Adopt

Shiba Inu Rescue Association Adoption Process

So you've seen the beautiful, headstrong breed known as the Shiba Inu. You've looked at your living situation and decided that you are ready to open your home to a homeless Shiba. Now the question is, how do you adopt one? Below is SIRA's adoption process explained. Please read all the information as our process may differ from other shelters or rescue organizations you may have looked into adopting from. We currently CANNOT accept applications from people outside of the Midwest region. Our service area includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

The first step in adopting a rescue Shiba from SIRA is to fill out our adoption application. This allows us to find out more about you and your family, your living situation and what you are looking for in a forever friend. You must complete all applicable fields in the application and be as detailed as possible. Incomplete applications will be returned for correction. Click this file: sira_adoptionapplication-updated-12-4-2017.docx to download the application. When you have completed it, please send it in the form of a word document or PDF to adoptsirashibas@gmail.com. No other formats will be accepted and please do not copy and paste the application into an email. If you have any problems or questions do not hesitate to contact us at the above email address.
Once we receive and review your application, we will call and verify your references. All applicants are REQUIRED to provide TWO non-related references that do not reside in your home. These should be people who have been around your pets or are familiar with your pet experience If that is not possible (i.e. you have never owned pets or have not owned any for many years) please provide references who know you well.
If you currently own or have owned pets, you will need to provide us with your most recent veterinarian's information and please contact them to grant permission to release your records to Shiba Inu Rescue Association. Failure to do so will result in a delay of the adoption process.
If you are renting, you will need to provide us with your landlord's information. Please also let us know of any breed/weight/pet restrictions set by your landlord. We will be calling to verifying all information. It might be helpful to let your landlord know we will be contacting them. If we cannot verify that you are allowed to have a dog, it delays the process.
Once the application is approved and references are checked, we will find a volunteer to perform your home visit. The volunteer will make arrangements to visit with you in your home. PLEASE NOTE: ALL FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, MUST BE PRESENT FOR THE ENTIRE HOME VISIT. The home visit gives us the opportunity to discuss with you and your family any issues or potential dangers for the dog (i.e. exposed wires, possible escape issues, etc. ). We can then offer suggestions of how to Shiba-prof your home and management techniques to keep the dog safe and everyone happy. This is also the time for us to find out and discuss with you exactly what your are looking for in a dog, and what will fit best with your family.
Find your forever friend! Once your home visit has been completed and you have been approved to adopt, you may begin the search for your forever friend. Use the email links on the dogs' bio pages to contact the foster families and let them know you are interested in their foster.
Foster families care for the rescued shibas in their home for an average of 6-8 weeks. They evaluate the dogs and find out how they are with adults, children, dogs, cats and other pets if possible. They know how much stimulation and activity their foster dog needs in addition to any training that may be needed in the future.
All potential adopters are required to meet their new dogs in person and resident dogs must meet the foster dog. There is also a 24 hour waiting period before adoption may occur.
If you are not able to adopt the first dog you are interested in, please do not be discouraged. This does not mean you are not a good home for a rescue Shiba, it only means that there was another family who's situation was better for that particular dog. Keep looking and inquire when you see a dog you are interested in. Your perfect match is out there and you will find it. We will help you in the process!

ADOPTION!
Once you have found your perfect match and the foster home has approved you to adopt their foster dog, an adoption day will be arranged. All resident dogs must meet potential new dogs. We require a waiting period as well. Before your forever friend comes home, you will need to be sure you have all the necessary supplies to care for your new Shiba. A Shopping Check List is available for you to use. You will be required to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian within the first 10 days of adoption and provide proof of such check up to the adoption coordinator. The final stop in the process is to sign the adoption contract and pay the adoption fee!

Adoption fees vary depending on the age of the dog:
Puppies under 6 months = $500.00
Puppies 6 months to 1 year = $400.00
Adolescent 1-3 years = $350.00
Young Adult 4-6 years = $300.00
Adult 7-9 years = $250.00
Senior 10+ years = $200.00

Shiba Inu Rescue Association reserves the right to deny any applicant at any stage in the adoption process for any reason.

ADOPTABLE DOGS!

FAWN

Meet Fawn! Fawn is a leggy 10-year-old, 23-lb Shiba Inu mix that was released to SIRA from a shelter where she lived for 6 months. Fawn's owner of 9 years surrendered her after she moved to an assisted living facility and could no longer keep her. The shelter was a scary and stressful environment for Fawn and she barely ate -- and lost a lot of weight. The shelter staff felt that she had a serious illness and released her to SIRA for hospice care. However, it was clear once Fawn came into foster care that she was just sad -- grieving for her family -- and stressed, and lonely. That sad time is long gone for Fawn! After a short time in a loving foster home, Fawn is thriving and finally beginning to put on weight. Fawn has received a clean bill of health from SIRA's vet. Fawn's foster mom says that she has all the good looks and quirkiness of a Shiba without the cat-like aloofness. Fawn is a snuggle bug! Fawn has also found her inner puppy again! Her favorite activities are running dozens of "shiba 500" laps in the backyard with her foster brothers, playing tug with squeaky toys, prancing excitedly around the house and cuddling on the couch. She currently sleeps in bed with her whole foster family and loves snuggling as close as possible to foster mom or dad. Fawn also likes to follow her foster parents around and will place her chin on their knee, waiting patiently with pleading puppy-dog eyes for some head pats. She is a very polite girl and knows "sit," "lay down," and "stay." She won't jump-up on furniture with you unless she is invited (even though her foster brofurs do it all the time!). Her foster mom says Fawn is "the easiest dog she's ever walked," she's very attentive and gentle on leash. Fawn would do best with a patient and experienced family with no human children, since Fawn is still very sensitive about the way she is approached and touched and could be a bite risk if crowded or pestered. She will need an owner who can learn to read her body language and continue to help her work through a few anxieties about strangers, being picked up, and having her paws touched. Fawn would do fine being an "only" pet or with another animal. She has not been tested with cats, but it is believed she would be fine. Fawn is spayed and up to date on shots. Do you want to be Fawn's cuddle buddy for the next half of her days? If you live in the Midwest and you’re interested in Fawn – download an application to become approved to adopt. Fawn is fostered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

CHUCKLES

Are you looking for an easy-going, handsome buddy to hang out with? Meet Chuckles! This little guy was brought to freedom after spending his first 8 years in a commercial breeder. His foster mom says that he is LOVING his new life! Once he feels comfortable with his person, he shows it by attention. He will follow you around the house and make sure to always know where you are. Chuckles is still learning to appreciate some of the comforts of life as a pampered pet. He's not a cuddler and isn't yet comfortable on big, cushy objects (couches, beds, etc). Given the choice, he will pick a secluded corner on hard floor rather than a nice comfy doggy bed. Like many mature gentlemen, Chuckles is not in a hurry. He moves at his own pace (a bit slower than some Shibas) and can be a bit stubborn when asked to learn new tricks (well, he IS a Shiba, after all!). He loves being outside, but is nervous when he encounters strangers (especially men) and when it is noisy outside. The ideal home for Chuckles would be on a quiet street in a home with either a backyard or a nice dog park to run around in. Chuckles would do well as an only dog, or with another easy-going respectful dog. He is curious to meet new dogs, but often is ready to move on after a few good sniffs. He has done well with his foster sister (a female Shiba) and has opened up with her. Over time, he learned that he didn't have to protect his food from her - there was plenty for both of them! Chuckles has done well with the resident cats in his foster home. He barks a little when they catch him by surprise, but mostly doesn't interact or bother them at all. Chuckles is being fostered in the Chicago area. If you live in the Midwest and are interested in this gorgeous boy, download an application to start the process of becoming approved as a SIRA adopter.

NOLA

Hello nice people! My name is Nola (my foster mommy pronounces it Nala) and I'm ready for my very own forever home! I'm a six year-old Shiba mix, and I may be little, but I've got a big personality! Are you looking for a cuddle bug who just loves everybody? Well, that's me! I love my humans very much and I love to welcome you home and greet all visitors who come and go. The minute you get home I’ll sing to you until you pet me, and then I’ll cover you in kisses. I get along nicely with the resident Shiba in my foster home and foster mama says that I’m just wonderful with the resident furless baby too! I’m very tolerant of whatever she wants to do. Foster mama says that I’m a very good girl because I’ve never had a single accident in my foster home! I love to get groomed and to get treats! I walk well on a leash (we’ve practiced in the fenced yard), but what’s even more fun is to run around and hunt moles. I’m a pretty healthy girl, but the doctor says that my left knee cap might slip out of place – it’s called a grade 3 luxating patella. It doesn’t bother me, and the vet said I don't need surgery but it’s something to keep an eye on. Also, I have cataracts in my eyes, which means that I don’t see quite as well as some other dogs, but I don’t care -- I think I’m perfect! It's possible that I am 100% blind in one eye and partially blind in my other eye. I get around great and my foster family gives me eye drops to help with my eyes. Can I come to your house and give you kisses and sing to you and snuggle with you all winter long? If you live in the Midwest and you’re interested in me – or any of the other foster dogs at SIRA – please download an application to become approved to adopt. Nola is fostered in Wisconsin.

MARIKO

Hi everyone! My name is Mariko. My foster mom told me that I should introduce myself. She says that if I show you what a good girl I am that maybe one of you would want to be my forever person. I'm 9 years old and I spent my whole life at a commercial breeder. After many years of having puppies, I went with some other dogs on a long car ride and finally stopped in a place called Michigan to live with a human family. At first I was so scared that all I wanted to do was hide. But after a while, I realized that these humans were different than the ones I'd met before. They spoke softly and treated me gently and kindly. They gave me good food and fresh water and soft, warm places to sleep. They let me run around in their fenced yard -- that is fun! And they gave me my very own name! Foster mama says that I would do well with another laid-back dog or even as an only dog. I'm still pretty shy -- and new places and loud noises and sudden movements spook me. But once I learn to trust you, I blossom like a beautiful flower. Foster mama says that I'd do best in a quieter home with no little kids - older children would be okay if they understand how to respect a shy dog. I'd love to have a fenced yard to run around in - and a human or two to pet me and give me treats. If you are interested in me and you live in the Midwest, please download an application to start the process of becoming an approved adopter. Mariko is fostered in Michigan.

LLOYD

Hi everyone! My name is Lloyd and I'm looking for my forever home. I just had my 1st birthday in April and a lot has happened in that short time. When I was just 6 months old, the breeder where I was born wanted to put me down because my eyes don't work very well. But thankfully I was rescued along with my brother. We went to live on a farm for a while, but the people there decided that it would be the best environment for us find perfect forever homes, so we became SIRA dogs. We like that much better. Our foster family took me to see a special eye doctor, who thinks that a birth defect makes my eyes water a lot and makes my vision not as good as it should be. But the good news is that it won't get any worse. Sometimes I spook easily, but once I get to know you and my surroundings, I get along just fine. I love my foster family and once I trust people I will follow them everywhere! I love to be petted and scratched. I'm also a good guard dog and have a deep bark to warn people when something is out of place. I'm still figuring out the whole leash walking thing. The eye specialist said that walks might be a bit more scary for me since my vision isn't 100%. But I really love having a nice fenced yard to run in. I do well with other dogs and would enjoy having a fur brother or sister. I'd like a home without small children, please, since they are quick and unpredictable and might scare me too much. My foster family says that I may be very timid at first but once I get comfortable I will give you kisses and be your best friend forever -- especially if you give me scritches! If you live in the midwest and are interested in me - or in any of SIRA's adoptable dogs - download an application to become approved to adopt. Lloyd is fostered in Missouri!