FAQs
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How does the adoption process work?
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If you are interested in adopting an HFP animal, the first step is to complete an adoption applicaiton on our webiste here. Our team will then review your application and contact you with any questions they have or to schedule a brief adoption interview. HFP conducts the interview to ensure the animal you are wanting to adopt is going to be the right match.
Then, it will be time to meet your potential new pet! After the first meeting, you and the adoption team will decide if it is a good match. If it is, you will then pay the adoption fee and sign an adoption contract to take your new pet home with you.
Why is there an adoption fee?
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Wile HFP works hard to collect donations and sponsorships to cover the majority of the costs to care for the animals, we do ask adopters to cover the cost of microchipping, vaccinations, and a portion of the spay/neuter costs so that HFP can sustainably work towards ending the issue of abandoned animals in Serbia while ensuring responsible pet ownership.
How do you decide if someone is a good match for an animal?
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The HFP adoption team considers the animal's behavioral characteristics and the adopter's home life and needs to make appropriate pairings. For example, HFP will not recommend a high energy dog to someone who prefers a less active lifestyle and lives in a small space with no yard as we recognize this pairing would not be good for the animal or the adopter.
What if the adoption doesn’t work out?
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HFP’s mission is to prevent and end animal abandonment, so if an adoption pairing is not working well, the team will first meet with the adopter to determine whether the issue is just early adjustment struggles or a poor match. (The first few weeks for an animal are the hardest as they start to adjust to a new home).
If the adopter and adoption team determine the fit isn’t right, HFP will organize a foster home to place the animal back into so it can wait for it’s forever home (this may take a couple days to organize) and then you will have the opportunity to meet other animals you were interested in. HFP is focused on making pairings that will be forever homes for the animals that enrich both of your lives.
Our mission is to reduce and ultimately end animal abandonment in Serbia through coordinated rescue, targeted adoptions, widespread sterilization, and public education.
We promote responsible ownership, strengthen adoption systems, and advocate for lasting structural change to ensure every dog and cat has a safe home.
Yes, Humanity for Paws is a registered nonprofit with the government of Serbia.
Humanity for Paws is run by individuals who donate their time, so donations are used to care for the animals and can range from buying food to providing medical care.
This work requires a lot of time and energy input from volunteers to make it all happen. If you would like to support the expansion of this work and the people who make it happen, you can request a portion of your donation to support the team so they can help even more animals.
Can I sponsor a specific animal?
Yes, you can absolutely sponsor a specific animal! Just make a note of which animal you are sponsoring with your donation in the form.
What is Humanity for Paws’ mission?
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Are you a nonprofit?
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How are donations used?
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How is HFP different from a shelter?
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How can I volunteer with HFP?
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Yes! To properly get an animal from being rescued, through fostering and some training, plus medical care, HFP is always in need of food, flea and tick medication, kennels, harnesses, leashes, and lots of chew toys for mental stimulation.
Shelters keep many animals at one time, which increases stress by placing them in a noisy, confined space with animals they do not consider part of their pack. chronic stress can lead to health and behavior issues. Many shelters also fill to capacity and do not focus on finding homes for the animals and keep them as financial support for themselves. HFP’s primary focus is on finding homes for the animals, so we work with volunteer fosters to provide low-capacity support, behavioral analysis, and stress-reduction to prepare the animals for a new home. As a nonprofit, HFP’s goal is to cover basic operating expenses while helping as many animals as possible find their forever home.
Do you love animals and have a passion for making the lives of pets better? Then you might be a perfect volunteer for Humanity for Paws. As a volunteer led nonproift organization, we are looking for passionate and skilled individuals to help us make Serbia a leader in the proper treatment and care of animals. We are looking for individuals who have a variety of skills from marketing and law to fostering and sponsorships. If you’re interested in volunteering with HFP, please reach out to us and we’ll work with you to see if and where would be the best opportunity to put your skills to use making a difference.