Below are questions we regularly receive. If you don’t find a question you need answered here, please email us at info@cofas.org !
Click on applicable question.
I found a dog/cat. What Should I do?
My Dog/Cat has been lost. What now?
Can you take my animal?
Where do you get the dogs and cats that come to COFAS?
Where is your shelter located.
I want to adopt an animal, but don’t live nearby. Can I still adopt?
How much are adoptions?
What is included in the adoption fee?
What should I expect after adopting my new pet?
What should I do if I cannot keep the pet I adopted?
All of your dogs and cats sterilized?
Does your organization receive government funding?
Where does my donation money go?
Are my donations tax deductible?
Do you have purebred animals?
Why hasn’t some one responded to my phone calls/Emails?
I have a question or problem with wild animals in or around my property. Who do I contact?
How may I make a donation?
If you have any questions that were not answered here, please contact us at info@cofas.org. Thank you!
I found a dog/cat. What should I do?
The first thing you should do is contact your local animal control. If you are able to care for the dog temporarily, give a description of the dog or cat to animal control staff. If somebody calls or comes in looking for a dog that fits the description, you will be contacted. Another good idea is to check petfinder.com’s classified section for “lost pets” as well as post a photo in Facebook groups such as Lost Dogs Georgia, etc. Place a free ad in your local paper and put up posters at intersections near where you found him.
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My dog/cat has been lost. What now?
Your steps should be the same as those for someone who has found a pet (above). Immediately notify your local animal control and post a photo on lost pet Facebook groups such as Lost Dogs Georgia. The important thing is to keep checking with animal control- don’t call just once or twice! Post flyers at intersections near where the pet was last seen. And if possible, give a flyer to your postal carrier. This is someone who is in your neighborhood every day and they may have seen your lost pet. Also, contact local rescue groups. When the animal is found, be sure to take down any posters and contact animal control again with an update. And most importantly, once you have your dog or cat back home, make sure your pet has a collar with an ID tag. The ID tag must also have a phone number. We’ve seen lots of pets in shelters with either a collar without tags, or name tags with no phone #. Additionally, get your animal microchipped. There are many clinics that offer this at a reduced price.
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Can you take my animal?
Since we do not have a shelter, all of our animals are kept in foster homes with limited space. Occasionally we will accept animals from individuals but we simply cannot accept every dog or cat. With recent economic hardships dogs and cats are being surrendered to pounds at a much higher rate. We have to respond to those animals who are in dire need. The number of dogs and cats ending up in shelters has risen a lot lately and we’re struggling to keep up with this demand by pulling as many ‘urgent cases’ as we possibly can.
If you are trying to network in order to find a new home for your pet, here are some tips that can help your animal receive more attention. Always include the most important details, such as breed, age, size, and whether they are good with other dogs/animals, kids, and adults. Attach clear photos of the animal. Post the listing online wherever you can (facebook or other social media), in vet’s offices and pet stores, animal control offices, and college campuses or other community centers. Spread the word, and tell your friends and family to do the same. Also, do not wait until time is urgent. If you give yourself and your pet a few months of time to find a new home, chances are much higher that you will be successful.
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Where do you get the dogs and cats that come to COFAS?
Most of our dogs and cats come from animal control facilities in Georgia. We try to pull animals from rural locations where their chances of being adopted are dismal. Recently we have also acted with authorities during raids on puppy mills and hoarding situations. From these raids we accept into our organization puppies and many adults. Even though the adults require more rehabilitation, they deserve a happy life as well!
Because the dogs come from all sorts of places, we do not know their histories. We evaluate the conditions and temperaments of all of our dogs and place them accordingly. Even though the origins of all of our animals may not be known, one thing is certain: We strive to give each pet a secure and loving forever home.
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Where is your shelter located?
At this time we do not have a shelter facility. All of our animals are housed in loving foster homes in Putnam, Greene and other counties in Central Georgia. Fostering our animals lets us get to know each one individually. It also gives the animals time to adjust to home life and be exposed to things they may not have known in a past life. We are able to see how they interact with dogs, cats, and children if possible. Fostering serves as a good transition time and increases the odds of a successful adoption. (If you are interested in becoming a foster home for Circle of Friends Animal Society, please visit our “Get Involved” page for more information.).
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I want to adopt an animal but don’t live nearby. Can I still adopt?
Yes, but you must be willing to drive! We are all volunteers. Expect that we may be more in-depth in the screening process, likely requiring a home visit and personal as well as vet reference checks. This is to ensure the appropriate home for our fosters.
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How much are adoptions?
Adoption fees are $195 for dogs, $100 for cats.
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What is included in the adoption fee?
Your new dog or cat comes with so many things! In addition, all animals are spayed/neutered, heartworm tested (dogs) and treated if necessary, feline leukemia/feline AIDS tested (cats), up to date on shots (though some puppies and kittens will require additional booster shots and/or a rabies shot when they’re old enough), dewormed, and given flea and heartworm prevention. All dogs and some of our cats are also microchipped. The adoption packet itself includes a starter bag of food, coupons, a collar with a tag, and a few treats or toys. We also provide valuable information on how to welcome your new pet into your home, including housetraining and crate training tips, etc.
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What should I expect after adopting my new pet?
The transition from shelter to foster home to adoptive home can be stressful for an animal. Expect some adjustment time to both the new family and new home. Introduce your existing dogs and a new one on neutral territory in a way that minimizes the potential for eye contact and tension (we prefer to go on a walk with new and existing dogs, ask us if you have questions). Even if an animal is considered housebroken at his foster home, do treat him as if he isn’t until he can get used to his new home and your routine. In addition, an environmental change can suppress the immune system. If your new pet is sick within a week of adoption contact us for a list of approved veterinarians you can take him to where we will pay the bill. But please remember, you must discuss this with us first unless it’s an absolute emergency.
If you find that the transition has not gone as smoothly for your pets (whether it be the existing or new ones) as you expected, let us know immediately. We can often recommend some exercises or meet with you if necessary. We love to see our pets go into permanent homes, so please let us know and we can help!
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What should I do if I cannot keep the pet I adopted?
He must be brought back to us. This is stated in the adoption agreement which all adopters sign. We do not want him to end up tossed aside, be given to someone else, or find himself in a shelter. If you do need to relinquish your pet, please give us advanced notice. We do NOT have a shelter facility and our foster homes are usually full of adoptable animals at any given moment; we need time to make some space for your dog or cat. Please give us a few weeks’ notice, especially if the reason for return is behavioral issues, as it will be important to place him in the most appropriate foster home.
We ask every adopter to let us know right away if any concerns arise. We work with trainers and would much rather fix the problem right away and keep the pet with his family than end up having to put the animal through the stress of rehoming multiple times.
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All of your dogs and cats sterilized?
Yes, and there are no exceptions. We’re trying to stop pet overpopulation, one pet at a time. Mistakes happen too easily and we don’t have time to follow up on spay/neuters for adopted pets.
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Does your organization receive government funding?
No, we rely solely on donations, adoption fees, and specialized grants to maintain our community programs.
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Where does my donation money go?
Circle of Friends has no paid employees so 100% of your donation goes directly toward helping homeless animals. You can specify a specific item or pet you want your donation to go towards. If not, donations are used in many ways- to offset high vet bills for animals who need special care (surgery/medication/rehab), emergency medical, financial assistance for community spay/neuter, toys, treats, formula for orphaned kittens and puppies, and supplies for our foster homes. If you are interested in donating in other ways, please click on the tab at the top of every page entitled “Get Involved.”
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Are my donations tax deductible?
Yes. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We will happily provide you with a receipt of donation upon your request. You may donate by cash or check, or online through PayPal. Simply click on the PayPal buttons located throughout this site!
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Do you have any purebred animals?
We do receive purebreds into our care from time to time. Some find their way into animal control facilities, are seized during a raid, or are surrendered by breeding operations after they are no longer deemed ‘useful.’ It is important to remember that an 8 week old purebred puppy is hard to find in a rescue organization. Also, most healthy and young purebreds have a higher chance of making it out of animal control without the help of a rescue organization. Because of this, some of our purebreds tend to have physical or emotional wounds that require some time and extra care to heal. If you’re interested in a purebred, please be patient and check with us often! Another option is to consider a mixed breed. Oftentimes mixed breed animals don’t exhibit as many health problems as purebreds- and they love their owners just as equally!
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Why hasn’t someone responded to my phone calls/emails?
We are all un-paid volunteers; most of us have full-time jobs, children, and pets of our own. We do our best to respond quickly. Feel free to email us again or message us on Facebook if you haven’t received a response within a few days or so, but please be patient!
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I have a question or problem with wild animals in or around my property. Who do I contact?
We get inquiries about wildlife every year, especially in the spring. The most important thing to do if you find injured wildlife is to get expert advice from a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as quickly as possible. Please do not attempt to keep or treat the animal yourself; it is illegal for private citizens to keep wildlife. Wild animals need specialized care if they are to have a chance at recovery and release back into the wild.
One local resource that may help you is UGA’s Wildlife Treatment Center. The center, which is located at the College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens, accepts a variety of hurt or orphaned animals and attempts to heal them and return them to the wild. You can reach the Wildlife Treatment Center at (706) 542-3221. The center is funded by donations and may not always be accepting new patients if funds are low, so always call before you bring in an animal.
Another option is to locate a local wildlife rehabilitator, many of whom specialize in treating certain species of animals. The following website may help you find a rehabilitator in your area: http://www.nwrawildlife.org
You can also contact your State Dept. of Natural Resources. In Georgia, wildlife issues are handled by the Wildlife Resources Division. Find contact information for your local ranger and access a list of local wildlife rehabilitators at http://www.georgiawildlife.org
The following website is an excellent source of information if you find injured or abandoned squirrels:
www.squirrel-rehab.org.
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If you have any questions that were not answered here, please contact us at info@cofas.org. Thank you!
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How do I make a donation?
Circle of Friends Animal Society, Inc 