Siskiyou Humane Society 1208 N. Mount Shasta Blvd. P.O. Box 484 Mount Shasta, California 96067

Please read carefully, sign and return with your dog's Canine Intake Profile so that we can confirm your place on our waiting list.

Siskiyou Humane Society, Inc., is a "no-kill" facility as defined according to the Civil Code of the State of California

SEC. 5.1834.4. (a) It is the policy of the state that no adoptable animal should be euthanized if it can be adopted into a suitable home. Adoptable animals include only those animals eight weeks of age or older that, at or subsequent to the time the animal is impounded or otherwise taken into possession, have manifested no sign of a behavioral or temperamental defect that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future. (b) It is the policy of the state that no treatable animal should be euthanized. A treatable animal shall include any animal that is not adoptable but that could become adoptable with reasonable efforts. This subdivision, by itself, shall not be the basis of liability for damages regarding euthanasia.

The goal of SHS is to place pet dogs into new homes, and we are committed to making every good faith effort to see that every surrendered animal is adopted into a loving home as quickly as possible. However, we also have an ethical and legal responsibility to not adopt into the community dogs which may be ill, dangerous, aggressive, or otherwise unsafe if placed in the care of a reasonably responsible and committed pet owner. Because of this, SHS, Inc. can make no promises or guarantees that any individual animal brought or surrendered to us will be placed.

To assist us in making the best possible placements and in keeping unsafe animals out of homes, all dogs surrendered to SHS will be subject to behavior evaluation using one or more nationally recognized temperament tests, as well as observations from kennel staff. If an animal is found to be aggressive (by biting, attempting to bite, threatening to bite or giving strong indications during testing that it would likely bite if placed in the average home), or if it is found to be suffering from a medical condition which renders it unadoptable, it may, at the discretion of the SHS, Inc., be held for treatment and rehabilitation or be deemed unadoptable and humanely euthanized.

We therefore ask you to consider closely before surrendering your dog to us:

1. We are a very small facility, and we don't have a staff of trained behavior experts who can do major rehabilitation with problem dogs. If your dog has serious behavior issues, we will probably not be able to rehabilitate him in our shelter, with our resources.
2. The vast majority of our adopters are families with young children and other pets in the home who are looking for a congenial pet. We do not have a list of highly experienced dog handlers looking for "projects," or people who live on "ranches" who can manage dogs with serious issues. Our adopters are ordinary people with no special experience or abilities, and they are generally unable to manage, train or work with a truly difficult dog.
3. Although we make every effort to provide environmental enrichment, mental stimulation and companionship to all the dogs in our care, the kennel environment is terribly difficult and stressful for dogs, and many dogs deteriorate mentally and behaviorally during prolonged stays. Dogs who are especially sensitive, intelligent, high-strung and/or high energy do not fare well in a shelter environment, and may over time manifest behavior problems including aggression, obsessive-compulsive disorders and depression which will result in them becoming unadoptable.

As a no-kill facility, we do not euthanize for space, length of stay, breed type or age of the animal. We care deeply about the work that we do and wish to help as many animals as possible. Because we care, we recognize our limitations: we are not and cannot be a sanctuary or warehouse for unsafe or otherwise behaviorally unadoptable dogs. We ask you therefore to understand that any animal, at the time of intake or at any time thereafter, which is:

1. found to be suffering due to untreatable health problems as determined by a qualified veterinarian
2. found to be a potential danger to people or other pets if rehomed as determined by behavior evaluations and assessments and/or actual incidents of aggression toward Staff, volunteers or potential adopters
3. found to have a history of biting people and/or killing or injuring domestic pets
4. found to have been trained and/or used for fighting other dogs
5. determined, in the opinion of SHS Staff, to have lost all reasonable quality of life and to have become unadoptable due to stress, illness, age or any other condition

said animal may be subject to humane euthanasia at the discretion of the Siskiyou Humane Society, Inc

In the event that your dog is at any time deemed unadoptable for any reason other than biting, you have the option of asking us to notify you, at which time you will be given 48 hours to reclaim your dog, provided your dog is not being held under quarantine or other legal order. Please be advised that if you misrepresent your dog, your dog's propensity toward aggression, history of biting, attempting to bite, threaten or otherwise cause injury to human beings and/or domestic pets, you may be held legally liable for any and all damages caused directly or indirectly by your failure to accurately and completely disclose your dog's true nature, history and behavior.

I have read and understand the policies stated above. I understand that the Siskiyou Humane Society, Inc., cannot guarantee or promise that the animal I surrender will be rehomed. In the event that the animal I surrender is deemed unadoptable:

_______ I wish to be notified, and understand that I will have 48 hours to reclaim the animal.

_______ I do not wish to be notified.

I hereby state and promise that I have reported the behavior and history of the animal to the best of my ability. I understand that I may be held legally liable for any damages arising directly or indirectly from any failure to completely and accurately disclose the animal's true nature, history and behavior.

__________________________________________ ____________________ (signed) (date)

Posted 10/2006