Join us on Facebook!

Supporting Local Rescues

The foster animals in Helping Paws Rescue have all been through a great deal before coming to us. Some from puppy mills, some from chains and some have seen home after home with no stability. Our goal is that the home we find for them is one that will last a lifetime.

Yes, we could adopt out hundreds more each year if we simply let people have the pets they wanted. But our goal is quality over quantity. We want to help match the right pet to the right home so that it’s a match that will last forever. People who adopt from us appreciate the training we’ve put into our dogs. They also appreciate the work we do to ensure the pet they are looking at will actually be a good fit for their family.

Studies have actually shown that rescue groups who do home visits or “checks” have a lower return rate than groups that do not. We feel if you are patient with our process you will be extremely happy knowing you’ve made the right choice for your family.

Step #1

The first step is to come and meet the animal that you are interested in. Pictures are great, but meeting the animal and better seeing his/her personality is necessary to determine if this is the right pet for you. This is also why we do not ship pets to families that have not yet met them. (Out of state? Read the bottom of the page.)

Step #2

Once you’ve decided which pet is right for you, the next step is to complete an adoption application and turn it into Pawtropolis. You may request an adoption application via email if convenient.

Step #3

Our committee then reviews the applications. If we have questions, we will contact you. If the application is approved, we then move forward with the next step. There are certain criteria that we hold all applications. Many are black and white. We apologize to anyone who is denied, however the applications are an important part of our decision making process. (Some examples are; other household pets not spayed/neutered, other pets not up-to-date on vaccines, etc.)

Step #4

Once the application has been approved, we then bring the pet to your home for a home visit. We are usually at your home for about one hour. This step is not only for us to decide whether or not to approve adoption, but to also give the potential owners another chance to spend time with the pet to make sure the match is right. We will decide whether the applicant is approved within 24 hours of the home visit.

Step #5

Adoption! Adoptions are completed at Pawtropolis.

Adoption Fees

Dogs over 4 months old: $250
Includes: rabies vaccine, dhpp vaccine, bordetella vaccine, tested heartworm negative, spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, minimal to advanced training, sent home with collar and ID tag, chew bone, small toy, a weeks worth of food and a training DVD. Some fosters may have a higher adoption fee for various reasons. If so it will be stated on their bio.

Dogs under 4 months old: $200 + $50*
*$50 is refunded once proof of sterilization is provided.
Includes: all vaccinations the puppy is old enough for, minimal to advanced training, micro-chipped, sent home with collar and ID tag, chew bone, small toy, a weeks worth of food and training DVD.

Cats over 4 months old: $100
Includes: rabies vaccine, FVRCP, FeLV, combo FeLV and FIV test, spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, sent home with collar and ID tag, small toy and a weeks worth of food.

Cats under 4 months old: $75 + $25
*$50 is refunded once proof of sterilization is provided.
Includes: all vaccinations the kitten is old enough for, micro-chipped, sent home with collar and ID tag, small toy, a weeks worth of food and training DVD.

Adopttion-05
Adopttion-03

Out of State Adoption

It is very, very rare for us to do out of state adoptions. When it does happen the following needs to be followed:

  • Fill out the adoption application completely. Any supplemental information (some people include a letter) is helpful.
  • Include with the application: pictures of family, house, yard, other pets, etc. (basically to give us an idea of where the new pet will be living.)
  • Include with application: updated vet records and proof of sterilization of other pets in the house. If you rent you will also have to send us proof that pets are allowed where you live.
  • If the application is approved arrangements need to be made for the potential adopters to come to Athens and meet the pet. You will need to plan on being here at least a couple of hours. This is a chance for both parties to decide if this is a good fit. (WE DO NOT SHIP PETS.)
  • If the adoption goes through the new owner must sign saying that if for any reason they cannot keep the pet they will drive to Athens to return the pet to Pawtropolis.


WARNING: As strict as we are with our local adopters, we are even more strict with the requirements for out-of-state adopters. If there are any concerns at all on the application, or once we meet, we will not follow through with the adoption.

Available Adoptions

Meet Copeland

Special Needs Case

Copeland is a two year old beagle with lots of love to share! He is a small little guy weighing in at about 24 pounds.

Copeland is a special case that is going to take a really special someone to be his happily ever after. At present, he is working on some behavioral modification in the hopes of rehabilitating him enough that he can be placed in a home successfully. Email us at bark@i5r.393.mywebsitetransfer.com if you’d like more details on his situation and how you can help with his rehabilitation.

Sponsored by the Klonowskis “In honor and memory of our sweet Bernard”

Meet Iroh

Special Needs Case

Iroh looks like a shepherd/greyhound mix (or some sort of sight hound that gives him a long and lean body). He is approximately 9 ½ years old, and he is a very affectionate guy. He was adopted from Helping Paws Rescue in May 2020 but unfortunately, he was returned to us in February of this year.

Email us at bark@i5r.393.mywebsitetransfer.com if you’d like more details on his situation and how you can help with his rehabilitation.

 

Become a Sponsor!

$50 Sponsorship

(a great birthday present, or "In Memory Of...")

Helping Paws Rescue uses donations and adoption fees to take care of the animals in our care. One way individuals can help is by sponsoring an animal already in our care. For a donation of $50 we will list you on the website and any adoption flyers as the pet’s sponsor. This is also a great community service opportunity for businesses. If the animal is very new and hasn’t been named, you will have the chance to name the pet as well. If you are interested in sponsoring one of the pets you see listed on our website, please call us at 706-227-7887, or email us at Bark@Pawtropolis.com.

If you do this sponsorship for someone else as a gift or in memory of someone we will send out a card or letter letting them know of your kind donation on their behalf.

Full Sponsorship

Every once in a while a pet at animal control will catch someone’s eye. Sometimes we can take an animal in if we have a person willing to give full financial sponsorship for that pet. WARNING: It is only occasionally that we can do this. 75% of the time we will say no because most of the time our rescue is full, but it is always worth asking just in case. Though we work with all animals regardless of breed, personality, dominance level, issues, etc. we make very strict requirements for the dogs we take in through this program. We will not take the following:

  • Dogs over 7 years old.
  • Adult dominant unneutered males.
  • Dogs showing any aggression to humans or animals.
  • Pit bulls (we do take pit bulls, just not in through our sponsorship program)
  • Dogs already showing expensive medical needs (unless the sponsor is committed to paying for those as well.)

3 Types:

Full Sponsorship: Sponsor agrees to bring the pet to Pawtropolis fully vetted (spayed/neutered, up-to-date Bordetella, rabies, dhpp, heartworm tested negative). They will pay $50 up-front as well as $1/day until the pet is adopted. Credit card will be ran for the $50 up-front and then on the same date each month.

Financial Full Sponsorship: Sponsor will drop the pet off to Pawtropolis unsure of his/her medical history. Pawtropolis will take care of all vet needs. Sponsor pays $100 up-front as well as $1/day until the pet is adopted. Credit card will be ran for the $100 up-front and then on the same date each month.

Short-term Sponsorship: Sponsor will drop the pet off to Pawtropolis unsure of his/her medical history. Pawtropolis will take care of all vet needs and provide continued care of the pet until it is adopted. Sponsor pays a one-time up-front fee of $300. Sponsor also agrees to pay an additional $100 if the pet tests heartworm positive.