Adoption Policies

1)    All cats and dogs, kittens and puppies adopted from VIVA must be spayed/neutered. Too many companion animals are destroyed every minute of the day to ignore the importance of spaying or neutering the cats and dogs who are in our care. VIVA has a low-cost option for altering cats and dogs.

2)    No cat or kitten adopted from VIVA may be declawed. Declawing is a drastic procedure (like "trimming" your fingers off at the knuckle) which negatively alters the personality of the cat for life, as well as presenting certain dangers for surviving.

3)    Adoptions are reversible. Please do not submit VIVA cats or dogs to kill shelters.

Bringing a new cat or dog home
to another cat or dog:

Depending upon the cat or dog already at home, bringing a new cat or dog home can usually work out well with a little consideration and preparation.

Cats and dogs, like humans, are territorial, but they're also social. If the introduction to a new cat or dog is handled well, many problems can be avoided. When bringing home a new cat, for example, you will want to set aside a room for the newcomer where she can begin to feel comfortable in her new environment and learn to know and trust you. Meetings between the newcomer and the established feline resident(s) should be avoided for the first few days. This allows the new feline to feel secure in her new home while not threatening the territory of the established feline(s). The residents will learn quickly enough that a newcomer has arrived, and both the newcomer and the residents will get a whiff of one another under the closed door.

After a few days (maybe one week to ten days, depending on the cat), allow the newcomer and established residents an opportunity to meet face to face by leaving the door open. Because they have not been forced to confront one another before they were ready, the new cat and established cats are more likely to accept the presence of the other, and new friendships--or at least tolerance--will blossom.

Please call us at (805) 735-6741 if you have any questions or concerns after you get your new pet home. We want to help.