Frankie’s FriendsLoading…
Adopting
We are a small, all-volunteer rescue, so our process is personal rather than fast. Here is exactly what happens, what it costs, and what we ask of you — so you know before you spend time on an application.
Saving one animal won’t change the world, but for that one animal, the world will change forever.
Thank you for considering adoption. Whether you are looking for a loyal companion, a playful sidekick, or a gentle soul to welcome home, start with the animals we have right now:
Before submitting an adoption application, please review the following:
Start to finish this usually takes one to two weeks, depending on how quickly we can all find a time to meet.
About ten minutes, and nothing is binding — it is how we start a conversation. We read every one ourselves, then have a short, friendly phone call about your home, your routine, and what you are hoping for. If you rent, we confirm pets are allowed; if you have a vet, we call them; if you have never had a pet, we ask about your plan instead.
You meet the animal at their foster home, with their foster family there to answer questions. Bring everyone who lives with you, and your dog if you have one. Setting up a meeting does not guarantee adoption, but we only schedule meetings when we believe it could be a good fit.
Usually short and informal, often on the same visit as the meeting. We are looking for a safe fence and a sensible plan, not a show home.
You sign the adoption contract, pay the fee, and take your new friend home with their records and microchip paperwork. The fee covers spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccines, a microchip, deworming, flea and tick prevention, and a health test.
Spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccines, microchip and registration, deworming, flea and tick prevention, a heartworm or FeLV/FIV test, and any treatment the animal needed while in foster care.
The fee never covers our costs — most animals cost us more than we charge, and medical cases cost far more. The difference comes from donations. If the fee is the only thing standing between an animal and a genuinely good home, talk to us.
We match rather than queue. The foster family knows the animal best, and they help pick the home that fits — which is sometimes the third application, not the first. If we choose someone else, it is about fit, not about you.
Pending adoptions fall through more often than you would think. We keep backup applications, and we will tell you honestly where you stand.
We adopt within about a two-hour drive of Hampton Roads so we can do a home visit and stay in touch afterwards. We do not transport animals out of state.