Adopt / Foster / Surrender
Adoption
Why Adopt?
Adopting a pet is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make. When you choose adoption, you’re not only giving an animal a second chance at life, but you're also helping reduce the number of homeless pets in shelters. Adoption means you’re providing a loving, permanent home for a pet in need, whether it's a playful puppy, a friendly adult, or a senior seeking comfort. It’s an opportunity to make a real difference in an animal’s life while gaining a loyal companion who will offer unconditional love and companionship for years to come. Plus, adoption supports a responsible and compassionate approach to pet ownership, ensuring that every animal has a chance to thrive.
Our Adoption Program
At Appalachian Animal Rescue Center, we are committed to providing a stress-free and supportive adoption experience for both our animals and adopters. Our goal is to ensure that every animal is matched with a loving home where they can thrive.
To adopt, you must be 21 years of age or older. A valid driver’s license and adoption fee payment are required to complete the adoption process.
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Adoption fees range from $65 to $200, depending on the animal’s species, breed, and individual needs. This fee helps cover essential veterinary care and services, including:
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Spay or neuter surgery
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Rabies vaccination
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Age-appropriate vaccinations
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Preventative medications such as Bravecto and Sentinel Spectrum
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Heartworm Test
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Revolution for Cats
Microchipping is available as an optional add-on for $15.
To ensure the best possible match, we strongly encourage adopters with existing pets to bring them for a meet-and-greet prior to adoption. This helps us ensure a smooth and successful transition for everyone involved. Our mission is to create lasting, loving bonds between families and their new furry companions.
Pets Ready for Their Forever Home
These lovable animals are waiting for their forever homes! Each one has their own unique personality, story, and endless love to give. Browse through their profiles to find your perfect companion, and let us help you start your adoption journey today. Together, we can give these deserving pets the second chance they deserve.
Become a Foster Parent
Our Foster Program is a vital part of our mission to save and care for animals in need. To become a foster with us, you’ll need to complete the Foster Questionnaire. Once approved, you can choose the animal you would like to foster. Fostering periods are typically limited to six months. As a foster parent, you’ll be asked to bring the animal(s) to adoption events, helping them get closer to finding their forever home. You’re also welcome to share photos, information, and videos of your foster animal on your social media to help promote their adoption. During the foster period, we provide veterinary care as needed to ensure the health and well-being of the animal. If your foster animal is adopted, the new family will come to the shelter to finalize the adoption process. Fosters are required to provide weekly updates to the shelter manager on the animal’s progress. Your dedication helps give these animals the loving care they need to thrive while waiting for their forever family.
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To get started, please fill out our questionnaire form online or download and print the form below.
Surrendering Animals
Appalachian Animal Rescue Center is a closed-intake facility. If you are needing to surrender an animal, please contact the shelter first; the shelter has a certain capacity they cannot go above. There is no cost to surrender an animal. Please make sure to research all animal rescues in the surrounding areas:
Rabun Paws4Life (Clayton, GA)
Highlands-Cashiers Humane Society (Cashiers, NC)
ARF (Sylva, NC)
P.A.W.S Animal Shelter (Bryson City, NC)
Catman2 (Sylva, NC)
Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation, INC (Waynesville, NC)
Valley River Humane Society (Marble, NC)
Foster-to-Adopt Program
Appalachian Animal Rescue Center also offers a Foster-to-Adopt Program, designed to help families ensure the animal is the right fit before finalizing the adoption.
With this program, adopters pay a non-refundable $25 deposit, which is applied toward the full adoption fee. This allows you to take the animal home the same day and experience how they adjust to your home, family, and lifestyle.
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Once the animal has been spayed or neutered, the adoption will be finalized on that day. At that time, you will pay the remaining balance of the adoption fee and receive the animal’s complete medical records.
Our team is here to support you throughout the entire process and answer any questions along the way.
ASPCA Spay & Neuter Partnership
We're proud to offer affordable spay and neuter services through our ASPCA partnership! We also offer low-cost spay and neuter for feral cats. Please note: For everyone's safety, feral cats must be brought in a small animal trap. Cat carriers cannot be accepted for feral cats.
Service | Price |
|---|---|
Feral Cat Services - Includes FVRCP and rabies vaccines | $20.00 |
Dogs (K9) - Includes a rabies vaccine | $80.00 |
Cats (Feline) - Includes a rabies vaccine | $50.00 |
Canine Distemper Vaccine | $10.00 |
Microchipping | $15.00 |
FVRCP Vaccine | $10.00 |
Bordetella Vaccine | $10.00 |