Frequently Asked Questions 

Is 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. a Registered Charity?
Yes, we are a registered non-profit group and we are an Incorporated Association. We are also DGR registered. This means that your donation over $2 is tax deductible. 4 Paws receives no guaranteed funding. We rely on our sponsors, supporters, grants and members of the public for donations. We also have various fundraising activities to help pay for our ongoing veterinary fees. 

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Are you listed on the Queensland Dog Breeder Register?
Yes, our supply number is BIN0000289869111. Whilst we are definitely NOT dog breeders under the Animal Management (cats and dogs) Act 2008 it is legally required that we be listed on the register.

 

Why is there no phone number on your website ?

4 Paws is run by a very small team of dedicated volunteers. Although we give every spare hour that we have to 4 Paws, we also have our own pets, families and jobs to consider. When you need to contact us, please complete an online form or email 4paws@4pawsanimalrescue.org.au and someone will be in touch as soon as they are able. Please be patient with us.

 

Is 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. a "No Kill" group?
Absolutely! An animal in our care will never be euthanised unless it is in a great deal of pain, or has an un-treatable disease and we are advised by our vet that this is the only option, or if the animal is a danger to humans. No matter how long it takes to find a new home for the animal, it will remain in the care of 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. We have a large number of elderly and sick animals that will stay with us as Permanent Residents so that we can be sure they will receive the very best care.

 

Where do the 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. pets come from?
4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. rescues cats and dogs from the Council Pound. We also accept calls from the public wanting to surrender unwanted pets. Often this is because they are moving house and can not find a pet-friendly rental. They may have had a change of lifestyle or job, have children that don't mix well with the pet, or an elderly owner may have had to move into aged care or may have passed away. 

4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. can also assist in helping to re-home animals by placing them on our website as a Private Adoption.

This means that we will advertise the pet for adoption and offer advice to the owner about selecting a new family. However 4 Paws does not take ownership of the animal and the responsibility for health care, etc. remains with the owner. 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. will not help re-home an animal unless it has been de-sexed.

Why do I need to be a home owner in order to adopt a pet?
Being a homeowner is one of our responsible re-homing criteria.

It is in no way meant as a reflection or judgement on a renter's ability to care for and love a pet.
As a Committee, it wasn't a decision we made lightly however over the years, the number one reason for families having to surrender a pet to us has been their inability to find another pet friendly rental when they are asked to move by their current landlord.

Scarcity of pet friendly rentals on the Sunshine Coast increases year on year. 

Often the family has tried everything that they can to keep their pet with them however, when a family has to make the decision between keeping a roof over their head and keeping their pet it's heart-breaking for all involved.
Our team sees this on a daily and weekly basis as we continue to receive calls and emails asking for help, often with very short deadlines.
Now we know that it would be naive of us to think that homeowners are immune to changes in life however, by an overwhelming majority it is the inability to find pet friendly rental that causes families to reach out to us for help.
No family adopts a pet thinking that they will have to surrender it but situations out of their control often force this decision, with inability to find pet friendly accommodation being the number one reason we see.
4 Paws re-homes pets with the animal at the heart of all decisions made and we have to do everything that we can to ensure a pet stays with their adopted family for the rest of their life and doesn't enter the rescue system again.

Since introducing this policy the number of animals returned to us has decreased and we free up carers to take in new pets in need.

Other animal rescue groups have different adoption criteria to us, including facilitating adoptions to those that are renting and we respect their right to have those differing policies.

Deep down, we're all volunteers, trying to do the best that we can for the animals in our care.
We appreciate that not everyone will agree with our policies and that will mean that not all animal lovers can adopt a pet from us, we understand that can be disappointing but we stand by the policy.

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What steps do I take to adopt a pet I have seen on the website?
The first step is to complete the online Adoption Application - this will help us assess which pet is right for you. If we shortlist your application, we will arrange a yard check and a vet reference. If everything is acceptable, then a meeting will be arranged for you with the animal and their foster carer. If you decide to proceed, an adoption fee needs to be paid and all paperwork completed. We then update the microchip company and Council registration with your details and ownership is transferred to you. 

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How long does it take for a pet to settle in when fostering or adopting?

There is really no way of knowing this as most of the dogs and cats from the Pound come with little or no history. Although they will have spent time with a foster family or in a halfway house, we don't know how they'll react to a new situation. When adopting or fostering a dog or cat from 4 Paws please remember that it can take varying amounts of time for them to feel safe and secure. Patience and understanding is necessary during this time.

Sometimes, 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. receives an animal that has been abused, mistreated or neglected and the animal may be in very poor condition. These animals go into special foster homes, where they are given intensive therapy and are rehabilitated with the proper care, attention and medication if required. This ensures that an animal reaches their best possible physical and psychological health before becoming available for adoption.

If there are behavioral problems with any of the 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. animals that their foster carer is not able to deal with, they are quickly referred to an Animal Behaviorist to sort out any issues of concern. When an adoption application has been approved, 4 Paws can offer a consultation with our vet to give the animal a clean bill of health or to discuss in detail any ongoing health concerns. 4 Paws is always upfront about the health of an animal and we do our best to make sure that a new owner fully understands the responsibility they are taking on.

 

Will I get ongoing support after adopting an animal from 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc.?
Yes, of course you will. We are always willing to offer assistance to aid in the transition period when you adopt a new pet. We love to keep in touch and often receive letters, photos and emails from adoptive families with updates on their new family member.

 

What happens if things do not work out or my circumstances change after I have adopted a pet?
In a very small percentage of cases, even after we have taken all precautions to ensure that the new family is a good fit, sometimes things just don't work out. In these cases, 4 Paws will always reclaim ownership. If an adopted pet is not fitting into your home and family, please contact us to arrange to have the pet returned. Under no circumstances should you have the animal euthanised or pass the animal onto someone else; the pet must be returned to 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc.

Can I adopt my foster pet?
Foster Carers often decide to adopt their foster pet. Fostering is one of the best ways of discovering if an animal fits into your home and lifestyle. Foster Carers are still required to complete an adoption application and this will be assessed alongside other applications. If approved, once the adoption fee is paid and the paperwork has been completed, ownership is signed over and the pet then becomes your responsibility.
 

What should I do if I find a pet ?
Check for a name tag giving owner's details and give them a call or if there's a Council tag contact Council on (07) 5475 7272 as they'll be able to trace the owner.

If no ID is present, the pet should be taken to a vet so that they can scan for a microchip.

If after hours, contact Sunshine Coast Pet ER, 431 Tanawha Tourist Drive, Tanawha QLD 4556. Phone: 5445 1333

Animals who's owners can't be reached must go to the Council Pound so their owners have the best chance of locating them.
You could also put a free "Found" ad in the local paper, put up posters near to where you found the animal and contact local vets to let them know the pet has been found.
If you would like us to list a found pet on our Facebook page please Contact Us  with a photo, description and contact details  or post the details on our Facebook page.

 

What should I do if my pet is lost?

Contact the local Council Pounds (Sippy Creek and Noosa) and leave details of your pet. Council list all animals impounded at Sippy Creek on their website.

Contact local vets and animal product stores and ask if you can put up a poster with your details.
Put up a poster with a photo of your pet on your boundary fence/gate and at nearby intersections.

There are now many social media pages that can share information on lost and found pets and we recommend posting the details as soon as possible.
If you would like us to list a lost pet on our Facebook page please Contact Us  with a photo, description and contact details  or post the details on our Facebook page.

Remember, the easiest way for your pet to be returned to you is for you to make sure that they are microchipped (and your details are up to date) and that they are wearing their ID and Council registration tags.
 

Does 4 Paws have a Privacy Policy?
We certainly do, it can be accessed here