​Adoption Rules

​Adoption Fees*

1. The adopter is acquiring the above-described animal solely as a pet for himself/herself and for the immediate family. 
2. The animal shall reside at the adopter’s address. 
3. The animal will not be abused in any manner, beaten or treated cruelly, nor shall it be subjected to any biological or chemical experiment.
4. The adopter shall allow the animal indoors to interact with the family when they are home. Cats will reside inside the house and never be allowed to roam freely outdoors.
5. The adopter will provide sufficient food, daily fresh water, and daily exercise for the animal. 
6. During the family’s absence, a dog must be contained or confined for his safety, with access to shelter, food and water. Adopter will NOT permit the dog to run free or off-leash or out of immediate control. The adopted dog will never be “tied out” or “staked out” or “penned out”. 
7. The adopter shall provide a collar and identification tag for the animal to wear at all times if allowed to go outside. 
8. The adopter shall provide the animal with humane care and maintain it in accordance with all current and future state, county and municipal laws and ordinances where the adopter resides. 
9. The adopter shall provide the animal with necessary veterinary care upon sickness, disease, or injury. In addition, the adopter shall take the animal to a veterinarian once a year for an annual health examination and routine vaccinations. The adopter agrees to test a dog annually for Heartworm and to maintain the dog on Heartworm Prevention medication throughout the year. 
10. It is recommended that the adopter take the animal to a licensed veterinarian within 1 week after adoption. 
11. CAWL has made every effort to provide an animal to the adopter that has received all required inoculations, has been spayed or neutered, and is in good health. However, CAWL does not warrant the physical condition of the animal and cannot be held liable for any illness or infirmity the pet may possess. 
12. The adopter will make every attempt to keep this animal for the rest of the animal’s life AND WILL NOT TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OR CUSTODY TO ANOTHER PERSON, BUSINESS OR ANY ANIMAL SHELTER. Excluding those reasons listed in #13, if the animal cannot be kept for any reason, the adopter agrees to return it to CAWL. The adopter agrees to give CAWL reasonable time to intake, rehome the animal or place the animal in an approved foster home, if available. 
13. CAWL reserves the right to decline the return of an animal for the following reasons:

• If CAWL determines the animal is aggressive and/or dangerous.
• If the animal is terminally ill.
• If there is no space for the animal in the CAWL system.
• If it is determined that the animal would likely be unadoptable for reasons such as; but not limited to: advanced age, behavioral problems, or certain medical conditions. (CAWL does not wish to warehouse the animal for the rest of its life, thereby causing pain and suffering to the animal and additional expense for CAWL.)

1. The adoption donation will not be refunded after 1 week for dogs and 2 weeks for cats. A $50.00 processing fee may be deducted from any refunded amount.
2. The adopter, from the date of this contract, agrees to release and indemnify CAWL from any and all claims, known and unknown, now or hereafter arising in connection with the animal.
3. The adopter agrees to allow the inspection of the home and the conditions in which the animal is living at any time by CAWL. The adopter also consents to reclamation of the animal by CAWL at any time for failure to comply with the terms of this contract or for any misrepresentation of fact made by the adopter on the CAWL “Application for Adoption”, incorporated by reference.
4. The adopter agrees to pay CAWL any and all expenses, including court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees, in enforcing the terms and provisions of this contract.
5. The adopter and CAWL agree that the actual value of the animal is $250.00 for puppies less than 6 months of age, $200.00 for dogs/puppies under the age of 6 years and $175.00 for dogs/puppies over the age of 6 years, $130.00 for cats/kittens. 
6. If the adopter violates any of the above conditions and the CAWL Board of Directors decides by simple majority that it is no longer in the animal’s best interest to remain in the home/custody of the adopter, the adopter hereby authorizes a duly authorized representative of CAWL to immediately remove and confiscate the animal without notice.
7. By adopting this animal, the adopter agrees to absolve CAWL of any liability for any damages caused by the animal.
8. Finally, the adopter acknowledges that CAWL wishes to safeguard the health and well being of the animal, to protect the animal against neglect, abuse and cruelty. To that end, the adopter enters into this Agreement freely and with good will.

• The adoption fee for Dogs is $200
• The adoption fee for Puppies is $250
• Dogs 6 years and older are $175
• Our adoption fee for cats and kittens is $130
• All dogs are current on shots, wormed, have been heartworm tested, on heartworm preventative, are microchipped, spayed or neutered.
  
• All cats are current on shots, wormed, FELV/FIV tested neg., are microchipped, spayed or neutered.
  
  *We reserve the right to adjust fees higher or lower as needed based on breed, costs, and other factors. Please call to confirm.

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Adoption Documents

Puppy Policy

Because of the special care, time, training and extra demands that a puppy places on households, we have puppy adoptions policies in place. Please click here to to view those policies.

Kitten Adoption Policy

Our policy is to find the right home for each kitten and the right kitten for each home. Please review our kitten adoption policy here.

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​Our Adoption process

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ADOPTING AND SAVING A LIFE!
From experience of adopting out thousands of animals over the years, our process and policies have been put in place to ensure the success of securing the best life long home for our animals. 
​
The Calvert Animal Welfare League accepts applications in person during our adoption hours each weekend.
At CAWL, we like to personally meet all members of our applicants household.
This gives you an opportunity to meet each animal and learn about their personality and requirements as well as giving us the opportunity to meet you and your family. All of our animals are placed in the best fit home for them, never on a first come first serve basis.
Completion of an application does not guarantee approval for that particular animal or any animal in general.
We reserve the right to approve or deny any application based on the animal’s needs. Our adoption process includes a home visit and setting up an appointment to do a “meet and greet” with any other dogs in the household and the entire family.
You will be contacted if you have been selected to complete the adoption process.