The following provides an overview of information and tasks new volunteers might need to know if they plan on assisting at an adoption event.

FCAR Info

• Our website is http://fayettefcar.com
• Our phone number is 901/854-2565
• Our address is 595 Clement Drive, Rossville, TN  38066
• We post all of our adoptable animals on http://petfinder.com
• We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
• At any time we have between 80-100 dogs and cats at our shelter
• We are a no-kill, no cages shelter

Adoption Day Setup

• Unload crates & adoption materials from vehicles
• Set up dog crates
• Place one water bowl in each crate
• Use the watering can to fill the water bowls ¼ of the way (do not fill completely, most animals will not drink during the day and many will also spill it). You can get water from the bathroom or at Petco stores there is a sink in the fish section.
• Fill up 2 sprayers and place on alternating sides of row of cages
• Place kennel beds (sized to fit) in each crate using zip-ties to attach the four corners
• Place dog toys in each crate
• Place cage card for the animal on each crate
• Place blue folder for the animal on each crate
• Place signs (Housebroken, scared of kids, etc.) on each crate specific to the dog
• Place collars on dogs
• Place dogs in crates
• Set up cat crates
• Get litter from Petco by the scoop litter box
• Place water and food in cat crate
• Place toys in cat crate
• Place cats in cat crates
• Place large FCAR sign on the outside windows of the adoption location with suction cups
• Place individual signs (Adoption fee, animals spayed/neutered, etc.) on top of cages
• Set up table
• Place clipboards, business cards, pens, FCAR literature and donation jug on table
• Get out 2 garbage bags – one for trash and one for laundry

Adoption Day Guidelines for Volunteers

• Our adoption fee for ALL animals is $95
• The actual cost to care for these animals is at least 3 times that… These animals get the absolute best medical care and high quality dog food
• We offer 30 days money back if the animal does not work out. We are more interested in finding the perfect home for our rescue and matching new owners to a compatible dog than just getting them adopted.
• New owners are contractually obligated to return the animal to us (no refund after 30 days) if they can no longer care for the animal, don’t want it, etc.
• A secure, fenced yard is required for all dog adoptions. There are very few exceptions to this policy, however there are a few dogs that we feel would do okay in an apartment / house with no yard. Those animals’ cages are marked as such or ask a FCAR Board Member for assistance.
• Invisible fences are NOT acceptable
• FCAR performs home visits to ensure that all potential new homes have a secure fenced yard prior to completing the adoption
• FCAR does not adopt rescues to people who are not local as the fence inspection is required. A very few exceptions may be made, ask a FCAR Board Member for assistance.
• 100% of are rescues are spayed/neutered prior to going to an adoption day
• All rescues are up to date with their shots; for puppies any remaining shots are covered by the adoption fee and the new owner would just bring the animal to our vet at no additional charge
• We offer a 30 day health guarantee on all rescues; if an adopted animal has any issues during the first 30 days after adoption they can bring the animal to our vet and we will cover all costs
• All rescues are microchipped; A microchip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it. The chip is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle and injected between the shoulder blades of the animal. This chip has a unique number registered to his owner (currently FCAR but the new owner can change it to their name) so that if the animal gets lost and does not have an ID tag their owner can still be found. Shelters and veterinarian offices have scanners which they use to read the microchips and access a database to find the owner information.
• All rescues are heartworm NEGATIVE
• All rescues receive heartworm preventative the first of every month
• New owners are contractually obligated to provide heartworm preventative to the adopted animal once a month
• FCAR will verify with the owners current vet that the potential new owners’ animals are receiving heartworm preventative on a regular basis prior to completing an adoption
• Each animal has a cage card on top of their crate at adoption days. That card gives an overview of where the animal came from, personality, temperament, weight, date of birth, breed, sex, name, etc. Refer people to those cards for basic information.
• If someone wants additional information on an animal not listed on the cage card, request assistance from a FCAR Board Member
• Doors to crates should not be opened by anyone other than volunteers.
• Leashes should immediately be placed on all dogs when cage doors are opened
• Many of our animals have been abused; please do not attempt to walk a dog or open a crate unless you have previously cleared it with a FCAR Board Member. We have some animals that will run if given the chance and our first priority is the safety of the animals
• All cats are feline leukemia tested and are NEGATIVE
• We do NOT take the cats out of the cat cages during adoption days. The risk of the animal getting scared is too great a risk. If someone wants to hold / see the cat they will need to come to our shelter
• We do not hold animals; if someone wants to adopt an animal but cannot take it home immediately they must go through the adoption process and pay the adoption fee and we will hold it for 7 days while they resolve the issue (fix fence, return from out of town, etc.). Please ask a FCAR Board Member for any exceptions.
• We have a physical shelter in Rossville, TN (about 15 minutes east of Collierville). If someone wants to come out to see all the dogs at the shelter give them our card and have them call to schedule an appointment. We are staffed by volunteers and do not have ‘regular’ hours at the shelter.
• We have a partnership with Hill’s Nutrition and feed all of our rescues Science Diet