ADOPTING FROM OLLIE'S LEGACY

Thank you for considering adopting a new family member.

Adopting from a rescue gives a homeless animal a second chance at happiness. Choosing to adopt is a significant milestone, so before applying, please consider:

Your lifestyle and daily schedule: Including working hours and how long your pet will be left alone.
Your living arrangements: Including whether your pet will live indoors, outdoors, or have access to both.
Financial commitment: Including routine veterinary care, unexpected vet bills, food and other ongoing expenses.
Existing pets and children: Whether a new pet will be a suitable match for your household.

All pets adopted from us are vet checked, desexed, vaccinated and microchipped, and receive any necessary medical care while in our care. Adoption fees cover only a portion of the costs involved in caring for and preparing our animals for their new homes.

We offer a trial period with every adoption to ensure the match is right, and we provide ongoing support throughout the process. Our commitment to our animals continues throughout their lives, and we ask that you contact us if your circumstances ever change and you can no longer keep your pet.

Please take the time to read these guides before submitting your application. They will help you prepare for your new pet.

ADOPTION PROCESS

Please read our adoption information and guides before applying. It is important that you are ready to proceed and understand the commitment involved. Please also be aware of the following:

We operate from a network of private residences in Bendigo, Central Victoria.
Please only apply if you are ready to proceed with adoption within one week.
Our primary form of communication is email, and we are unable to accommodate phone enquiries.
Please check your emails, including your spam/junk folder, and respond within 24 hours. If we don't hear from you, we may move on to the next applicant.
Submitting an application form does not guarantee adoption.

Applying

To apply, please complete the application form linked in the animal's profile and provide as much detail as possible. Applications allow us to assess each home fairly and determine whether it is a suitable match for the individual animal.

Please note: Enquiries through our PetRescue or Savourlife Adoption portals do not constitute a formal application and will not be considered.

Matching Policy

We carefully match each animal with a home that suits their individual personality, temperament and needs. Every pet is different, and finding the right match is about much more than simply finding them a loving home.

Before applying, please read each adoption profile carefully. We include specific information about what each pet needs to be happy and settled in their new home, and these requirements are an important part of our matching process. For example, if an adoption profile says an animal is not suited to a home with children, please don’t apply if you have children. If the profile says they need another cat for company, we will only consider homes with a suitable feline companion.

This is not about being overly restrictive — it is about understanding and respecting what each pet needs. We want to set every adoption up for success and avoid placing them in a situation that may not be right for them.

A home may be wonderful but simply not be the right fit for a particular pet, and that’s okay. If we feel your home would be a wonderful match for another animal, we may suggest a different pet who better suits your home.

Our priority is to find a home where each animal will feel safe, loved, understood and able to truly thrive for life.

What Happens Next?

If your application is successful, we will contact you by email to arrange a meet and greet.

If the meeting goes well and we believe the match is right, you will be invited to proceed with the adoption, complete the required paperwork and pay the adoption fee.

After Adoption

We offer a trial period with every adoption to ensure the match is right for both you and your new pet.

Refunds for animals returned during the trial period are subject to the terms of the Adoption Agreement.

Our commitment to our animals continues throughout their lives. If your circumstances change and you can no longer keep your pet, please contact us no matter how much time has passed so we can help.

And please send us updates! We LOVE seeing our rescues happy in their forever homes

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve answered some of the questions we’re asked most often to help you understand the adoption process and prepare for your new family member. If you have any other questions, or there’s something you’re unsure about, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Can we visit your facility to meet the animals?

We operate through a network of private foster homes and do not have a public facility or shelter that you can walk through. All animals available for adoption are posted on our Savour Life Adoption portal, where you can view their photos and learn more about their personality, needs and ideal home. Once you have submitted an application and it has been successful, we can arrange a meet and greet with the animal.

How much is the adoption fee, and what does it include?

Please refer to the animal’s adoption profile for the applicable adoption fee. Fees vary depending on a range of factors and help cover a portion of the care and veterinary costs involved. Before adoption, every animal is vet checked, desexed, vaccinated and microchipped, and receives any medical treatment they require.

Our adoption fees do not cover the full cost of caring for each animal. They simply help us recover a portion of the expenses involved and, importantly, allow us to continue helping other animals in need. By adopting, you are not only giving one animal a loving home — your adoption fee also helps us provide care for the next animal who needs our help.

Can I adopt if I rent?

Yes, you can apply to adopt if you rent. You will need to have your landlord or property manager’s approval to keep a pet, and we may ask for evidence of this as part of the adoption process.

As with all applications, we will consider whether your home and circumstances are a suitable match for the particular animal you are applying to adopt.

Can I adopt if I have children?

Yes, provided the animal’s adoption profile indicates they are suitable for a home with children. If the profile states that an animal is not suited to living with children, please do not apply for that particular animal.

Can I adopt if I have another cat or dog?

Yes, provided the animal’s adoption profile indicates they are suitable to live with other pets. Some animals may need a feline companion, while others may prefer to be the only pet.

If you are applying to adopt a dog or puppy and already have a dog, your dog will need to attend the meet and greet. This allows our team to assess their interaction and help ensure the animals are a suitable match.

Please read the adoption profile carefully, as any specific requirements around other pets will form part of our matching process.

Do I need to live locally to adopt?

Not necessarily. We consider applications from outside our local area, provided you are able to travel to meet the animal and complete the adoption process in person. Some animals may have specific location or travel requirements, so please check their adoption profile for any additional information.

I’ve completed the application form. What happens now?

Once your application has been submitted and reviewed, you will generally be contacted by email within 48 hours to let you know the outcome.

Can I meet the animal before deciding to adopt?

Yes. If your application progresses, we will arrange a meet and greet with the animal. This gives you an opportunity to meet them, ask questions and see whether you feel they could be the right match for your family and lifestyle.

How do you decide which home is right for an animal?

We consider each animal’s individual personality, temperament, needs and circumstances when assessing applications. We also consider your lifestyle, household, experience, other pets, children and home environment to determine whether they are a suitable match. Our goal is not simply to find a loving home, but to find the right home for that particular animal.

What happens after my application is approved?

If your application is approved, we will invite you to attend a meet and greet with the animal. This gives you an opportunity to meet them, ask any questions and see whether they are the right match for your home and lifestyle. If the meet and greet goes well and our Adoption Team feels it is the right match, we will then arrange the next steps for adoption.

Why was my application unsuccessful?

Our priority is always finding the right match between each animal and their new family. As outlined in our Matching Policy, every animal has individual needs, and we carefully consider whether a particular home is the right fit for them.

If our Adoption Team feels that a particular animal is not suitable for your circumstances, we may not proceed with the application for that animal. This does not necessarily mean you are unsuitable to adopt. If we believe your home could be a wonderful match for another animal in our care, our team may suggest a different pet who better suits your lifestyle and circumstances.

What support do you provide after adoption?

We want every adoption to be a positive and successful experience. Our team is available to provide guidance and support as your new family member settles into their home. If you have any questions or concerns after adoption, please reach out to us. We are always happy to offer advice, help you work through any settling-in challenges, or point you towards appropriate professional support where needed.

Can I return the pet I adopt if things don't work out?

Of course. We are here to support both you and our animals, and we don’t see an adoption return as a failure. Sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, a particular home simply isn’t the right fit. If things aren’t working out, please contact us. We will work with you to understand what’s happening and determine the best outcome for both parties.