The facility in Downey, California was clean and organized. There were a lot of animals at the facility and I’m sure they could have used more staff / volunteers.
Be prepared to spend some time at the facility.
I was very happy with SEAACA’s services, their operations and the dog we finally adopted so I highly recommend them. I have shared my dog's photos in this post - from the day I met her to her photo from last night. She's a very sweet girl.
What You Need To Do:
Risks To Be Aware Of (Not Related To SEAACA):
Due to the fact that many people may be interested in the same pet, you have to be physically present at the SEAACA centre on adoption day (the day allocated by SEAACA) which may be on a business day and you will have to take the day off from work.
If someone else is first on the list, you may need to select another pet to take home. That pet may also have a waiting period (see points 7-9 above) and may also have a list of adopters waiting to adopt them.
Be prepared to spend some time at the facility.
I was very happy with SEAACA’s services, their operations and the dog we finally adopted so I highly recommend them. I have shared my dog's photos in this post - from the day I met her to her photo from last night. She's a very sweet girl.
What You Need To Do:
- Find the pet you want to adopt here: http://www.seaaca.org/adoptions/view-our-animals
- Go to the SEAACA office and let the front desk know which pet you want to adopt by giving them the reference number.
- You can go see the animals in the back before you finalize your decision.
- Fill out the relevant paperwork. e.g. They ask you to fill out profile information such as how often you expect to take your dog out for walks, etc.
- SEAACA associates will bring the pet out, to an enclosed fenced area where you are allowed to interact with your potential pet so that you get a sense of their personality.
- You add your name to the list of people who are interested in adopting that rescued pet.
- SEAACA will allow about 2 days (if I remember correctly from my experience) for the original owner to come and claim the rescued pet. I came in on Saturday, December 02, 2017 and was able to take my dog home on Wednesday, December 06, 2017.
- If no one comes to claim the pet within the 2 day period, the pet will be given to the first person on the list of interested adopters who shows up in person, on adoption day.
- On adoption day (the date given by the SEAACA front desk for that pet), if you are not first on the list, you will have to come in and wait to see if the people who are listed above your name will come to adopt the pet. If those people are a ‘no show,’ you will be able to proceed with the adoption on that same day.
- You will pay the adoption fees on adoption day. The fees are covered here: http://www.seaaca.org/adoptions/adoption-process
- SEAACA does a veterinary examination before they hand over your adopted animal on adoption day. You are expected to take care of whatever conditions your pet is diagnosed with at the time. So please be aware that a rescued animal is a responsibility and can come with unexpected expenses in addition to the aforementioned adoption fees. Your local veterinarian will be responsible for on-going treatment of your pet after you have adopted them.
- SEAACA takes care of the licensing, spaying/neutering and the microchip for you. You have to register the microchip online once you have picked up your adopted pet.
- My local veterinarian spayed my dog as she had not been spayed at SEAACA. She was sick on adoption day and SEAACA’s veterinarian recommended I complete her antibiotic course before I took her to be spayed.
- SEAACA will hand you your adopted pet’s medical file. You will need to hand over this file/information to your local veterinarian so that you can take care of on-going vaccinations and treatment.
- You are also given a free veterinarian exam certificate by SEAACA (that was honoured by my local veterinarian in Huntington Beach, California).
- Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a rescued pet.
Risks To Be Aware Of (Not Related To SEAACA):
Due to the fact that many people may be interested in the same pet, you have to be physically present at the SEAACA centre on adoption day (the day allocated by SEAACA) which may be on a business day and you will have to take the day off from work.
If someone else is first on the list, you may need to select another pet to take home. That pet may also have a waiting period (see points 7-9 above) and may also have a list of adopters waiting to adopt them.