you are helping to fund the care of dogs in greater need, including those with a reduced adoption fee.

The adoption fee covers the costs of various services provided by our partner vets, including: All core vaccinations, including rabies (licensing or tag fees are not covered);
puppy deworming; spay/neuter surgery for puppies aged 6 months and older, microchip and heartworm prevention and/or treatment, if applicable, at the time of adoption.

Tails of Hope waits to spay/neuter dogs until they are at least six months of age. Because of this, some pups are adopted before being altered. These animals have a spay/neuter deposit of $100 added to their adoption fee. After you have your dog spayed/neutered, you can submit proof to us and we’ll refund you the deposit amount.

We strive to keep our adoption fees as reasonable as possible while ensuring we can cover the expenses associated with rescuing and caring for our animals. The adoption fee helps offset the costs of veterinary care, food, preventatives, and necessary supplies for the dogs and cats in our rescue. In fact, the cost of caring for a dog in rescue often exceeds the adoption fee, and additional funds are sourced through fundraising and donations.

Tails of Hope has had to adjust adoption fees (starting January 1, 2022) due to significant increases in the costs of vetting. These fee adjustments are necessary to cover the rising expenses associated with providing veterinary care to our rescued animals. Specifically, the cost of treatment for heartworm positive dogs has risen between 45% and 118% per dog, depending on the animal's size. To continue saving the lives of heartworm positive dogs, we increased all fees by $50.

Tails of Hope is a foster-based rescue located in Alma, Wisconsin. Our foster homes are spread throughout western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota, allowing us to provide individualized care and attention to our animals. We do not have a physical shelter facility, and all our animals are placed in loving foster homes until they find their forever homes.