How to Adopt A Pet from Heavenly Pet Sanctuary
If you would like to submit an application to adopt, click the appropriate button below and fill out a PDF copy of our application. When complete, either bring it to the shelter, or email it to us. Whatever is most comfortable for you works for us.
Our email address is friends@heavenlypet.org. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at (641) 919-1289. You may also request an application be mailed to you, or you may pick one up at the shelter during the day from 11am-4pm Monday-Saturday.
The purpose of our application is to learn more about you, it is not a test, we ask for three references, at least one should be a close family member, and the others preferably pet owners, friends who have been to your home and not co-workers. To expedite the processing of your application, please alert your references that we will be contacting them.
As soon as we receive your application, we will arrange a one on one phone or in-person interview to discuss the pet you are interested in, give you more information and the opportunity to ask questions. We’ll find out a little more about you and your home to assess the pet’s compatibility to your lifestyle.
If you live locally, we’ll request a home visit, again this is the best way to ensure that the pet you adopt will be suitably matched for your lifestyle and family situation.
Once your application is approved, you are ready to visit with your new pet! We request that as many family members as possible come to the shelter for the initial meeting, especially if you are adopting a dog. We do not recommend bringing your dog to the shelter to meet a perspective new companion for several reasons:
- Your dog will be in new territory and may be uneasy or fearful
- It’s difficult to get an accurate reading on compatibility when two dogs meet for the first time, especially when one is in a strange place.
- We recommend more gradual introductions with the use of kennels or crates to ease the transition and create safe spaces for the new dog to feel secure in.
For cat adoptions you are required to bring an adequately sized kennel for transport, the kennel must be full sized for an adult cat and we recommend a medium size for kittens so they can fit once they grow larger. Cats should not be transported without a secure hard or soft pet kennel system.
Dog Adoption fees start at $100+ for adult dogs and includes neutering or spaying, flea/tick treatment, heartworm test, vaccinations, worming, and microchip. Puppies start at $125 with a $25 refundable neuter/spay deposit, if the procedure has not been done and all of the above.
Cat Adoption Fees are $75 for adult cats and includes neutering and spaying, Feline Leukemia test, worming and vaccinations, flea and earmite treatment if necessary. Kittens adoptions start at $50+, and include the same treatments as adult cats with the exception of neutering and spaying if they are under 5 months old.
Our Adoption Guarantee to you, if for any reason your new pet is not working out, we will take the pet back and refund your adoption fee in full if it is during the first 30 days. After that time and at any time in your adopted pets life, if you are unable to keep your adopted dog or cat, for whatever reason, or if it becomes ill, we will take it back for safe keeping without question.
Follow-up: You have adopted a beloved member of the Heavenly Pet family. Your pet was originally rescued and rehabilitated as part of the shelter’s program and has lived here for months and in some cases years while receiving loving care from our staff and volunteers. We take a great interest in their ongoing well being and want to stay in touch with you to follow their progress in their new home. One of our staff will from time to time be in touch with you by phone or email to ask about your adopted pet and to see if you need any assistance. We love photos!
Iowa State Law has determined that until a pet that has been adopted from a state licensed agency (animal shelter) is neutered or spayed, legal ownership is not conferred to the adopter. Simply stated this means that every pet leaving our shelter that is not already neutered or spayed must be altered by a veterinarian and proof provided to our shelter in a timely manner (as stated in the adoption agreement) in order for you to be the legal owner of the adopted pet. Neutering and spaying is not optional, it is a mandatory requirement. Under state law, we are required to reclaim any adopted pet that has not been altered by the new owner within a specific time frame. As a licensed shelter, our records are inspected annually and we must show that every pet we adopt out has been neutered or spayed in addition to all the pets in our care.
A note about Adoption Fees: Our adoption fees are very reasonable, they represent a 200% savings to you the adopter over what you would pay for the same procedures at a veterinarian’s office. Vaccinations, neutering, testing, preventative care all have a price tag of hundreds of dollars which we have taken care of for you.
We hope that the savings we’ve provided will be passed on to your pets in the way of high quality premium pet food, regular check-ups and dental care for your cat or dog as needed. Please take a few moments to look over the information contained in your adoption package which will give you tips on the best foods to buy, pet to pet introductions, training, when to vaccinate and why giving fewer vaccines is now considered better and safer.
Again your Heavenly Pet team is always ready to help you with any problems or questions that may arise during your initial weeks and months with your new pet.