The Adoption Process
See details
ADOPTION PROCESS
Adopting a new cat or dog is like a marriage. We want it to be a life-long, successful partnership.
To ensure its success we need to know as much as possible about each individual/family’s needs and lifestyle, so that we can recommend the best possible match.
Important Points to Consider:
- Experience and knowledge of dogs/cats, their behaviour, needs, habits, comforts, food, health and exercise;
- Your family circumstances
Do you have enough space, time and money to care for a dog/cat? - Housing conditions
Are you allowed to keep a pet? Is there likely to be trouble with neighbours? - On average, how long are you away from home each day/week? Some animals left all day alone get stressed out from loneliness;
- Are you able to make a long-term commitment to this dog/cat? Dogs/cats live an average of 18 years;
- If you already have a pet, is it neutered?
The Adoption Application Procedure
1. Fill out the online questionnaire form
To help us better understand your family situation and home environment, we kindly ask you to fill out the online questionnaire. This is available online or by downloading the form and returning it to us via email, fax, or post.
If you would prefer to send us the form by email, fax or letter, please see our contact details below:
Osaka ARK (Nose)
Mail Address
FAX
072-737-1886
Postal Address
595 Noma Ohara, Nose-cho, Toyono-gun, Osaka-fu 563-0131 JAPAN
Tokyo ARK
Mail Address
FAX
050-1557-2763
(Please contact us if you need to know the postal address.)
2. ARK will contact you once the questionnaire form has been received
Once we have received and reviewed your questionnaire, we will contact you by email or phone and clarify what the next steps will be. We kindly ask that you provide us with an email address other than a mobile phone address (to avoid delivery issues). In the case of an interview, we will ask you for suitable days that best fit with your family’s schedule.
3. Interview
For the interview, we will invite you and your family to either meet us in our office or at one of our adoption events. For the interview, please bring with you the following documents:
- Pet agreement: if you live in a rental property, the contract/form which states you are allowed to keep an animal on the premises.
- Photographs: We may ask to see photographs of the inside and outside area of your home. This includes the entrance way, garden/balcony, fencing, and indoor areas.
(In the case of a dog: we would like to see photographs on outside gates/fencing/walls to ensure they are of suitable height, to avoid any escape risks.)
The interview is a crucial step in the adoption process. We ask that all family members join so we can understand your home dynamics and help find a suitable animal to fit your family’s needs.
4. Come and meet the animals!
We have many dogs and cats looking for their forever homes. Perhaps there is a particular animal you would like to meet? This is the time to really get to know our animals and enjoy the time spent with them. We will be more than happy to answer any questions. We will also suggest suitable matches to meet your lifestyle and family needs.
5. Welcome home.
Once the interview process has been completed and an animal has been chosen, arrangements can be made to pick up/deliver your furry new family member.
*Please note, that there may be occasions when an interview will be declined. Your understanding is most appreciated
To Military Families
We regret to announce that we have had to suspend adoptions to military personnel stationed in Japan.
Like all other short-term residents, military personnel are asked to undergo pre-screening before the adoption process can begin in earnest. In the past, this was conducted on base at the Yokosuka Naval Base, even when the applicant was stationed elsewhere in Japan. This system was inconvenient for those stationed a long way from Yokosuka, but was generally successful. There are ARK animals living on several military facilities around Japan. Unfortunately, the person in charge of pre-screening was transferred. At this stage, we do not know when we will be able to resume adoptions.
We apologize to military families and hope that this setback does not deter them from adopting from another responsible organization.
Adoption Fees
| You are requested to pay the following amount from October 1, 2024 due to rising costs of medical care and food.
∙30,000 JPY for a dog or cat ∙3,000 JPY for a rabbit The surrender fee includes the following costs.
※For dogs, you will be asked to pay additional fees for the registration to local authorities (3,000 JPY) and the certification of vaccination against rabies (550 JPY). |
Transport Fees
If you are deemed qualified to adopt an animal after an interview, the animal can be sent by air if you live far away. In that case, you will be asked to pay the airline fee for the animal. The cost will be calculated by weight (a kitten costs approximately ¥3,000 and a German Shepherd about ¥25,000).
*Air transport may not be possible depending on the animal’s condition.
e.g.) An adopter had an interview at Osaka but wishes to adopt an animal looked after at Tokyo ARK; an adopter had an interview at Tokyo but lives outside the Kanto region.
Apart from the above, you will be asked to pay the following transportation costs when ARK needs to take the animal to your house.
Osaka ARK and Sasayama ARK
- 23 JPY/km (plus highway toll)
e.g.) To Osaka city about 3,000 JPY
Tokyo ARK
Within 23 wards of Tokyo
- Within 10 km of the Tokyo ARK office, 3,000 JPY
- Over 10 km, 3,000 JPY plus 1,000 JPY per 3 km
- Over 15 km, the above cost plus highway toll
The distance will be measured using Navitime.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
