Namaste Akita Rescue Alliance is a 501(c) (3) Non-profit charitable organization located in Northern California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are a small grassroots volunteer based organization. We take in only the number of Akitas we can responsibly care for and re-home. Caring for a manageable number of dogs allows us to provide necessary medical treatment, quality nutrition, training and socialization. It also gives us ample time to get to fully know our fosters and their unique personalities, all of which enables us to find the best possible match for them in an adoptive family. Our members and volunteers are a group of dedicated individuals who have full time jobs, family commitments, children and their own companion animals, yet make time to provide structure, training, behavior modification, medical care when necessary, socialization and plenty of TLC for the dogs in our program.
Our goal is to place our Akitas in appropriate homes that provide for and compliment the needs of each individual dog, as well as meets the requirements of our adopters. Collectively, we have more than 30 years of rescue experience with the breed.
We partner with local shelters in Contra Costa County, Alameda County, San Francisco, Sacramento, Solano County, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Barbara, the Tri-Valley and Central Valley and Marin County. We will consider other locations depending on available resources and space available.
Before we accept a dog into our program, they are carefully evaluated for temperament and health. We then begin the process of getting to know each dog and asses their needs, before we make them available. Some dogs may require more time for rehabilitation, physical or physiological healing or just basic training. They receive whatever time is needed to ensure they are ready and well adjusted so they can thrive in a loving qualified home.
We are not a "sanctuary". We don't have acres of land with our own kennels, nor do we have a long list of foster homes to take in large numbers of dogs. We have a small network of volunteers and while our priority is to place our orphans in foster homes first, unfortunately there simply are not enough.
Unlike government funded agencies, we rely purely on donations from you, our community and supporters to help fund the work we do. Adoption fees help defray some of our operating costs to spay/neuter, immunize, feed, board/kennel, microchip and provide any medical treatment needed. Often times extensive medical tests are required, and/or major surgical procedures are necessary to get these dogs back to optimum health. Your donations enable us to provide these dogs with the care they never had. Because we are recognized in the state of California as a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization, your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Our outreach efforts include supporting our local communities by being a resource for educating the public about responsible pet ownership, the importance of spaying/neutering, breed selection, how to prepare for your newly adopted dog, and the many other challenges of pet ownership. We also provide resources for veterinary specialists (i.e: oncologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists), rehabilitation and therapy centers, animal behaviorists and trainers.
Our extended family of Akitas who were adopted from the Akita chapter of Niko Rescue appear on our "Adopted" page, because we want those adopters to know they have our commitment of continued support for the life of their Akita.
We hope you're here because you'd like to learn more about the breed, or perhaps because you'd like to join us in our efforts, either by adopting, volunteering or donating. Your support could make the difference in the life of an Akita for the rest of their life.
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Adoption Policy
Namaste Akita Adoption Process
A link to our application can be found at the bottom of this page. Please make note of a few important things about our adoption process, before you complete the application:
OUT OF STATE ADOPTIONS:
We don't generally adopt out of state unless it's a surrounding state to California and within a reasonable driving distance, as all members of the family are required to come meet the prospective Akita. This includes resident animals. We also need to be able to provide hands on assistance whenever necessary and if an adoption does not work out the dog must be returned to us. Long distance adoptions make this challenging to achieve.
CHILDREN:
We are unable to adopt our Akitas to families with children under 13 years old.
PHONE INTERVIEW:
Following a successful application review, we would arrange for a phone interview. We discuss in more detail what kind of lifestyle and home environment you expect to share with the dog. This gives you an opportunity to ask questions of us as well. If all parties feel there is a mutual match with one of our fosters, then a home visit is conducted.
ADOPTION APPLICATION, THE FIRST STEP:
The first step in adopting a dog from us is to complete our adoption application. The application is the initial phase in which we can begin to determine if the dog you are interested in, may be a possible candidate based on compatibility, your life style, activity level and experience. Submitting an application does not imply a commitment from either party, nor does it put a hold on that particular Akita.
HOME VISIT:
The purpose of a home visit is to ensure your home, yard and neighborhood are suitable for the age, activity level and disposition of the dog you are interested in. For instance if you are adopting a puppy, we would be looking for a home that is puppy proofed or can be, before a pup is placed with you. If you are adopting an older dog, we might be concerned if you have steep steps.
MEET OUR FOSTER DOG:
The home visit is an opportunity for both of us to ask questions and become more familiar with one another. If after the home visit it is determined that it would be an appropriate match, we would have you and all family members, including any resident animals, meet the dog.
ADOPTION AGREEMENT/CONTRACT:
If all goes well, we finalize the adoption by completing an Adoption Agreement. Our adoption fees are $450 for puppies under a year and $400 for adult dogs.
SUPPORT:
A successful adoption transition is often determined by what happens in the very early stages of the adoption. Some adopters transition smoothly with little assistance, while others may need a bit of advice or hands on assistance. Our relationship with you does not end when you sign the Adoption Agreement. Our relationship with you remains in place for the life of the dog. We are here to support you and provide whatever help is needed to ensure you have the comfort level you need, regardless of whether it's 2 months or 2 years after you've adopted from us. We urge you and expect you, to call upon us for ongoing support during all life stages of your Akita.
RETURNING YOUR AKITA:
Though we have very few dogs ever returned to us, we do realize there are circumstances when it is unavoidable. In that instance we do require that if at any time during the life of the dog, that you can no longer keep the dog, you MUST notify us and we will take the dog back or assist you in re-homing the dog. Under NO circumstances is the Akita to be given away, sold, traded or surrendered to another rescue organization or shelter facility nor are they to be advertised on social media sites such as Facebook or Craigslist.
https://www.namasteakitarescue.com/adoptable-akitas
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