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How to adopt

We are very happy that you are interested in providing a home for a rescued dog. These are wonderful animals that have been unjustly cast away by society. In order to help them find the right home, and to help you find the right dog, we ask that you follow the steps below to begin the adoption process.

  • Review our site and our frequently asked questions (below) to ensure that you understand what we are about, and how adopting a new pet will impact your life.
  • Download and complete our adoption request form. and adoption contract.Then email us (savinggrace@nc.rr.com)the forms via an attachment, or you may use the form on the contact us page.
    Alternately, you may print and mail us the forms to:
    Saving Grace Animals for Adoption
    P.O. Box 1649
    Wake Forest, NC 27588
    Please note, if you mail us the forms using snail mail, there is a chance I will not get your request prior to adopting the dog you have selected. The fastest and best way to ensure you will be considered for your first choice is to email us or use the form on the contact us page.
  • We will review your application as quickly as we can, but please allow at least a week for this process. If we do not contact you it may mean that we do not feel that we will be able to find the appropriate dog for you. We do make every effort to contact all of our applicants, but this is not always possible.
  • Once we contact you, we will work out a time for you to come visit the animal(s) you are most interested in.
  • We look forward to hearing from you!
Dog Image Frequently Asked Questions
  • Why is the adoption fee so much? Why do you charge an adoption fee rather than give the animals away for free?
    • The average medical expenses of an animal at Saving Grace costs approximately $400. We want to make sure we are adopting out healthy animals and provide all necessary vet care. Each animal is given a routine physical, spayed/neutered and all vaccines and deworming. They are also microchipped and tested for heartworms and treated if necessary.
    • You'll find that if you call any veterinarian's office and get a quote for these services, you'll discover that the vet fees would far surpass the adoption fees.
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  • Why does my pet need to be spayed/neutered? Can I adopt an intact animal?
    • Spaying and neutering helps stem the tide of overpopulation. It does not make animals fat and lazy, harm their health, or hurt their personalities, as some people mistakenly believe. Spaying not only reduces the stress and discomfort females endure during heat periods, but also eliminates the risk of uterine cancer and reduces the chance of mammary cancer. Neutering makes males far less likely to roam or fight, and helps prevent testicular cancer.
    • You are helping to alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem. Each year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized at shelters across the country. Although pet behavioral problems are the main reasons animals are given to shelters, many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets spayed or neutered, the fewer dogs and cats will have to be destroyed.
    • All animals adopted through Saving Grace are already altered before adoption. There are millions of unwanted dogs, puppies, kittens and cats euthanized in shelters each year and Saving Grace is committed to reducing the population of unwanted animals.
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  • Is there a trial period to take the pet home and see if it 'fits' with the family?
    • Saving Grace makes all efforts to make sure that a good match is made between adopters and dogs before adoption. Most of the dogs at Saving Grace have been in transit from being stray, to a shelter, to Saving Grace and are eager for a permanent home that will provide them with consistency. When they are returned, they have to once again acclimate to Saving Grace and then another home. Saving Grace understands that some dogs may need to be returned and will return the adoption fee during the first 2 weeks of adoption.
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  • Can I adopt a pet for someone else?
    • No. Only the person who will be caring for the pet is allowed to adopt. This is in the best interest of both the pet and the adopter. If you really want to make the adoption a "gift," we recommend a gift certificate. Selecting a pet is a very personal decision and the recipient will appreciate being able to make his or her own choice.
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  • Do I need any experience to be a volunteer?
    • No. Saving Grace is always looking for volunteers with any level of experience as long as they love animals! We are willing to teach dog care and training to anyone willing to learn. There are also lots of volunteer opportunities that greatly benefit the dogs but don't involve contact with the dogs. Please see our home page for more information about volunteering.
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  • What plants are harmful to pets?
      There are many plants that are toxic to your pets:
    • Plants affecting the gastrointestinal tract - azalea (azalea, rhododendron), bulbs (amaryllis, tulip, daffodils, castor bean, english ivy, mushrooms (fly agaric and death cap), precatory beans, solanaceae (potatoes, tomatoes, ground cherries, woody nightshade, black nightshade, christmas cherry), english walnut
    • Plants causing stomatitis and glossitis - ornamentals (dieffenbachia or dumb cane, philodendron), wild flowers (jack-in-the-pulpit)
    • Plants affecting the nervous system - nettle (catnip), nicotiana (tobacco), taxus spp (japanese yew), marijuana, parasympatholytic (jimson weed, thornapple, trumpet vine), hallucinogens (morning glory)
    • Plants affecting the blood and cardiovascular systems - oleander, cyanogenic plants (apples, cherries, plums)
    • Plants affecting the dermis - cactus, burrs, poison ivy
  • What foods are harmful to pets?
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Avocado
    • Chocolate (all forms)
    • Coffee (all forms), or other caffinated products
    • Fatty foods
    • Macadamia nuts
    • Moldy or spoiled foods
    • Onions, onion powder
    • Raisins and grapes
    • Salt
    • Yeast dough
    • Garlic, garlic powder
    • Products sweetened with xylitol
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  • Where can I find more information on caring for my new pet?
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