• Melissa, the owner of the rescue did.

    Hella [adverb] : Originated from the streets of San Francisco. It is commonly used in place of "really" or "very" when describing something.

    Dam [noun] : Dog that is expecting or has recently given birth to a litter of pups.

    Bitch [noun]: Female Dog

    Queen [noun]: Cat that is expecting or has recently given birth to a litter of kits

  • Short answer is we don’t know.

    In rescue unless a breeder has paperwork and relinquishes the puppies to us, we never know what the exact breeds are of the puppies. We can only make educated guesses by the parents (if we even see them) or by the looks/characteristics.

  • See our Adoption Process Page for more info.

  • No. We are a Foster Based Rescue which means that we operate out of the homes of our awesome volunteers/fosters. Each pet(s) are living in their foster home in and around the Bay Area, CA.

    One day we hope to be large enough to open our own building to operate out of, but even then some pets will still be fostered in lovely homes all over the Bay Area.

  • We do not schedule meet and greets in the foster home without a completed application and submitted photo id.

    We do hold meet and greets where you may come meet our adoptable pets but please email to be sure the pet you are interested in will be attending. Check the Calendar for scheduled events .

  • Our dog adoption fee is $150-$800. Subject to change based on age, medical needs, and breed.

    Our cat adoption fee is $90-$450. Subject to change based on age and medical needs.

  • See our Adoption Donation Page.

    If you are adopting from the foster all payments must be made electronically. We do not accept personal checks.

    Cash is an option at Meet and Greets only.

  • Dogs are up to date on vaccines.

    Cats come with 1st FVRCP and Rabies (if old enough.)

    All pets come spayed/neutered, microchipped, and dewormed.

    Medical Records are available on your Wagtopia/ Petlover account. Create an account to access Medical Records to Download.

  • Please complete the Dog Owner Surrender Form or Cat Owner Surrender Form. Once completed we will reach out via email. Please email photos and medical records.

  • Do not contact us.

    Look in the county you found the pet. Call the County Animal Services. They always have an after hours line for sick/injured/lost pets. They will scan for microchip and try and locate the owner. First place an owner should look is at the county animal shelter.

  • While we give local applications priority, if the purrfect home is not nearby we will definitely consider out of state adoptions. We do not ship our pets or allow them to fly in cargo, so every applicant will need to drive to pick up the pet if it is too big to fly in-cabin.

  • No. Bonded kittens are only adopted together. Applications of kittens who are bonded but mark singleton will automatically be denied.

  • Adult cats and dogs are usually set in their ways. It is easiest to see how they will adapt and fit in with your family and lifestyle.

    Normal puppy behavior: Playing, jumping, biting, kissing on face, potty training. Puppies adapt easily to their environment but need leadership and guidance to become a well behaved dog.

    • Someone must be home to care for the puppy (WFH or opposite schedule)

    • Must have separate room/area for puppy to be away from the children

    • Professional training and certification will be required for all families with children under 5 years.

    Normal kitten behavior: Playing, biting(play), scratching(play), jumping. Kittens are very adaptable to their environment. They still need guidance to prohibit unwanted behaviors.

    • Families will need to realize that kittens and cats are playful and roughhouse with family members including children

    • it is up to the family to rectify those unwanted behaviors from early on.

  • Single-Kitten Syndrome

    If you’ve ever raised a litter of kittens or adopted a pair of them, you know how much they play together. Some of this play is painful, as confirmed by the yowling and complaining that occurs. The kittens bite and scratch each other, sometimes quite hard. All the while they are learning from one another that this behavior is not the best way to make friends! If they’re lucky enough to have a Queen around and she hears the ruckus, she will often give a warning “that’s enough of that” to the kittens and they settle down.

    If they don’t learn limits in their play as youngsters, they often develop inappropriate playful aggression. In other words, it may be cute when a kitten attacks your ankles when you walk by or playfully nips at your fingers while you’re playing. It will be much less cute, not to mention annoying and painful, when your cat is full grown.

    Litter box habits are learned at an early age and kittens actually play a large part in teaching each other how to faithfully go to the proper place when nature calls.

    Kittens have also been returned because of aggressive play biting.

    Two kittens playing together is one of the most entertaining, both for you and for the kittens. Having two cats will also ensure that they are not lonely when you are away from home.

    A lonely cat can become neurotic and will sometimes let his/her owner know about their unhappiness by destructive behavior or inappropriate urination. This is not something most people would like to risk.

    Many people are skeptical about adopting two kittens rather than one only to thank us later. The rewards are great. We’ve never had anyone tell us they wished they had only adopted one.

    If you feel you are unable to care for two kittens, we strongly encourage you to consider one of the wonderful adult cats needing a home. Many of these are young mothers are scarcely more than kittens themselves. They’re still very playful and entertaining and have learned good kitty manners from being around other cats.

  • Littermate syndrome is a term used to describe a phenomenon that can occur when two puppies from the same litter are raised together in the same household. It is characterized by an unusually strong bond between the littermates, which can lead to behavioral and training challenges.

    Bonding: When puppies are raised together, they may form an intense attachment to each other rather than to their human caregivers. This strong bond can result in separation anxiety when the littermates are separated or spend time apart.

    Social Skills: Littermate syndrome can impede the development of proper social skills in dogs. Since the littermates rely heavily on each other for companionship, they may have limited exposure to other dogs, humans, and new experiences. This lack of socialization can lead to fear, anxiety, and difficulty interacting with unfamiliar animals or people.

    Independence: Dogs with littermate syndrome often struggle with independence. They may become overly reliant on each other and have difficulty being alone, which can lead to separation anxiety and destructive behaviors when separated.

    Training Challenges: Littermates may find it challenging to focus on training or obey commands when they are together. They can become distracted by each other and have difficulty forming individual bonds with their human owners. This can make basic obedience training and behavior modification more difficult.

FAQs

When is your next Meet n Greet?

Foster FAQ

  • When you foster you are saving multiple lives. Fostering a pet helps the pet(s) you are fostering and also opens up a spot in the shelter for another animal to be saved.

  • HDBnQ prefers that people who are looking for a furever family member to foster first. It is better to get an idea of the responsibility prior to making a lifetime commitment.

  • It is best for pets to be able to decompress in place they can be familiar with. We ask for a minimum of a two week foster commitment when you start.

    Occasionally we are in need of short-term fosters

  • See photos above for pets that are in need of fosters.

  • It is possible to adopt your foster pet but we do review all applications. We strive to match the pet to their ideal living situation.

If you have the heart for adoption, don’t let fear get in the way.