Adoption Process
Things to Consider Before Adopting
Congratulations on deciding to adopt a horse or barn pet! Adopting a barn pet is a great experience but can present unforeseen challenges for adopters. Our staff will work with you to make sure you are ready for this new addition to your home by helping you consider the following items.
Adopters
- Adopters cannot sell, give away or slaughter an adopted animal, or use an adopted animal in any research study.
- Adopters cannot breed any animal adopted from Second Chance Ranch.
- Adopted animals cannot be used in commercial ventures such as pony rides, dude strings, etc.
Equipment
It’s important you have the right equipment and setup to care for and enrich your barn pet properly for each species. Our staff can help you arrange a list of items but a great checklist for horses can be viewed here.
Also be sure to check with our staff for anything you need, we can help you shop our new or gently used items we have at the Second Chance Ranch Tack Shop!
Food & Water
- It’s important to research ahead of time about what each barn pet species needs for a proper diet and where you can purchase hay, grain, feed etc.
- Access to fresh and clean water is necessary for every barn pet species and you will need to make sure tanks are regularly cleaned, filled, and that heaters are placed in them during freezing temperatures.
Health & Wellness
Owning a horse or barn pet will require you to have specialty veterinarians for overall health and dental care, and farriers for hoof care. Make sure to have these relationships established before bringing home your barn pet so you can get set up for routine care without interruption.
Shelter
- Proper housing is important for your horse or barn pet. Whether you are boarding or keeping the pet at home, they need a place to escape the elements. A shed or similar will suffice if you don’t have access to a barn and stalls.
- Your fencing must be safe, sturdy, and species appropriate.
Training & Skills
- The Second Chance Ranch recommends positive reinforcement training methods to socialize animals, to train for veterinarian and farrier visits, and for riding.
- Your skillset and goals must match with the barn pet you are adopting. Our staff will help match you with the right one and guide you to successful ownership!
- In some cases, professional trainers may be needed to help you and your barn pet further.
Adopt a Horse or Barn Animal
To see our currently available horses and other barn animals, please visit the Find a Pet page, or choose below.
Looking for a Working Cat?
If you are interested in adopting our working cats and can provide them with food and shelter year-round, please fill out the interest form below to get started.
The Right Horse Initiative Partner
As a partner in The Right Horse Initiative, we’re proud to support a national movement re-framing the conversation about equine adoption. The Right Horse Initiative is a collective of industry professionals and equine welfare advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition through a dialogue of kindness and respect. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is working with The Right Horse Initiative to promote the bond between horses and humans. We are good people for good horses, and everyone who loves horses has ownership in this movement.
Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds (HART)
The ARL is proud to partner with Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds (HART), whose mission is to ensure safe, temporary homes and comfortable futures for Thoroughbreds after their racing careers are over. Through this partnership, the ARL’s skilled team provides care to thoroughbreds when their competition days are behind them. It’s partnerships like this that make it possible to help even more animals in need find the happy lives they deserve. Keep an eye on our adoptable horse bios — you may even see a HART horse!
What to bring
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- Valid driver’s license or picture ID, and proof of address (such as a utility bill or bank statement). Adopters must be 18 years or older and sign an adoption contract.
- Members that live in your household. We recommend all members of your household meet the animal before adoption. All adults living in the home must also know about and agree to the adoption.
- Accommodations for travel are required for safety reasons to be able to take an animal home.
- The ARL may require other information or require that other steps be taken prior to adoption to ensure an animal is the right match for your family. The ARL only adopts animals as family pets, not for consumption or research. The ARL reserves the right to deny any adoption for any reason.
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