The Stafford County Animal Shelter hereby authorizes adopter to adopt as a household pet the animal described herein.

The adopter agrees to comply with the following requirements for adoption of the animal:

1. I(WE) agree that I(WE) shall have the animal taken to one of the veterinarians participating in the spay/neuter program:
   1. within ten (10) days of the date of adoption, for an examination of the animal at no cost to me(us).  The purpose of this examination shall be to establish the health condition of the animal and to determine inoculations needed and other requirements to be met prior to surgery.  It is my(our) responsibility to pay for any services required by the veterinarian prior to surgery.  At the time of the examination, the animal shall be scheduled for surgery.  Participating veterinarians have agreed to charge for this surgery according to the fee schedule on file in the County Administrator's Office and the Animal Shelter.
   2. to surrender copy 3 of this contract to the veterinarian at the time of spay or neuter and inoculations.  The veterinarian performing the surgery and inoculations shall return the Certificate of Adoption to the County for a refund of the appropriate portion of the spay/neuter fee, as set forth in the fee schedule.
   3. within seven (7) days following the sterilization, that I(We) shall cause to be delivered or mailed to the releasing agency written confirmation signed by the veterinarian who performed the sterilization.  Confirmation shall describe the dog or cat, the new owner's name and address; certify that the sterilization was performed; and specify the date of the procedure.
2. I(We) understand that if an adopted dog or cat is lost or stolen or dies before the animal is sterilized and before the date the dog or cat is required to be sterilized, I (We) shall, within seven (7) days of the animal's disappearance or death, notify the releasing agency of the animal's disappearance or death.
3. Fees paid to the county will be refunded if the animal dies due to illness within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this contract.
4. Upon a veterinarian's recommendation, fees paid to the county will be refunded, or another animal may be chosen in exchange, if the animal becomes sick and is returned to the Stafford County Animal Shelter within twenty-one (21) days of the date of adoption.
   a.    If the adopter chooses to have the veterinarian treat the animal for the illness, EXPENSES INCURRED WILL BE BORNE ENTIRELY BY THE ADOPTER.
5. I(WE) agree, in accordance with the law, to have the animal, if it is a DOG, vaccinated against rabies at the age of four (4) months; to purchase the appropriate dog license tag for the county or city of residence; and to attach the dog tag to the collar that the dog must wear at all times.
6. I(We) agree, in accordance with the law to have the animal, if it is a CAT, inoculated against rabies at the age of four (4) months.
7. I(We) understand that ANIMALS CANNOT BE ADOPTED AS GIFTS.
8. The Stafford County Animal Shelter reserves the right to repossess the animal in the event of misrepresentation of any facts given by the adopter to the animal shelter, if the animal's home is found to be injurious to the health safety, or welfare of the animal, or the adopter fails to comply with any of the provisions of this contract.

STERILIZATION OF AN ANIMAL ADOPTED FROM THIS SHELTER IS REQUIRED UNDER
§ 3.1-796.126:2 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.  FAILURE TO DO SO IS A VIOLATION AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY.  ADOPTER MAY BE COMPELLED TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF §§3.1-796.126:2, 3.1-796.126:3 AND 3.1-796.126:4.