Conditions of Adoption

TEARS Animal Rescue and FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Foundation

  • The outside area where the pet will be kept must be securely and entirely fenced and the gate to this area to be always closed and locked.
  • The walls/fence to be of such a height that the dog cannot scale or jump over.
  • In the case of puppies, very old dogs and partially sighted/blind dogs, the swimming pool must be completely and securely fenced to prevent the dog entering pool area. In the case of healthy, adult dogs, the animal is to be shown the pool steps and taken into the pool so that he/she knows how to get out should he/she fall in.
  • The pet must not be chained under any circumstances or be abused either physically or psychologically.
  • An ID disc to be immediately attached to the pet’s collar indicating the dog's name and telephone number.
  • A dog’s tail may not be docked, dogs’ ears not be cropped and a dog may not be debarked. Cats may not be declawed. No mutilation of any kind permitted.
  • The pet will be kept as a household pet and become a member of your family.
  • The pet is to sleep inside your home.
  • The pet is to receive regular and adequate exercise.
  • The pet is to be kept free of fleas, ticks and worms and to be in a healthy condition. The pet is to be taken to a registered veterinary surgeon should it become sick.
  • The pet is to be kept in a safe and secure place during such times when it may be subjected to stress such as Guy Fawkes celebrations, or should you move house.
  • Should the pet become lost, TEARS must be advised immediately. Appropriate action to be taken to recover the pet: contact all animal agencies, the local veterinary clinics, police stations and an advert to be placed in the “Lost” column of newspapers and flyers distributed in your residential and trading areas. 
  • The adoption fee includes the cost of sterilisation. However, if the owner elects to use his/her own private veterinary surgeon, the pet must be sterilized by 6 months of age, in which case the cost would fall on you as the owner, and proof of sterilisation must be sent to TEARS once complete.
  • If the pet displays signs of illness requiring veterinary attention for a pre-existing condition within the 7 days after adoption, the animal must be returned to TEARS for veterinary treatment. If, however, the owners elects to use his/her own private veterinarian, we will not refund any costs incurred.
  • Neither TEARS nor FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Foundation and/or any of their affiliated entities and/or persons shall be responsible for any veterinary fees of whatever nature after the 7-day period has expired.
  • Neither TEARS nor FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Foundation and/or any of their affiliated entities and/or persons shall be responsible for any injuries of any nature whatsoever which may inflicted on the new owner, his/her family or friends, or his/her existing pet/s by any of our animals available for adoption, either when viewing them, or after adoption.
  • TEARS reserves the right to conduct follow-up visits to the adoptive home to ensure compliance with the conditions of adoption.Should TEARS find, during the follow-up visits, that one or more of these conditions are not adhered to, the new owner will, on written request, immediately transfer possession of and return the pet to us and any payment/donation made in respect of the animal will not be refunded.
  • TEARS does not offer refunds for returned pets.
  • The animal is to reside at the address given on this form and TEARS are to be notified of any change of address.
  • If an animal is admitted for sterilisation and the vaccinations are not up-to-date, TEARS will automatically vaccinate the animal at the owner’s expense.
  • Should the new owner be unable to keep the pet for any reason, ownership automatically reverts to FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Foundation and/or TEARS and the animal must be immediately returned to us. However, should this unhappy situation arise, it would be very much appreciated if the owner would endeavour to find a suitable new home for the animal which must, of course, be approved in writing by FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Foundation and/or by TEARS. Please remember that if the pet is not the correct one for you, TEARS will welcome back the animal at any time and we will rehome the animal at our own discretion. 
  • A copy of the applicant's identity document and proof of address must please be sent to lara@tears.org.za.