The Adoption Process

Finding a Perfect Match

Enquiring about an ARCH rescue animal

We appreciate you wanting to bring a rescue pet into your home.  In order to

ensure the right home for each pet, we need potential adopters to complete

an Adoption Enquiry Application.  Completing an application provides us with

information about your family and home in order to assess whether it is the

right fit for this pet.  Please make sure you’ve read the adoption profile of the

animal and the criteria to ensure you meet the needs of the animal.

Pease complete the application in full, incomplete applications may be disregarded if we don't know enough about you to make an assessment. On receipt of applications, ARCH will review them for suitability and this usually involves discussions with the foster carer. 

The Process

Reviewing applications can take some time and we may not be in contact for a week or two as we go through this process.  ARCH is run by volunteers who have other work and family commitments (as well as many other animals in care) so please be patient whilst waiting for a response.   

We will usually then contact one or more applicants that sound suitable to discuss the pet in more detail.  If we think you sound like a good fit, we will then arrange a meet and greet with the animal and their carer. 

You must bring your current dog along to the meet and greet if you are meeting another dog/puppy, this is to ensure they get along. 

For dog/puppy applications, ARCH must also ensure the suitability of your property and fencing.  If local, we will arrange a visit to assess, if non-local we will require photos. 

Following meets and greets, ARCH will advise if you are successful and if so, arrange for the adoption.  

The Adoption

Paperwork includes an adoption agreement and change of ownership (microchip) forms.  Payment must be made by bank transfer prior to or at the time of adoption.   

If you are adopting a cat/kitten, please ensure a carrier is brought to the adoption to transport.

A two-week trial period commences from the date you pay the adoption fee and pickup the animal. Should you feel during this period that the animal is not suitable, it may be returned to ARCH, at your own expense, and you will receive a refund of the adoption fee of the animal (less an admin fee).   Please take into consideration that it can take many weeks (sometimes months) for an animal to settle into their new home, so please give them patience and time.

Outstanding Veterinary work

If there is any outstanding vetwork to be completed (such as desexing if the animal is currently too young), you will be advised when this must be undertaken.  You will be required to book the animal in with ARCH’s vets.  If non-local, we may allow you to have desexing done at your own vets, but ARCH will only cover the equivalent of the rescue rate that we pay our vets. 

​

Adoption Fees

The ARCH adoption fee covers the cost of the vet work we provide as standard for each of the animals. The vets that work with ARCH provide services at a reduced rate to help rescue animals, however even at a reduced rate, our adoption fees don’t always cover the cost of the standard veterinary work each animal receives. 

In addition, many of the ARCH rescue animals receive additional or unexpected veterinary work (such as dentals, lump removals, diagnostics) which is funded by ARCH. 

​

ARCH is a registered charity, staffed entirely by volunteers and every dollar we get, through donations, fundraising or adoption fees goes towards helping rescue more animals.

​

Adoption Days 

ARCH will often have Kitten Adoption Days to make it easier for people to meet our gorgeous kittens available for adoption. 

Here are some things to consider if coming to an adoption event with the hope of taking a new kitten home:

• The usual adoption processes apply & we make sure the kitten is going to a safe and suitable home. 

• You will need to complete an adoption application form on our website.  If renting, you will need to have proof that you are permitted to have a kitten at the premises (pet clause in rental agreement or confirmation from real estate/landlord). If you own your own home we will need to see proof via a rates notice/water bill.  Please attach one of these to your application form or bring a copy to the adoption day

• Bring a form of photo ID with you 

• Bring a carrier cage with you so you can safely take your kitten home

• Have your home prepared for a new kitten:

  • Have a warm, safe space for them to sleep and settle in. We highly recommend kittens are given their own safe space for a few days away from the household bustle and any other animals.  

  • Have the items you need including litter trays, litter (our kittens are used to tofu litter), a bed, toys and a cat carrier.

• If you have other animals, please research how to introduce a new kitten to your other animals.  It is so important this is done slowly and safely.  This will involve keeping them separate initially (at least for a few days and sometimes can take longer). 

We hope to see you at our kitten adoption days, we love seeing our kittens go with wonderful families who will give them long and happy lives.  

ARCH may also have puppies at adoption days for people to meet.  Puppies cannot be adopted on the day, but it is a wonderful way to get to meet them and chat to the ARCH team about their personalities and the process to apply for adoption.