If you would like to be considered to adopt or foster a pet, you must first fill out a pre-adoption questionnaire. These can be found on our Application page.

After we have reviewed your questionnaire and spoken with your present veterinarian and or landlord (where applicable), we will contact you with further questions and review the next steps. This step is crucial to make sure our adoptables are going to fit with your family. If your application is approved, we will set up meet-and-greet appointments with the adoptables.

Adoption fees vary from animal to animal depending upon the veterinary care that has been provided to the animal while in the program, typically around $125-$250 for dogs and $25-$50 for cats. Please remember that every animal available for adoption through an A.P.E.-affiliated organization is fully-vetted for its age and only needs routine preventive care. Dogs older than 6 months of age are heartworm tested, all cats are tested for Feluk/FIV. All dogs are kept on heartworm and flea/tick preventative. Every dog and cat is vaccinated for rabies and distemper (age appropriate), microchipped, and de-wormed, in addition to being spayed/neutered.

The following will NOT be approved for adoption/fostering:

• Those who are NOT willing to travel to Boone, IA to pick the animal up when approved to adopt. A.P.E. does not ship or transport animals.

• Those who have biases towards a specific breed or color of animal. We prefer to adopt animals based on their personality and your lifestyle, and not by gender or color.

• Those with pets that are not current on vaccinations, or have unaltered animals over 1 year of age.

• Those who have a history of animal neglect or abuse.

• Those who are under the age of 18 years old. 

• Those who rent and have leases that do not allow pets.

• Those who want an outdoor-only pet (with the exception of Barn cats).