Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue with a mission to assist terminally ill people with caring for and finding new families for their pets.
First and foremost, no matter what your age, please make a plan for your pet if you were no longer able to care for it. Do not assume your family will take care of your animals - they may not be able to care for them when the need arises. Do not wait until a nursing home move or hospitalization until deciding what to do with the pets. This website has lots of great resources: 2nd Chance 4 Pets
Our greatest need is for monetary contributions that can help us provide veterinary care. You can donate to Tyson’s Place through PayPal or send a check to P.O. Box 1173, Holland, MI 49422. You can also donate directly to our fund at Allendale Animal Hospital. To do so, please make a check out to Allendale Animal Hospital and send it to 6161 Lake Michigan Drive, Allendale, MI 49401. Make sure to write “Tyson’s Place Animal Rescue” in the memo line.
In addition, we are always in need of:
- Scoopable cat litter (any brand is fine)
- Canned cat food
- Solid-colored dry cat food for senior cats
- Glucosamine joint supplements for dogs
- New or gently used beds for dogs or cats
- New or gently used small dog clothing (to help smaller dogs during the colder months)
- Items on our Amazon wish list
We are also always looking for volunteer foster parents for animals in general and especially for cats.
Because we don’t have a facility, we rely on volunteers to provide temporary homes for our animals until someone adopts them permanently. These volunteers provide the love, socialization, and daily care that the animals need while we provide the veterinary care and supplies.
Many people who are thinking about fostering a pet ask us how long the animal will be in their care. The answer is that it depends on a variety of factors. Some dogs find a permanent home in as little as two weeks, while other dogs wait for six months or more for someone to adopt them. Cats can take even longer — often from several months to a year.
If you’re interested in fostering, expect to have the animal in your care for some time, although advertising the animal on your own through family, friends, social media, and any other creative outlet can help them find a permanent home faster.
Some of our animals can’t live with other pets, so homes that don’t currently have any animals are always welcome. However, some of our animals can successfully live with other cats and dogs.
If you’re interested in helping animals in need by serving as a pet foster parent, please fill out a foster application.
We are a foster-based rescue, which means we don’t have our own facility where we can house our animals. Instead, we rely on volunteer foster parents to temporarily house animals in their homes until someone permanently adopts them.
Since these adoptable animals live in private homes, we ask potential adopters to fill out an online adoption application prior to arranging an adoption visit.
We also participate in community adoption events with our animals — follow us on Facebook to see where we will be next.
We are passionate advocates for the adoption of senior animals, and we often take in older dogs and cats. These animals have so much love to offer, and they deserve to spend their golden years in a loving and comfortable home. If you can provide this for them, they’ll reward you with endless loyalty and affection.
We occasionally take in younger or middle-aged animals as well. Please check out our adoptable animals and fill out an adoption application if you see an animal you’d like to bring into your family.
Our mission is to assist terminally ill people with caring for and finding new families for their pets. We interpret this mission to include those going into assisted living, nursing homes, hospice, and after the owner has passed away.
If you believe your situation aligns with our mission, please contact us for more information about our intake process. We currently only take in dogs and cats from Michigan, but if you meet our mission and are located out of state, please still contact us and we can give you some suggestions on how to find help closer to home. Please note, we are a small, volunteer-run rescue without a facility, so we rely on volunteers to temporarily house the animals until adopted.
We believe pets are a lifelong commitment, and we would love for every pet owner to view surrendering their pet as an absolute last resort. Please consider alternatives to surrendering your pet: https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/alternatives-surrendering-your-pet
Unfortunately, we won’t be able to take in your pet unless your situation fits our mission.
If there is no possible way for you to keep your pet, there are resources available to help you safely rehome your pet. There is a safe website where you can post your pet up for adoption on your own, and they will help you screen adopters through an application process and even have an adoption contract. Using this process means your pet goes directly from your home to an adopter's home. Visit https://rehome.adoptapet.com/
If you’re interested in adopting one of our animals, please contact us for more information about them. Once you’ve learned a bit more about the animal, if you still think they may be a good fit for your family, the next step is to fill out our online adoption application.
Once we review your application, we’ll contact you and set up a time for you to meet the dog or cat. If you’re looking to adopt a dog and already have dogs at home, we require that the dogs meet prior to the adoption.
To promote animal rescue, we try to make the adoption process as efficient, smooth, and hassle-free as possible. We’re always eager to get our animals adopted and into loving homes. However, home visits are required prior to adoption in most cases. We do allow out-of-state adoptions.
All animals are fixed (spayed or neutered), microchipped, and brought up to date on vaccinations prior to adoption. Depending on the animal, we may perform other veterinary services, including blood work and dental cleanings.
Cat adoptions cost $20. Since cats tend to do better in pairs or small groups, we offer special adoption fee discounts when you adopt more than one cat at a time. Dog adoption fees range from $50 to $175 depending on the age and medical needs of the dog.
All animals are fixed, microchipped, and current on vaccinations by the time they’re adopted. Dogs receive heartworm testing, and cats are tested for FELV/FIV. Depending on the animal’s needs, we may perform other veterinary services, including blood work, growth removals, fecal checks, urine checks, and dental cleanings.
All pet owners, no matter your age, should have a plan in writing for the care of their pets if something should happen to them. Please do not assume your family is ready or capable of taking care of your animals. Do not wait until the pet owner is moving into a nursing home to start making a plan. Do not wait until there is an emergency deadline for placement. Make a plan now! Visit 2nd Chance 4 Pets: Pet Care Resources — 2nd Chance 4 Pets for resources including a free will. Also check out our handout here with steps to take to make a plan: Planning for Future
Donations
Tyson's Place Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.