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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Before You Adopt The Adoption Process Submit An Adoption Application

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General FAQs
Animal FAQs
Adoption Process FAQs
Adoption Donation FAQs
General FAQs

Question: Are you a "kill shelter"?
Answer: Absolutely not! We are a "no kill shelter". No kill shelters are animal shelters/rescues which pledge not to euthanize, meaning that adoptable or medically treatable animals are saved and adopted, no matter how long the adoption process might take.

Question: Why does it take so long for someone to respond to me?
Answer: Everyone involved in responding to rescue inquiries (via phone, mail, email or website) is a volunteer during their "free time". We all work normal jobs, have family responsibilities etc. So we can only get to your inquiries after those activities. We ask for your patience and understanding.

Question: Why should I donate to your rescue?
Answer: To help us save more lives! Adoption donations fall far short of the actual medical, behavioral and boarding expenses that our rescue incurs. The difference is made up from cash donations, grants and affiliate programs advertised on our website. Without donations, our rescue would cease to exist. All general donations to our rescue are 100% tax deductible. We also do not have any paid staff, so every penny goes straight to homeless animals.

Donate any amount you can to support the general care of our animals. No donation is too small. We need monetary donations for the purpose of vetting, housing, transport, medicine and all of the other expenses we incur every day. One-time donations are appreciated; however we also could benefit from regular sponsors for the animals that we support on an ongoing basis. You can also name our organization as a beneficiary of your estate or life insurance policy.

Question: If I need to give-up my animal, will you take it?
Answer: We do not typically accept animals that an individual owner is looking to surrender. We save our limited foster home space for animals that are in danger of being euthanized. On occasion, we have been known to make an exception when an animal is in danger or the animal's living conditions are such that immediate action must be taken in order to ensure the animal's safety. The animal must, however, present no danger to the other occupants (humans, dogs, cats, etc.) of the foster home.

Even though we can't take your animal into our rescue, we are always glad to speak with individual owners. We can answer any questions an owner may have if s/he is being forced to give up an animal and we can also place a courtesy posting on Petfinder. We don't want these animals to end up in a local pound or abandoned on the street.
Animal FAQs

Question: Where do your animals come from?
Answer: The majority of animals that we rescue are saved from kill shelters. Our primary partnership is with the Hartford Pound in Newington, CT. At the Hartford Pound, animals are only provided 10 days to be adopted before being euthanized. On occasion we will offer assistance to long distance pounds and shelters. We rescue as many dogs/cats as we are able to, regardless of breed, age or those with special needs.

Question: Where do you keep your animals while they are waiting to be adopted?
Answer: Up until recently, Sadie Mae Foundation kept limited shelter space, rented from a local kennel, and it was maintained by volunteers; however we have since lost use of that facility. We are currently searching out a new property. Until then, our animals are in foster homes with volunteers that are dedicated to giving these animals the chance they deserve. Our volunteers evaluate our animals' personalities and temperaments. They care for the animals and provide necessary socialization. These foster homes are our most valuable resource in placing our animals in their permanent 'forever home'. We know that without them this would not be possible.

Question: Why does my new animal have to be spayed/neutered?
Answer: We require every animal to be spayed/neutered because our organization sees the devastating effects of animal overpopulation every day.
Adoption Process FAQs

Question: If I don't have a fence, will you automatically reject my adoption application?
Answer: Just because you don't have a fenced-in yard, doesn't mean you can't adopt from us. Not all animals need to have a fenced-in yard. Our rescue evaluates each animal's individual temperament and needs to determine if a fenced yard would or would not be required for that particular animal. Additionally, we are open to some alternatives, such as dog walkers and doggie daycare.

Question: If I have never owned a dog/cat before, will you automatically reject my adoption application?
Answer: It's okay if you haven't owned a dog/cat before. If you don't have veterinary references to provide to our rescue, we may ask for other personal references.
Adoption Donation FAQs

Question: Why do I need to pay an "adoption donation" in order to adopt an animal?
Answer: There are three main reasons we require an "adoption donation". We want to:
  1. recover some of the money we spent to properly care for the animal;
  2. ensure you are serious about adopting an animal; and
  3. continue to save more lives.
Many people do not realize the cost of rescuing animals. Here is a general breakdown of the basic expenses that we pay for virtually every dog/cat that we rescue:

Basic Expenses

Pull Fees (fees we must pay to local pounds in order to 'pull' animals from their facilities - yes they charge us for that!)
Cost of a boarding facility, if there are no foster homes available
Feeding costs for animals
Grooming (many animals come in matted and dirty from being on the streets)
Full medical evaluation from a veterinarian
Full set of vaccinations
Heart Worm test
Fecal test and deworming medication, if necessary
Spay or neuter surgery, if age appropriate
Monthly Heart Worm preventative
Monthly flea/tick preventative (seasonal)

These are just the basics. Then there are extended care expenses. Here is a list of just some of these kinds of expenses:

Extended Expenses

Dental work, such as extraction of rotted teeth
Medicated baths or ointments for skin conditions, such as Mange, lesions, rashes or allergies
Medication for eye infections, ear infections
Heart Worm diagnostics/treatment
Tumor/Cancer diagnostics/surgery
Cherry Eye surgery
Medication for kennel cough, respiratory infections etc.
Behavior training
The bills are staggering!

Our organization saves these animals and provides all of this care so that they will have a better life in a permanent "forever home". We don't want to see them surrendered back to a pound or abandoned back on the streets in a few years. This is why we want to ensure that you are serious about adopting an animal.

There are many people who don't value what they get for free. A new family's willingness to pay an adoption fee helps to demonstrate that they're financially able and willing to provide proper care for the pet.

Lastly, "adoption donations" also go back into the rescue's bank account so that funds are available for the next animal that finds itself in an urgent, life-or-death situation.

Question: Don't the veterinarians donate their services so you get free medical services?
Answer: No, we do not get free veterinary services. We do get reduced vet fees. Don't get us wrong, our veterinarians are very good to us and we could not do it without them, but they still must make a living and cover their expenses.

Question: What do you do when the dog/cat costs more than the "adoption donation"?
Answer: We do not deny care or turn away animals based on their medical or behavioral training needs. Since our adoption fee generally does not cover the cost of a dog's/cat's care, we rely heavily on fundraising and donations to make up the difference. We are a non-profit group and all non-adoption donations are gratefully accepted and tax deductible.

Question: Is the "adoption donation" negotiable?
Answer: For all the reasons described above, "adoption donations" are not generally negotiable. We simply could not continue to rescue animals if we negotiated lower "adoption donations" all the time. However, if you have a significant, personal hardship that you feel we should consider, please discuss this with us prior to submitting an application to adopt an animal.