Adoption

What is the procedure?

After you choose the animal you want or have decided to adopt in general, you will have to fill the Adoption Form. It’s basically a first contact with us so that 1) you can better understand what is necessary for the animal’s welfare and 2) we can see what you are willing to do to offer it. Then, we will communicate with you via telephone to speak further and inform you if the adoption can proceed.

When the animal you have chosen comes to your house, we will draw its adoption contract and you will be obligated to have the animal chipped under your name according to Law 4039/12.

Our goal is having conscious and responsible adoptions  so that the animal doesn’t suffer and neither does the person, because a wrong adoption can discourage someone who would otherwise become a great dog or cat parent. Our intention is to support you in any way we can so that the adoption is successful and to have a good communication always centered on the animal’s welfare and your harmonious coexistence. Many people, upon hearing the term “adoption contract” think that we will be checking tup with hem in the middle of the night or every day, but of course this is not true. An adoption contract is an act of mutual recognition of an animal’s situation and the responsibilities that ensue.

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Adopting an animal is an act of responsibility. The new owner has to know what this means and not act impulsively because they saw a cute little puppy or kitten and felt affectionate towards it. Adoption is not an opportunity to make a present to someone either, because animals are not objects.

So I have to consider the following:

  •  Do I have time to give to another being that will be a part of my family and will need my care for the next 15-20 years?
  • Do I really want to support a life that’s in need of me?
  • Can I financially afford to offer it all the essentials?
  • Do I have the space it needs?

An adoption that never happened is better than a wrong adoption. But if I really want to offer love and be loved in return, I will find a way to overcome any little problem that arises.

If you have decided you want to have a pet, then choose to adopt than shop. Buying is legal of course but only from registered breeders, not just anyone. Of course mixed-breed dogs are proved to be more resilient and intelligent because the best genes from their parents have been transferred to their DNA that is constantly evolving improving. Crossbreeding purebred dogs have caused many known health problems to various breeds (e.g. arthritis in German Shepherds). If someone absolutely wants a specific breed, they must seek a registered breeder, otherwise they help perpetuate the puppy mill, far from an animal friendly action.

There are many strays in our country, mainly because of the owners’ refusal to sterilize their pets. Sterilization is a procedure that helps our pets live a longer and healthier life and cannot be seen through human emotional judgment. By adopting you help reduce the stray problem.

Statistically, the life of an animal in the streets is no longer than 2 years.

To answer that question I need to consider my way of living and the reason I want to have a dog. If I want it as a gift to my children, my friend, or someone I know, it may end up being neglected in a short time and and left on its own, so it’s better to get a stuffed animal instead. However, if I want to offer them a chance to take on a responsibility and learn about friendship, kindness, love, and especially gratitude, from it, then I will be saving a life and sharing all those wonderful moments of joy and playing with them. 

  •  If I have enough free time to spare, then a young, energetic dog is a good choice. Such dogs are those less than a year old. 
  •  If I live alone- or I also want a company dog that doesn’t require a lot of energy- a puppy is not always ideal, especially if a person is away from home for many hours or works a lot. Energy, not size, is important here; you might have a 40kg dog that is just too bored to move, which makes it more suitable for an appartment than a small hyperactive dog.
  •  Generally, adult and elder dogs are less energetic and more suitable for today’s way of living that doesn’t give a person enough free time.
  •  It is important to know how much we can do and be open to people who know about the dogs available for adoption and their suggestions too. When thinking about dogs, many would dream of a Labrador, but how many of them can actually cope with its intense energy?
Why should I get a hunting dog?
 Hunting dogs constitute the majority of dogs living in shelters. The image of a malnourished hunting dog struggling to survive in horrible conditions, after being abandoned on a mountain or a wasteland because it was not efficient in hunting, is a common one. These dogs should not be considered second grade or mass produced, expendable “tools” whose existence lies solely on hunting. They are great characters, energetic, easily trained, and always in for a game or a walk. 
Adopt a hunting dog and show it that in life there isn’t just abandonment, indifference, and cruelty, but also love, precious moments, caring, and playing. If you want to give love to an animal that has suffered, it will certainly love you in return three times more.
Why adopt a dog with Kala-azar?
 Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the protozoan of the Leishmania genus. It is spread through animal carriers and needs to have an intermediate host. In the Mediterranean this host is the female Phlebotomine sand fly. The 2 major clinical types found in a dog are: located Cutaneous/Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and generalized Visceral leishmaniasis (or Kala-azar). Every animal confirmed to be infected and matching clinical symptoms must receive special daily treatment as soon as possible. 
This disease is potentially fatal and animals infected suffer more from secondary complications (mostly permanent kidney damage) than the disease itself. As you can understand, such a dog needs daily care from someone so that it can have its treatment and improve its health. That is why it needs you more than any other dog, because without human care it is very difficult to survive. It is better to live in a home, feeling part of a family, than in a shelter or in the streets. If you are determined and conscious about helping a dog in need, this is the best choice.

Animals advanced in age have greater need of love and caring, just like humans. Older animals are usually sidelined in shelters with next to zero chances of being adopted. The first thought will be that it will not live many years with you, but there are many advantages. The animal’s character has already been formed and you will know if it fits your lifestyle or not. It has reached its final size and you will know if you can cope or not. They usually know how to behave on a walk wearing a leash and not to dirty the house. They are not very energetic so they are unlikely to make any damage into the house; they prefer to relax in their “bed” and they play less than a younger dog does. There are many things we can do to help aν animal age well and learn from that experience. An older animal may fit better in your lifestyle than you think. Give it a chance!

Animals that were born with a disability or acquire it later do not lack in any way compared to other animals. An animal missing body parts, deaf, or blind learns to move relatively easily without assistance in its personal space, adapts to its new way of life. It will run and play with speed, not troubled by its speciality and it will certainly not be less able to provide you with companionship, love, and devotion. A disabled animal is difficult to get adopted and, unfortunately, the choice will often either be euthanasia or abandonment. But the uniqueness of these animals should not stop us from making them a part of our family. They deserve our admiration for their strength and will for life. Adopting an animal that has fought the adversities come in its way and has been crowned a winner in the race of life might just make you better.