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Adoption Policy

Policy Number 20

Effective: June 1, 2007

Version 5.0

Policy

Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, Inc.’s (BEHS) policy is to adopt out the equines belonging to BEHS to approved homes.

Procedure

In order to adopt, an individual or family must:

• Be a current member of BEHS in good standing.
• Have a signed liability waiver on file with BEHS.
• Submit a complete Adoption Application.

Once all of the above paperwork is received by BEHS, the rescue may:

• Review the adoption application to ensure that applicant meet fostering requirements.
• Call and verify references.
• Conduct a background check.
• Assign a volunteer inspector to set up a time for a pre-adoption home visit. During the pre-adoption home visit, the inspector will view and photograph the property where any adopted equine(s) will live, view and photograph other equines on the property, and answer questions about the adoption process.

Throughout the adoption process (starting when an application is received), the Adoption Coordinator will make periodic contact with the applicant. The Adoption Coordinator will:

• Contact the applicant when any part of the adoption application is received to give the applicant a report on the status of their application including what paperwork is outstanding.
• Answer questions about the adoption process.
• After a volunteer inspector has been assigned to conduct the inspection, the Adoption Coordinator will check in with the applicant to insure that they’ve heard from the volunteer inspector.
• Review the adoption policies and contract with the adopter.
• Remain a point of contact for the adopter.

The volunteer inspector will submit the Inspection Worksheet and photographs to the Horse Records Manager. The Adoption Coordinator will then decide whether or not the prospective adoptive home meets the minimum standards of care (outlined in the Minimum Standards of Care Policy) necessary to become an adoptive home.

The Adoption Coordinator may refuse an adoption for any reason.

After reviewing the Inspection Worksheet and photographs, either the Adoption Coordinator will contact the applicant.

• If the application is not approved, the Adoption Coordinator will discuss the reasons the application was not approved and outline what the applicant must do in order to be approved.
• If the application is approved, the Adoption Coordinator will notify the applicant and determine which equine(s) the adopter is interested in visiting. The Adoption Coordinator will put the adopter in contact with the foster home for those equines. The adopter will have two weeks to visit the equine, decide whether or not he/she will adopt, and arrange transportation of the equine. After the two week time period, the next approved applicant in line for that equine may get the opportunity to adopt him/her. Extensions may be granted if the foster home is not available during the two week timeframe. If the applicant fills out an adoption contact and pays the adoption fee but is unable to pick up the equine within the two week time-frame, the adopter will be responsible for paying board to the foster home at the rate of $50/week.

An applicant who has not been approved may file an appeal in writing to the Board of Directors within seven (7) days of receiving notice that they were not approved, and the Board of Directors will discuss the appeal. The Board of Directors has final discretion in upholding a refused adoption.

When the applicant visits the equine(s) he/she wishes to adopt if the equine is ridable, he/she and any family members who will be riding the equine once he/she is adopted must ride the equine under the supervision of the foster home. All equines must be handled by the applicant under the supervision of the foster home.

If the foster home does not feel confident that the applicant can safely and easily handle the equine, the foster home can delay the adoption and request that the Board of Directors reconsider the adoption.

If the foster home feels confident that the applicant can safely and easily handle the equine, the adopter may sign an adoption contract, and pay the adoption fee.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES may an applicant transport an equine before he/she has signed an adoption contract and paid the adoption fee.

When adopting, the adopter signs a contract agreeing to:

• Never use the adopted equine for breeding
• Never use the adopted equine as a Embryo Transfer donor or recipient
• To never sell the adopted equine
• To not send the equine through an auction or to a slaughter house,
• To only give away, lease out, or otherwise dispose of the equine (aside from humane euthanasia) when approved by the Adoption Coordinator. This approval will only be granted if:
• The adopter has had the adopted equine for more than one year.
• The person the adopter wishes to rehome the equine with agrees to submit a BEHS adoption and is approved.
• The person the adopter wishes to rehome the equine with agrees to follow the rules and guidelines outlined in the BEHS adoption contract and is willing to submit to a pre-adoption inspection and follow-up inspections in accordance with the adoption contract.
• If the adopter cannot keep the equine and cannot/will not rehome the equine in accordance with the above requirements, the equine must be returned to BEHS if the adopter can no longer keep the equine
• Advise BEHS if the equine is moved from the location described on the adoption contract
• Notify BEHS if the equine dies or is euthanized
• Maintain the equine in proper condition and health in accordance with the BEHS Minimum Standards of Care Policy
• Agrees to give BEHS volunteers who are acting upon instructions from the Board of Directors, Officers, or the Adoption Follow Up Coordinator access to the equine, with or without notice, in order to verify the equine’s condition and health
• Immediately notify BEHS if he/she receives a citation for any criminal or civil offense related to animal abuse or neglect
• Indemnify and hold harmless BEHS, its officers, directors, members, and volunteers for any damage to property or persons caused by the equine(s) adopted from BEHS
• Pay all attorney fees, legal expenses, and court costs of BEHS incurred in connection with enforcement of the Adoption Contract
• Knowingly and voluntarily assume all risks associated with the adopted equine – including but not limited to inherent risks and risks of negligence

BEHS will maintain ownership of the adopted equine for two (2) years. During this time, BEHS will conduct the following post-adoption follow-up inspections:

• One to two (1 – 2) months after the date of the adoption contract
• Four to seven (4 – 7) months after the date of the adoption contract
• Eleven to thirteen (11 – 13) months after the date of the adoption contract
• Twenty-three to twenty-five (23 – 25) months after the date of the adoption contract
• Additionally as needed

After completion of the above requirements, BEHS will transfer ownership of the equine to the adopter. The adopter must sign and submit an adoption finalizing contract.