ADOPTION
PROCESS
Please
be patient with our application process as there are only one or
two people who review applications and these individuals are
volunteers and have families, jobs and pets of their own.
All
of the Clumbers available for adoption from Clumbers in Need
have spent their entire lives in the miserable environment of
puppy mills. All have been neglected and many have been
mistreated. I feel their pain when they first come to me and I
want nothing but for them to enjoy the simple pleasures of a
dog’s life.
If
you desire a warm, cuddly, affectionate, housetrained, playful,
happy pet, and you want that temperament when you first bring
the Clumber home, then a Clumber rescued from a puppy mill is NOT
the Clumber for you. It takes time
for the Clumbers to trust me and it will take time for them to
trust you. PATIENCE
is the magic word when it comes to a puppy
mill rescue.
Before
coming to my home, the Clumbers available for adoption knew
nothing about being a beloved pet, or companion, or playmate.
These Clumbers have lived in wire cages, eaten poor quality
food, been forced to share their cages with many other dogs,
never had proper medical care, and have never known the human
touch of affection or kindness. They have been used to living in
their own excrement and the excrement of other dogs that shared
the same fate.
Some
of the Clumbers bring tremendous housebreaking challenges, some
will also challenge your patience and commitment as you attempt
to integrate them into family life.
Most
of these Clumbers are shy, many are fearful, many will bark at
or run and hide from, the “normal” sounds of a household
such as the doorbell ringing, a child’s joyful squeal, the
running of the vacuum cleaner, the rattle of pots and pans, and
the jingling of car keys.
These
Clumbers don’t know the feel of grass under their paws or a
pillow in their beds; they don’t know what it is like to live
inside as a family member or even how to go up and down stairs.
If
you decide you are interested in adopting one of my Clumbers,
please understand it
will be your responsibility
to “win”
the Clumber over. You will have to gain
their trust, keeping in mind, that even though many are older,
they were never taught to trust, play or love. That
responsibility must include a solid commitment to the dog’s
health and well being, a
thorough understanding of the lives these rescues have lived,
and a patience that encourages the rescue
to progress at a speed that is right for them.
Now
that I’ve shared the “dark” side of adopting a puppy mill
rescue, you should also know that every day brings a reason for
thanks; a wagging tail, the enjoyment of a treat, the first time
he/she gives you a slobbery kiss, the first time he/she looks
you in the eye, and best of all the first time they let out
their first woo woo. Clumber Spaniel rescues can and DO
become
wonderful companions. It may take a little more time and
dedication but believe me the rewards are well worth it.
After
reading the above if you are still interested in adopting a
clumber, you must fill out a questionnaire, which can be faxed
or mailed to you.
The
adoption fee for a Clumber is $500.00 and includes the
following:
·
Vet Check
·
Any surgeries if needed
·
Mandatory spay/neuter
·
Up to date shots including rabies
·
De-worming
·
Micro-chipping
·
Flea preventative (Frontline Plus)
·
H/W testing w/preventative
·
Metal Crate
·
Collar/Leash
·
Bag
of food
Along
with the above, the adopting family gets an "owners
manual" which includes important contact numbers, a helpful
websites list, pedigree information as available, groomer's
guide, feeding guide, Clumber history and an informational
summary of the breed.
Due to the uniqueness of the breed, I am matching a mentor with
each family so that the new family has plenty of outlets in case
questions or problems arise.
All
applicants considered will go through the first phone interview
which is done by me and if I think they are eligible, a second
phone interview is done by another Clumber person, home
visits of where the Clumber will reside will be done, personal
references/vet references are required and checked, all other
pets in the household must be spayed/neutered
unless
they are being shown or have medical reasons why they shouldn't
be, and when possible visits with another Clumber owner is
recommended.
After
both phone interviews are done, I will contact the second
interviewer to discuss the outcome. If for some reason I think
the applicant is a "yes" and the second person thinks
they are a "no", a third interview is done by another
Clumber person and then the decision will be made. I do;
however, have the right to make the final decision.
All
Clumbers adopted will be co-owned by me
and
if for ANY
reason
the new family decides they can't keep the Clumber, they HAVE
to return him/her to ME. They CANNOT
take the Clumber to a shelter or re-home. I
also do follow up phone check-ins after the adoption is made
final and will physically visit
occasionally
to ensure all is going well between the new owner and the
Clumber. If miles prevent this, I will call on other volunteers
to do so for me. If for any valid reason I feel the Clumber is
at risk or of being neglected, I have every right to void the
contract and won't hesitate to do so. If this happens, no refund
will be given.
Any
life threatening decisions such
as those involving major surgery, terminal illness or euthanasia
mustbe discussed with me prior
to
a decision being made.
Another
MUST is the new owner must have a physical fence and
all Clumbers are to be "inside"
pets
(NO
exception) and must
be crated when unattended as
they are known to leave a trail of destruction and eat things
they shouldn’t which can lead to surgery and life threatening
conditions.
I realize there are good homes for Clumbers in states other than
the Carolinas and have no objections to out of state adoptions;
however, when a match is made, the prospective adopter must be
willing to travel to meet the Clumber and take him/her home
unless circumstances warrant otherwise.
I
also require that the new owner notifies me within three
days
if
they have a change of address and/or phone number(s).
I
am recommending training for all clumbers and will help find a
trainer in your area. Also depending on the rescue, I will or
will not allow the Clumbers to be adopted out to families with
small children. I also work to match you with a Clumber that is
right for your family, based on personalities of the Clumber and
factors related to the new family. I will take into
consideration male/female wanted but feel I will know best which
Clumber is suited for which families. If at the time we do not
have a Clumber to match your family I will put you on a waiting
list.
Please
do not hesitate to contact me regarding any questions regarding
the adoption process.
Thank
you.
Kim
Smith McLendon
Founder
of Clumbers in Need
To
view the below documents you will have to enable pop-ups and
turn off any pop-up blockers. If asked for a password,
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Click Here
for "Adoption Process" in a Word document
Click
Here for our "Adoption Placement Application"
Click
Here for our "Adoption Contract"
Click Here for
information on our "Home Visit" policy

CLUMBERS IN NEED
19
Trantham Creek Road - Fairview, NC 28730
Kim
Smith McLendon ~ Founder of Clumbers in Need


Phone:
(828) 230-2499
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