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Do you want to adopt a horse or pony through Second Chance? Please read through this page and if you are interested in offering a home to one of our horses or ponies, please contact us.
**Please note: - You must be a current paid-up Member of Second Chance Horse Rescue Inc. in order to Foster or Adopt a horse through us and you must remain a Member for the entire time the horse or pony is in your care.
Our Adoption Program
Adoption is what we call our program where rehabilitated horses and ponies are placed in permanent, loving new homes once they are ready for this step. If you Adopt a horse or pony through us, you may love it, ride it and show it as though it were your own for as long as you wish. If you want a pony for your children until they outgrow it, this is fine or if you want a companion or competition horse to stay with you for the rest of its life this is also fine - providing of course the animal is suitable for your needs. When you are Adopting a horse through Second Chance, we will provide you with ongoing support throughout your Adoption, and also so we can ensure that should the event arise that you are unable to provide or care for the animal any more down the track, its next home will be just as loving and caring as yours.
Your Protection
First and foremost, the horse or pony’s welfare comes first and is paramount over all else. As SC never sells its horses, we have no financial incentive to sell the horse on after YOU have put time and work into the animal to have it going nicely so our Adopting owners have no need to fear that we would sell the animal out from under you.
Secondly, we do not and will not remove a horse or pony from your care unless we have solid evidence that it has suffered neglect or cruelty at your hands or you have grossly breached the contract. This is stated in our signed contract to protect you.
Thirdly, we will not remove a horse or pony from you in the event that another Member wants it for any reason. The horse or pony is yours to love and care for from the moment you sign the Adoption Contract and after this, nobody but you are in control of its life and well-being.
Our Adoption Contracts are as binding for us as it is for you and if you are in a current Contract, the horse is being cared for and there is no solid evidence of a breach of the Contract we have no grounds and no interest in removing the animal from your care.
Our Adoption Contracts are all looked over by a lawyer and are legally binding for both the Adopting owners and Second Chance.
Benefits of Adopting
There are many benefits of Adopting a horse or pony through Second Chance as opposed to purchasing a new horse. These include:
- You will get the truth and whole truth on the animal in question, its needs, quirks and full known history. No dodgy dealings, drugged horses or false advertising.
- There is no risk of spending thousands on purchasing and maintaining a horse or pony only to find it is not suitable to your needs and then you are stuck trying to sell it on not to mention its upkeep until a new home can be found.
- You receive full support and assistance all the way through your Adoption in the event that any problems arise.
- If you are going away on holiday or are ill and unable to care for your horse and you do not have somebody reliable to care for the horse during this time, you will always have Second Chance to fall back on and to help you out.
- You are providing a loving, caring home to an equine that has suffered at the hands of humankind and are a vital component to that equine’s future. Don’t forget this animal was rescued. You are providing it with the love, care, secure and pain free lifestyle that was denied to this animal by uncaring or ignorant people in the past.
Our Support Network
We provide ongoing support to all Adoptive owners. If you have any concerns, worries or questions feel free to contact us and we will respond quickly to assist you in any way necessary. We also will help you in the case of habits developed whilst the animal is in your care and we have a list of recommended professionals who can help you out regardless of your circumstance. We have several highly experienced professionals working within Second Chance including a qualified Equine Veterinarian, two people with a Law Degree, several trained Veterinary Nurses and people with a lifetime of horse care and training experience behind them.
Four things you MUST know before applying for an Adoption:
- Adoptions are NOT first come, first served. We endeavour to match a horse or pony with the new family most suited to it.
- If you are under the age of 18 years, your parent or legal guardian must adopt the animal on your behalf.
- Second Chance reserves the rights of visitation at pre-arranged times and days with you. These are covered in detail in the Adoption Contract.
- Taking on an Adoptive animal is a commitment (just like buying one) and a large one. We expect that you would treat the animal as you would one you had purchased and that you will do your utmost to provide sanctuary and security for that individual.
Terminating an Adoption
Should your circumstances change and you need to terminate your Adoption early, we require that Adoptive owners make all possible efforts to find a new family for their Adoptive animal. We ask that you take the time to advertise the animal and allow potential new Adopters to come and visit and try the animal at its home and we ask that you contact us with details of promising new Adopters once you find somebody that seems to suit well.
Second Chance will then screen the potential new home and either approve or disapprove the new Adopters according to our rehoming policy and requirements. If all goes well, the new Adopter will sign a new Adoption Contract with Second Chance and will then collect the animal from you.
Second Chance will offer assistance to you with your search by placing your advertisement and up-to-date photos on our mail-outs and in the Newsletter but finding the right new person will be your responsibility.
If you have made every effort and have not been successful in finding a new home, Second Chance requires 6 weeks notice in writing that this is the case and will then accept the horse back with a $100 Termination Fee.
This clause will be included in your Adoption Contract and is put in place to help our organisation as much as possible in terms of finances and providing for the animal should you be unsuccessful in finding the new home yourself.
Please click here to see the regulations for Adoptions that are stipulated in the Adoption Contract.
Please click here to see the Adoption Frequently Asked Questions.
Please click here to find out how to apply to Adopt one of SC's horses or ponies! |
