Smoking and Vaping Policy
GHR is committed to the health and welfare of all of our rescue animals. Our commitment extends to both the animals’ time in foster care and in their permanent adoptive homes, and we reserve the right to decline any foster or adoptive home that we feel does not provide a healthy environment. As such, it is our policy that no rescue animals will be placed into foster or adoptive homes in which any member of that household smokes/vapes or in which past smoking/vaping has occurred (in the past 5 years or less). Even when smoking takes place outside the home, the lingering odor of cigarette smoke on the hands, clothes, and hair of the smoker can still be harmful to animals. In addition, vaping aerosols contain harmful, toxic and cancer-causing chemicals that can be breathed in. Small animals have sensitive respiratory systems and are highly susceptible to respiratory infections and other pulmonary diseases. These are triggered or worsened by poor air quality environments such as smoking/vaping. Thank you for your understanding.
Animals as Gifts Policy
GHR strives to place all of our rescue animals into loving and responsible homes that have undergone a thorough screening and education process. We invest a great deal of time working with applicants to ensure they are fully aware of all necessary care requirements for the animals. We require that applicants are involved in each step of our careful screening and education process and we therefore do not adopt out our rescue animals as gifts. Not only would unwitting recipients be absent from the screening process and the wealth of information discussed therein, they may not have the time or inclination to care for an animal throughout its lifespan. The addition of a family pet to any household is a decision that must include all members of that household, and it must be made with knowledge of all the necessary care information to ensure the best possible outcome. Moreover, our Adoption Contract, a legal document that is required to be signed by the responsible adult assuming custody of the animal(s) states that this person “agrees that the animal(s) will not be given as a surprise gift.”