Adoption Process & Guidelines

Below is important information that you need to be aware of prior to submitting an Adoption Application.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

Adoption Process

  • Applications MUST be submitted via the website. This is the first step in the process. ​ ​ ​

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  • Please understand that the adoption process can take a few days, weeks, or longer depending upon availability of references, home visits, animal availability, etc.  One of the biggest holdups we find when processing applications is that they are missing information, such as names and phone numbers for references, veterinarians and landlords.  Please double check your application before you submit to ensure that all sections are fully completed.   ​

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  • Once your application has been received and the process has started, someone from our team will contact you via phone, email or both to let you know where we are at in the process and what the next step(s) will be.  ​

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  • Our goal is a forever home vs. a faster home! For this reason, being the first to submit an application for a particular animal does not automatically mean you will be the approved adopter.  There are several factors that go into making these decisions and order of submission is only a small piece of the process.  ​

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  • This is perhaps the most important part:  Please be patient.  We are a very small group of people, made up of volunteers and staff who also have 1-2 other jobs and families to care for.  We do the best we can with the resources we have and we appreciate your understanding.  

Adoption Guidelines


1.  All adopters must be 18 years of age or older. 

2.  All animals in your home must be spayed/neutered and current on age appropriate vaccinations.  Even if the application is for an outdoor/barn/shop cat, resident animals must be spayed/neutered and current on age appropriate vaccinations. The only exceptions to these guidelines are ones given by your veterinarian and does not necessarily mean the application will be approved. 

3.  All shelter animals will be spayed or neutered before adoptions are finalized.

4. Any animal adopted through the Marshmallow Animal Shelter will not be allowed to roam at large and must be provided suitable shelter, food, and water at all times pursuant to Minnesota State Statute 346.20.​​ 

5. All animals adopted through the Marshmallow Animal Shelter will be kept in the house, not in a kennel or as a yard animal, and the animal will not be kept chained or on a tie-out unsupervised at any time. ​​Exception to this would be the adoption of a barn/shop kitty and the contract would reflect this special situation. 

6. ​​All animals adopted through the Marshmallow Animal Shelter  will be started on appropriate vaccinations and deworming medicines before leaving. Please note, we do not have the resources to check all animal systems and ensure they are completely  parasite free, etc. prior to adoption.  The shelter environment is an ever changing one with new animals arriving every day in various conditions of health. Therefore it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you take your newly adopted pet(s) to your veterinarian for a wellness exam upon adoption. The adopting party understands and agrees to follow up with their veterinarian after the adoption has been completed.

7. Any animal adopted through the Marshmallow Animal Shelter may NEVER be sold, transferred, abandoned, euthanized* or given away. If at any time you are unable to care for the adopted animal, please contact our office so that we can try and help with your situation.  Per the contract, you are required to bring the animal back to the Marshmallow Animal Shelter if we cannot work out another solution, however we always try to exhaust every possible option before bringing the animal back into the shelter environment as it is very stressful for the animal.  *This does not apply to humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian due to age or health.

8. The adopting party assumes all responsibility for said animal including but not limited to food bills, shelter, health care and general well-being.​​ The adopting party agrees to notify the shelter immediately if the adopted animal ever goes missing so that the shelter can use their resources to help locate the animal as soon as possible. 

9. The adopting ​​party understands that the Marshmallow Animal Shelter has no prior history on any animal and does not guarantee that any animal is house trained, free from stress or bad habits or "purebred".  The Marshmallow Animal Shelter has the right to refuse any application for any reason and need not make that reason known to the applicant. 

 

In addition to choosing the type of animal, you need to determine if you have the sufficient time, resources, energy, and money to properly care and provide for your new pet. Our team can help you with this process. Our goal is to place pets with the best family available where the needs of the adoptable pet and the family are both being met. It is our hope that we will make that match easy and rewarding for all parties involved and promote a "pet for life" attitude! 

Browse our  Adoptable Cats   and  Adoptable Dogs   sections on this website and you will get a preview of the variety of animals we have available for adoption. 

 


Click here for Dog Application.

 

 


Click here for Cat Application.