Adopting a Rescued Shiba Inu

MSIR is based in Chicago, and currently serves parts of the Midwest. We have foster homes that place dogs in the Midwest.

MSIR does its best to match the right dog with the right family by finding out as much as possible about the potential adoptive family before placing a dog.  If you are interested in knowing what dogs we have available, please visit our Main page! To see the National Shiba Website, please go to http://national.shibarescue.org.

All dogs placed by MSIR will be spayed or neutered. This not only prevents overpopulation of dogs, but it is also beneficial to the dog's health.  Several ailments, including some types of cancer, are prevented by spaying or neutering.

We have an adoption fee to cover the aggregate costs of caring for our dogs. As you consider a dog, remember that the average life span of a Shiba Inu is 12-17 years.

This includes spaying and neutering, as well as all needed vaccinations, microchipping and also pays for general care for the dogs while they are being fostered.

All new owners who adopt through MSIR must sign a contract. One clause in the contract guarantees an obedience refund--that's right! If you successfully complete an obedience course with your rescue Shiba, you will be refunded $25! Obedience training is important to guide your Shiba in becoming the kind of dog you will want beside you forever. Obedience training also helps a new owner bond with a new dog. We can recommend obedience facilities--just ask us!

Steps to Adopting a Dog:

1.  Make sure a Shiba is for you.

Read our information page, read books about Shibas, join a Shiba list online, and educate yourself as much as you can about the breed.  If you have any questions whatsoever, please feel free to contact us.  Talk it over with everyone in your household, and make sure that everyone feels the same way about it that you do. Think about your schedule, and decide when you will have time to spend with your dog. Who will be responsible for taking care of the dog?  Finally, take a look at your home. Where will the dog sleep?  Eat? Once you have considered all the aspects of having a loving, active companion, you are ready to think about adopting a Shiba.

2.  Fill out our application.

Fill out this online application. We reserve the right to refuse your application for any reason.

3.  An MSIR representative will contact you for a home visit.

One of our volunteers will contact you to arrange to visit your home. The volunteer will come to your home to meet your family and listen to your needs. This helps to determine whether the home is the proper environment for a Shiba Inu and what type of Shiba would be best suited for the family.

4.  Searching for the Perfect dog.

If your application is accepted following the home visit, your paperwork will be available to the volunteers fostering dogs. The foster homes know the most about each dog and can best determine if your home would be a good match for the dog. Once your home visit has been accepted, feel free to email foster homes about dogs. MSIR requires that your entire family come to meet the dog that may be right for you at its foster home or at a MSIR Meet n Greet.  We insist that all members of the family are present to make sure everyone agrees this is the perfect match.  If you do not feel this is the right dog for you, or if the foster family feels you are not the right family for this dog, we encourage you to keep checking the website because more dogs come into rescue each week. Often, there are many wonderful families interested in the same foster dog. Unfortunately, the dog can only be placed in one home. Many times we see the foster dog choose the new family which is why we require all family members to meet the dog.

5.  Wait 24 hours

Once the foster home and you have decided the foster dog should be the next member of your family, we ask that you wait at least 24 hours before taking your new Shiba home. This is designed to give you time to fully consider your decision.  It also gives you the chance to prepare your home to be ready for your new family member, and purchase any items such as a collar, bowls and food for your new companion. A list of supplies may be found here.

6.  Take your new pal home!

When you are totally convinced that you've found the perfect, lifelong friend, you can come take him or her home! You will then sign our contract and pay MSIR your adoption fee. Whoever said you can't buy love never adopted a Shiba! We will provide support to you after the adoption, to make sure that your new friend becomes an integral part of your family.
 

If you have any questions about our adoption process, please contact us.