So you've seen the beautiful, headstrong breed known as the Shiba Inu. You've examined your living situation and decided you are ready to open your home to a Shiba Inu. The following explains how to adopt a Shiba Inu from SIRA. Please read all of this information carefully, since our process likely differs from those used by other shelters and rescue organizations.

Application

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 qualities 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 completion.  If you have any problems or questions do not hesitate to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click here to fill out SIRA's Adoption Application

Once we receive and review your completed 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 this is not possible (for example, if you have never owned pets or have not owned a pet in many years) then you may provide references who know you well.

*If you currently own pets or have owned pets in the past, you will need to provide us with your most recent veterinarian's contact information. You will also need to give your veterinarian permission to release your pet's medical records to Shiba Inu Rescue Association. Failure to do so prior to submission of your application will result in a delay of the adoption process.

*If you rent your home, you will need to provide us with your landlord's contact information and any pet-related restrictions set by your landlord. We will contact your landlord to verify the information you provide.

Home Visit

After your references have been checked, a SIRA volunteer will perform your home visit after making arrangements directly with you. PLEASE NOTE: ALL FAMILY MEMBERS MUST BE PRESENT FOR THE ENTIRE VISIT. During the home visit, the SIRA volunteer will discuss with you and your family any issues or potential dangers your home poses to a dog (for example, exposed wires, uncovered garbage cans, possible escape issues, etc.). The SIRA volunteer will then offer suggestions on how to Shiba-proof your home and management techniques for keeping a dog healthy and happy. Finally, the SIRA volunteer will discuss with you exactly what you are looking for in a dog and what personality traits and other qualities will fit best with your family.

There is nothing to be worried about when it comes time for your home visit. The key is to ask questions and be completely honest with your answers to the volunteer's questions. This will ensure the best match possible!

* Please note that at this time, most of our volunteers are located in Chicago, IL and the surrounding suburbs. We also have volunteers located in IL, WI, MI, MO, AZ and FL. If you are not located in any of these areas, it may take some time to find a volunteer to complete your home visit. As soon as a volunteer is located, the volunteer will contact you to arrange your home visit. 

If you are too far away for us to consider for adoption we can provide you with the name and contact information of a Shiba rescue closer to your area.

Volunteers, click here to fill out SIRA's Home Visit Report

Prepare for Your Forever Friend

Before your new dog comes home, you will need to be sure you have the supplies necessary to care for your new Shiba. A Shopping Check List is available for you to use. You will also want to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian within 10 days of the adoption date.

Adoption

Once you have found a good match for you and have been approved to adopt a foster dog, you and the foster home need to arrange an adoption day in which you pick up your new companion or the foster home brings the foster to your home. If you are located a great distance from the foster home, SIRA may arrange a transport.

The final step in the process is to sign the adoption contract and pay the adoption fee. Please keep a copy of the contract for your own records, since the foster home will send the original contract to SIRA.

Adoption fees vary depending on the age of the dog when they entered rescue.  The adoption fee for each dog is listed in their bio.

Puppy under 1 year $400
Adolescent 1-3 years $350
Young Adult 4-6 years $300
Adult 7-9 years $250
Senior 10+ years $200

If you have any questions about the status of your application or the adoption process please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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