STRAY HAVEN INC

PO Box 571

Aurora, Indiana 47001

Help Save Pets

(812) 655-1974

Adoption Process

Thank you for considering adopting a rescued pet as your next family member. Your willingness to embrace these animals is what sustains our rescue efforts. We rely on adoptions not only to enhance the lives of our pets but also to create space for more animals in need. We value your time and aim to conduct the entire process with transparency and good faith. We appreciate your honesty, and any deception during the application process will result in denial. Requirements: We recognize how significant this decision is and the emotions involved in adding a new pet to your family. As an all-volunteer organization, we strive to ensure your home environment is suitable for our pets. Our screening process is thorough, so we ask for open communication throughout your application. While we believe that any home can become a loving one with proper education, we cannot trust applicants who begin with dishonesty. Current pets must be spayed or neutered unless a medical reason exists. We require this to prevent potential aggression and ensure a harmonious environment for our pets. Additionally, your current pets should have a documented veterinary history, including regular vaccinations and preventative care. If your pets are not up to date on annual exams, please address that before applying. You will need to provide a current veterinary reference or a reference from a family member if you are a first-time pet owner. This will help us understand your commitment to pet care. It is also essential that you own your home or have your landlord's permission to adopt. Without this, we cannot proceed with an adoption. Some pets may have specific requirements, such as no children or other pets, or the need for a physical fence. We require civility and respect from all applicants toward our volunteers, who dedicate their time to these animals and to prospective adopters. We strive to match pets with the best-suited families, and while many applicants may be approved, we prioritize finding the right fit for each animal. Application: If you are confident in meeting our requirements, we invite you to fill out an application. Application Review: We will conduct an initial screening of your application to understand your expectations for a new pet and your current home life. We aim to provide guidance on whether the pet you desire aligns with your lifestyle. We will also contact references to identify any potential concerns. Vet Check: We require a veterinary check for all applicants. Ensuring that adoptive parents can provide necessary veterinary care, especially for puppies, is crucial for the health of the animal. For first-time pet owners, we will assist in obtaining a family vet reference to support your education as a pet owner. Property Review: We need to verify your county of residence to confirm property ownership. If you live with parents or are renting, we will require permission from the property owner. We will also check for breed and pet restrictions that may apply. Conversation: We are here to support you in finding a great home for a rescued pet. We will reach out via phone or email to discuss your application and address any questions you may have. This is your chance to elaborate on your application and inquire about our pets. Deposit: A $50 non-refundable deposit is required for most puppies, kittens, and some popular adult pets to secure your adoption. This deposit will be applied to the adoption fee. This policy protects those traveling long distances and ensures that serious adopters have first choice. If the pet is not a match, the deposit can be transferred to another animal in our program. Home Check: We expect serious adopters to allow us to conduct home visits as needed, whether before application approval, during meet-and-greets, or after adoption to check on how things are going. We will coordinate visits at mutually agreeable times. Meet & Greet: Once your application is approved, we will schedule a meet-and-greet at a convenient time for both parties. If it is a good match, adoptions can often be finalized during this meeting. Adoption: Our pets come with all age-appropriate veterinary care, including spaying or neutering, microchipping, rabies vaccinations, health tests, and preventative care. You will be required to sign a contract ensuring the pet's care and to contact us if you face challenges in keeping them. We accept cash, checks, or credit cards (with a $5 processing fee). Please note, our pets do not come with a crate or leash. Adoption Fees: Dogs: $175 + $13 for lifetime microchip registration, which includes access to Pet Lovers Portal for your pet's medical history. Puppies: $175 + $13 for lifetime microchip registration, which includes access to Pet Lovers Portal for your pet's medical history. Cats: $50 + $13 for lifetime microchip registration, which includes access to Pet Lovers Portal for your pet's medical history. Kittens: $100 + $13 for lifetime microchip registration, which includes access to Pet Lovers Portal for your pet's medical history.

Service Areas

The organization serves the states of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Stray Haven Inc in Aurora, IN

Stray Haven is located in Aurora, Indiana, within the tri-state area of Cincinnati, Ohio, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky. Our pet rescue organization has a distinct two-tier mission focused on rescuing stray animals through adoption, education, exposure, and resource sharing. Our primary goal is to rescue and place homeless pets into loving homes. We operate a foster-based program that aims to heal and instill confidence in our abandoned animals while addressing their medical needs. All pets in our care receive age-appropriate veterinary services, including spaying and neutering, microchipping, rabies vaccinations, health tests (heartworm tests for dogs and FIV/FELV tests for cats), and preventative care such as deworming and flea, tick, and heartworm prevention for dogs. Our pets come from Independent Rescue Partners, which is central to our second mission. This mission is more complex and focuses on supporting the frontline rescuers working in rural areas of Kentucky. While many people are aware of the tragic fate of animals in shelters, few realize that numerous counties lack access to any animal facilities. Although any loss is tragic, having a shelter can provide some hope for pets in their final days, unlike the grim outcomes faced by many strays. The issue of pet overpopulation is well-documented and pervasive, yet many counties remain without solutions due to limited income, education, and resources. In several Midwestern and Southern counties, the absence of local shelters results in animals receiving little to no care, with some relying on holding facilities that contract with other counties. These contracted shelters are often overcrowded, leading to increased stress and higher rates of euthanasia. Local rescues in Kentucky and neighboring states work tirelessly to address this crisis, but progress remains slow. Some fortunate dogs and cats in counties without shelters are supported by Independent Rescuers. These individuals dedicate their time and resources to saving animals from dangerous situations, whether they are injured on the road, abandoned in remote locations, or neglected by previous owners. Independent Rescuers provide food and temporary housing for these pets and strive to facilitate their rescue, foster care, and emergency veterinary needs. Despite their dedication, Independent Rescuers often struggle to secure permanent placements for all the animals in their care. While rescues do their best to help, limited foster space means that not every animal can be saved. This situation creates a financial burden for these frontline rescuers, as they must care for animals that remain without a rescue. Our mission is to support these individuals through education, awareness, and resource sharing to sustain their life-saving efforts. While we can offer some assistance by taking in a few animals, we are committed to helping find homes for as many pets as possible by increasing their visibility through adoption platforms in more populated areas.

Nearby Shelters and Rescues

Dearborn County Friends of Animals, Inc.
Located in Aurora, IN

3.1 miles away
Halo's Haven
Located in Rising Sun, IN

11.2 miles away
Boone County Animal Care & Control
Located in Burlington, KY

12.4 miles away
The Pet Castle, Inc. Animal Rescue
Located in Florence, KY

13.3 miles away
Yorkie Friends Rescue
Located in Burlington, KY

14.2 miles away