ADOPTION PROCESS
MNPPR aims to find the ideal home for our foster pets, ensuring they have a safe and prepared environment. To get started, simply follow the instructions below. We look forward to welcoming you to our family!
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Our adoption process can take time because there are multiple steps. To make it smoother, make sure you review our care guides for the species you're interested in adopting and let your three references and landlord (if applicable) know they’ll be contacted by our Adoption Team.
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If you need help at any point during the process, contact the Adoption Manager at cassidy@mnpocketpetrescue.org.
1. Complete and Submit Adoption Application
Fill out an adoption application here. Be sure to do lots of research on the species you'd like to adopt before filling out your application! Please refer to our care guides here. If you have current pets, please email us their vet records at this time if you are able. What are our veterinary requirements for current pets? If you are looking for a pocket pet veterinarian, check out our Veterinarians page.
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2. Application Review and References Contacted
We will review your application and contact your references and landlord (if applicable). To speed up the process, be sure to let your references know that we will be contacting them.
3. Meet & Greet
We will email you to let you know if you have been tentatively approved and to set up a Meet & Greet between you, the foster family, and your potential new pets.
5. Habitat and Supply Review
After the Meet & Greet, we will email you to discuss how it went and if we are to move forward with the adoption process. If so, we will have you complete our knowledge of care assessment form (don't worry if you're not sure about some answers - incorrect responses will NOT disqualify you from adopting) and email us a photo or video of the habitat or cage you will be housing your new pet in, including furnishings. Housing guidelines and links to recommended cages are listed on each species care guide page. Be sure to review this prior to purchasing a habitat for your new pets and let us know if you have any questions or need help. We are happy to provide specific recommendations before you purchase anything!
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6. Habitat Suggestions/Approval
We will review your habitat and supply photos and email you to let you know if they are approved. If needed, we will provide suggestions to better meet your potential adopted pet's preferences for approval.
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7. Adoption Contract and Fee
Our Adoption Manager or Adoption Correspondent will contact you to let you know whether you have the approval to move on to adoption. If so, you will then complete our adoption contract, pay the adoption fee online, and arrange a time and date to meet. If all goes well at this meeting, you will be taking home your new pet! We reserve the right to delay/deny your adoption during the final adoption meeting. Preview our Adoption Contract here.
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8. Pick Up Your New Pet
When you pick up your new pet, be sure to bring a secure carrier to take them home in. You will need to have the habitat set up and all the supplies ready. We do not send home any supplies with adopted animals.
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Before you apply, please note the following:
All applicants under 18 must include their legal guardian's email address in the application so that they can be a part of the process.
We are not accepting applications for classroom or store pets.
We will only consider applicants from the following states: Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
All paperwork for Emotional Support Animals must be completed and approved prior to filling out an adoption application.
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Rabbit Critter Courtships will be limited to households with fully vaccinated rabbits only. Now that the vaccine is available, all of our rabbits will be vaccinated for RHDV2 until further notice.
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ADOPTION FEES
Please note that our adoption fees have changed due to increased veterinary and supply costs.
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As a rescue organization, we rely on the help and compassion of others. Every donation and adoption fee goes to support the pocket pets in our care. Your adoption fee will help us provide necessities such as housing, food, and medical care to each animal we take in. Adoption fees are subject to change. If you are adopting more than two pets, email us regarding the adoption fee. We accept credit, debit, and checks. Prices listed to not include tax.
All animals in our care are given thorough exams upon intake, as well as continued care and yearly exams as needed. We do everything we can medically and otherwise for the animals we take into MNPPR to keep them happy, healthy, and comfortable. Any shy, fearful, or aggressive animals are placed in our Trust Training Program.
All ferrets have been spayed and neutered and are up to date on their rabies and distemper vaccines.
All male sugar gliders have been neutered.
All rabbits have been spayed or neutered and vaccinated against RHDV.
All chinchillas aged 5 years and older have had dental radiographs upon intake to check for malocclusion.
ADOPTION ICONS
Click on an icon below to view a brief description of what it means when you see it displayed on an adoptable animal's profile.
CRITTER COURTSHIP
If you are adopting an animal to be a companion for your current pocket pet, we offer the option for you to return the new pet if they are not a good fit within a few weeks with the option to try a different animal or have your adoption fee returned.
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Due to the nature of our Meet & Greets and Adoption day processes, we do not recommend bringing your current pocket pet to meet your new pocket pet during these times.
When you bring your new pocket pet home, place them in their new habitat, away from your other pets. This allows your new pet to settle in and relax a bit before beginning the stress of meeting a new potential friend. Learn more here. This also allows you to monitor your new pet for any signs of illness. While MNPPR provides all of our animals with routine veterinary care, we cannot guarantee the health of an animal, especially since pocket pets tend to hide their illnesses instinctively. Most experts recommend quarantining any new pets from your other pets for 2 - 4 weeks.
Once your new pet has settled in and you are sure it is healthy and relaxed, you can begin introducing your new pet to your existing pets. We are currently working on guides on how to do this for each species. In the meantime, visit our page on bonding for links to pages with helpful information.
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Please note, the distance from the foster to adopter location is taken into consideration when approving Critter Courtships.
We are now offering Virtual Bonding Chaperone sessions where you will set up your webcam during a bonding session so one of our volunteers can observe and offer instruction and tips. To participate, please complete a request here. *Please note, this program is currently on hold due to lack of volunteer capacity at this time. We will update this section when it become available again. If you are interested in becoming a Species Expert to help us get this program running again, please apply here.*
If you are having trouble with the bonding process, don't give up too quickly, please email us and we may be able to help!
VETERINARY REQUIREMENTS
Our veterinary requirements for the current pets residing in the household in order to qualify for adoption are:
• Sterilization (spay/neuter) and state-required core vaccines for ferrets, dogs, and cats.
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• Sterilization (spay/neuter) and RHDV2 vaccines/boosters for rabbits.
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• Wellness exams in the last 3 years for chinchillas, degus, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and sugar gliders.
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• Sex confirmation by a trained professional for all Critter Courtships.
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Some exceptions may be applied upon request on a case-by-case basis by our Animal Care Team.
FREE CHECKUP
Maplebrook Pet Care Center has generously partnered with MNPPR by providing routine veterinary care for the animals in the rescue. They also offer a free wellness exam for any newly adopted pet from MN Pocket Pet Rescue within 3 months of adoption!