Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find some of our most frequently asked questions. We have an Adoption FAQ section, a Foster FAQ section, and a Volunteer FAQ section. If you do not see the question you have in our lists below, please contact us here.

Adoption FAQ

WHERE CAN I ADOPT AN ANIMAL?

We do not have our own adoption site.  We have multiple retail partners that help us find adoptive homes for our foster animals. Cats and kittens can be found at Petco stores in Brooklyn Park, Fridley and Coon Rapids.  PetSmart locations in Maple Grove, Maplewood, Plymouth, Roseville and Shakopee.  Chuck & Don’s locations include Blaine, Coon Rapids, Elk River, East Plymouth, West Plymouth, Maple Grove and North Oaks. And Pets Supplies Plus in Blaine and Fridley.  All of our canines are in foster homes.  Our puppies and dogs attend Adoption Day events and foster parents can schedule meet and greets with you.

WHAT ARE YOUR ADOPTION FEES?

Our adoption fees vary per animal, but they are generally:

Cats:

  • Kittens up to 9 months: $255

  • 9 months to 2 years: $200

  • Over 2 years: $175

Siamese or exotic cats and kittens as well as declawed cats may have higher adoption fees.

Dogs:

  • Puppies: $500-$600+

  • Dogs: $150-$400 (depending on age and breed)



 WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTION FEE?

All animals are spayed/neutered and are up-to-date on vaccinations, based on the age of the animal. All animals are dewormed. Cats will be tested for feline leukemia (FeLV). And all pets are microchipped.

NOTE: Additional vaccinations may be necessary after adoption to complete a series. These are the responsibility of the adopter.

You also receive (at no charge to you) 30-days of Pet Insurance.  You must contact the insurance company to activate the insurance – it takes 24 hours to activate in their system, so please contact them the day of your adoption.

 

WHAT VACCINATIONS DO YOU GIVE THE ANIMALS?

All cats and kittens receive the distemper vaccine which covers distemper and three of the common upper respiratory (UR) viruses for felines. Dogs receive the distemper vaccine which also covers hepatitis, parvo and parainfluenza. Bordetella vaccines are given to dogs on a case by case need. Cats and dogs over 16 weeks generally have a rabies vaccine prior to adoption. We encourage you to share the health record you were given at adoption with your vet. They will let you know when they recommend additional vaccines when you visit for future care.


HOW DOES THE ADOPTION PROCESS WORK?  

  • CATS/KITTENS: For cats and kittens housed at our adoption centers, we require online applications at www.aohrescue.org/cat-adoption-application. Your application is forwarded to the Adoption Ambassador for the store the animal is located, applications are reviewed and if we feel it is a great fit for the animal(s), we will set up a meet and greet with you and the cat/kitten.

For cats housed at Chuck & Don’s locations and Pets Supplies Plus locations, the retail staff is able to help you meet and answer questions about the animal. You will be asked to submit an online application (as above). We do a thorough interview at the Adoption Centers – either by a Store Cat Care Associate or member of AOH Rescue when possible. The Store Associate will provide our contact information if more information is needed. You will complete an application and receive a copy of the Health History for your adoptive animal.

  •  DOGS/PUPPIES: For dogs and puppies, we require online applications be completed as well: Dog Adoption Application.  We will try to determine if this is the right dog for your home and family. We’ll have a thorough conversation with you to determine your needs and preferences. Then find out about your daily schedule and talk about your previous experience with pets.

Upon acceptance, a meeting with your possible angel will be facilitated by one of our adoption coordinators. This is when you, the foster, and your possible angel will see if it’s a good fit.

  • FOR RENTERS (cats and dogs): You will need to provide written proof from your landlord that animals are permitted, how many and that they do not have a Declaw policy/requirement. We may want to follow up with your landlord to ensure that animals are permitted.

HOW DO I PAY THE ADOPTION FEES?

For the adoption payment, we accept cash and may be able to accept a charge/debit, depending on location, with a convenience fee. We do not accept checks.

 

CAN AN ANGEL OF HOPE ANIMAL BE ADOPTED OUT OF STATE?

If you live out of state and want to adopt one of our foster pets, you will need to start with an application. You will also need to share with us your plan to get your pet home if you live a greater distance. All adopters are required to come here to meet the pets and agree that if you need to return the pet, you will bring it back to us.

 

IF I AM THE FIRST TO APPLY FOR AN ANIMAL, WILL I GET IT? 

We are not a first-come, first-served rescue. We try our hardest to find the best match for our animals and adopters. Being the first doesn’t hurt, but it’s not a guarantee. We commit to being as open and honest about the selection process as we can. We want to ensure both parties are the “right fit” and are happy!

 

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW BIG A PUPPY IS GOING TO GET? 

Unfortunately, no. We usually don’t know either of the puppy’s parents, so we have no idea what lies in his or her gene pool. We love updates on our puppies to see how they are doing and if our breed guess was close.

 

WHAT DO I DO IF I ADOPT AN AOH ANIMAL AND START HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT?

Let us know – the sooner the better! We have a large pool of volunteers who have been doing this for a long time and may have experience dealing with whatever issue you may be facing.

 

WHAT IF I CANNOT KEEP MY AOH ANIMAL?

If for any reason, you cannot keep your animal, let us know as soon as possible. We do our best to take back animals but since we are a foster-based rescue, that will be dependent on the availability of space in our foster homes. The sooner you notify us the better as we sometimes need several weeks for space to open up. If we cannot take the pet back, we will try to help you find alternatives for the pet. Do NOT bring to the Humane Society or another rescue.


I NEED TO SURRENDER A PET THAT I DID NOT ADOPT FROM AOH. CAN YOU HELP?

We are happy to help re-homing pets provided we have space in a foster home and the animal meets our adoption criteria.  Please visit our website for more info on our adoption criteria.

 

WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU NEED TO RE-HOME MY PET?

Please complete the Surrender form on our website at www.aohrescue.org/forms. AOH will contact you via email. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help offset the costs of taking your pet into our program.

Foster FAQ

WHY FOSTER?

Fosters play a very important part in any rescue program. Fostering is a very rewarding, enriching experience. You are providing a comfortable, safe and loving environment, yummy food to eat and lots of play time! It can often be very helpful when adopting the animals to their forever homes, as it helps us to know (through you) the animals better which helps us find the best homes. You will work with a Foster Home Coordinator (FHC) to help ensure a successful foster placement.  AOH is in constant need of foster homes for cats and dogs while they await adoption. AOH will be happy to work with you to meet your needs and match the best foster pet to your household.

WHAT KIND OF ANIMALS CAN I FOSTER?

Angel of Hope (AOH) rescues cats and dogs of all breeds and sizes. Some animals that need fostering are for socialization reasons (timid/scared, or extra spicy), some animals are for medical reasons, some are waiting on vet appointments or surgeries, or are recovering from a surgery, etc.  There are many different reasons animals need to be fostered before they can be adopted to their forever families.  We’ll work with you to make sure you are matched with the animal(s) you feel comfortable with.

HOW LONG WILL I HAVE MY FOSTER?

It varies – depending on the animal and demand. Fostering an animal can be as short as an overnight stay after surgery to a longer-term commitment that lasts until the animal gets adopted.  We generally say fostering an animal can last anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of months, all depending on the animal and situation.

 WILL FOSTERING COST ME ANYTHING?

AOH pays for all necessary items while fostering – food, litter (if cats), litter boxes and veterinary care. All you will need is to provide a safe and loving home – and patience!

WHAT IF I ALREADY HAVE ANIMALS IN MY HOME. CAN I STILL FOSTER?

Yes! Most of our fosters and volunteers have pets. You will want to separate your fosters from your pets (at least to start), but it sometimes helps us know more about the animals and how they interact with other animals, kids, etc.

WHAT IF I FALL IN LOVE WITH MY AOH FOSTER? CAN I ADOPT THEM?  

Absolutely! We would be thrilled to have you give your foster a permanent home. Let your FHC know you are interested in adopting as soon as you know. You will still go through the adoption process (online application/approval) and all adoption fees still apply.

WHAT IF MY AOH FOSTER NEEDS TO GO TO THE VET?

If you have a concern about your foster, contact your FHC to determine if the pet needs a vet visit and which vet is appropriate for the situation. We have many vet tech and experienced rescue volunteers who are able to provide routine care such as vaccines and exams.



WHAT IF I HAVE TO GO OUT OF TOWN?

Let us know of your plans as early as possible so we can find a temporary foster. If you have a friend, neighbor or family member who would be a suitable temporary foster, let us know.

Volunteer FAQ

HOW DO I BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

To become a volunteer or foster for Angel of Hope, simply complete a Volunteer Application. If you are under 16, a parent needs to be with you. If you are 16-18 you need parental consent. Anyone you are 18 or older, please just complete the volunteer form and let us know what you’re interested in doing. Someone from our team will be in contact you within the next couple of days.

WHAT VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ARE NEEDED?

  • Cat Care: Work within an adoption center to care for the kitties daily.  Feeding, cleaning and giving them much needed interaction.\

  • Fostering: We are always looking for responsible, loving homes that can take in a cat or dog for a period of time.  These animals need tender loving care while you help them prepare for a forever home.

  • Vet Tech Assistants: Assisting vet staff during exams, assist with lab work (including fecals, blood work, UA), administering and helping manage medications and entering medical records into our software.

  • Transporters: (taking animals to the vet, from shelters, from the foster home to adoption events, transporting food, etc.) Kennels and leashes provided as well as blankets or towels to protect your vehicle.

  • Helping Hands:  We would love to bring all of our available animals to adoption events, but often can't due to lack of hands. If you can hold a leash or an animal, we would love to see you there.

  • Donation Collectors:  Collect new or used items for our animals (newspapers, blankets or towels, stuffed toys, treats) and contact us to pick them up. A great activity for kids and a wonderful way to recycle used items!

  • Volunteers for Events & Fundraisers: We plan and organize events throughout the year to raise money for our animals.  We always need people to help plan and prepare these events so they are successful.

  • Administrative/Clerical: We always need volunteers to help with miscellaneous office projects such as data entry, filing, editing website descriptions, phone calls, bulk mailings, prepping foster and adoption packets; as well as general cleaning of crates, laundry, organizing supplies, etc. ALSO:  Cat Care at our Adoption Centers!

  • Specialized Skills:  Do you have experience with photography, dog behavior/training, grooming, web design skills, vet tech training, or other specialized skills? If so, we always need additional help in these areas.

  • Donations: Sometimes we take in animals that need extensive medical care. This can really drain a rescue. When you donate money to our rescue, 100% of it goes directly to the animals in our care.

  • We also need small blankets for our Adoption Centers – we like to give one of the blankets from the kitty kennels to our adopters so that the kitties have something familiar for them to feel more comfortable when adopted. Fleece tie blankets (24” x 32”) work great!