How to Help

All cats adopted from the Shelter have been previously spayed or neutered, vaccinated against infectious diseases, and treated for internal and external parasites. All information regarding their health, vaccinations, and treatments is recorded in their health records.

Adopter’s Responsibilities

The adopter agrees to:

• personally collect the animal from the Shelter;
• accept full responsibility for the animal and provide it with permanent and appropriate accommodation;
• provide the animal with proper nutrition, appropriate veterinary care, and all other conditions necessary for a good quality of life;
• ensure that the cat does not leave the apartment or house and does not roam freely outdoors;
• provide all necessary equipment for the cat’s safe and comfortable life in the home, including food and water bowls, a litter box and litter, a scratching post, toys, and a comfortable place to rest;
• never abandon the animal under any circumstances;
• not sell, give away, or otherwise transfer the animal to a third party without the prior consent of the Help Animals Association;
• allow representatives of the Help Animals Association to verify compliance with the terms of the adoption agreement. Such checks may include requesting information by phone or in person, visiting the home, contacting the veterinarian or landlord, as well as taking other reasonable measures;
• comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of Serbia concerning animal welfare and the keeping of animals;
• ensure that the cat is properly vaccinated against infectious diseases and receives regular annual booster vaccinations;
• treat the cat regularly, every four months, against internal and external parasites;
• contact the Help Animals Association when necessary for advice and assistance regarding the care of the animal.

If, for any reason, the adopter is no longer able to care for the cat, they agree to contact the Help Animals Association first. If it is agreed that the animal will return to the Shelter, the adopter is required to personally bring the cat back together with its complete health records.

The Help Animals Association and the adopter enter into an adoption agreement at the time of adoption, defining the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

What Does the Adoption Process Look Like?

Our goal is to find permanent and responsible homes for abandoned cats where they will receive love, care, safety, and all the conditions necessary for a good quality of life – ideally, even better conditions than those available at the Shelter.

For this reason, the adoption process includes a questionnaire for potential adopters. The questionnaire can be completed by email, over the phone, or through a direct conversation.

This process helps us get to know potential adopters, understand their living conditions and expectations, and jointly assess whether a particular cat is the right fit for their home. Our goal is not simply to find a home for a cat, but to find its permanent home.

Our Shelter was among the first in Serbia to introduce the practice of virtual adoption, or “sponsoring” cats who, due to their health, age, temperament, or other circumstances, are unlikely to find a permanent home.

Virtual adoption allows you to help a specific cat and contribute to its safety and quality of life, even when you are unable to adopt the cat into your own home.

Why is virtual adoption important to us?

Over the years, we have found that some cats have very little chance of finding a suitable permanent home. At the same time, the costs of their accommodation, food, and veterinary care present a major challenge to the Shelter’s ability to continue caring for them.

By virtually adopting a cat, you help ensure that a cat who cannot be conventionally adopted continues to have a safe home, daily care, and the veterinary attention it needs. At the same time, you help the Shelter continue caring for that cat.

How does virtual adoption work?

In our Gallery, you can choose a cat you would like to sponsor.

Your contribution is a monthly sponsorship, according to your means. The minimum sponsorship is 20 euros per month per cat, which is approximately what we spend each month on the cat’s care at the Shelter.

A cat can have more than one sponsor, so even a smaller individual contribution, combined with those of other sponsors, can make a significant difference to the cat’s care.

Virtual adoption does not mean taking the cat into your home. The cat remains at the Shelter, where it continues to receive food, care, veterinary assistance, and everything else it needs.

Why become a virtual adopter?

• You help a cat that is unlikely to find a conventional permanent home.
• You contribute to its safety, care, and quality of life.
• You help the Shelter continue caring for cats who have no other options.
• Your support enables us to continue our mission of rescuing and caring for abandoned and unwanted cats.

How to become a virtual adopter

If you would like to virtually adopt one or more cats, choose your “sponsored cat” from our Gallery and select a monthly sponsorship amount according to your means.

We kindly ask our sponsors to send us their email address at [email protected] so that we can keep them informed of important changes and updates regarding their sponsored cat.

Through regular monthly contributions, in an amount you choose and that fits your means, you can support the work of the Help Animals Association and the care of the animals we look after.

After six months of regular monthly contributions, you automatically become a member of our Association. From then on, you continue paying membership dues as regularly and in an amount that your circumstances allow.

Let’s Stay in Touch

After making a contribution, we kindly ask you to send us your email address so that we can stay in touch and keep you informed about the work of the Association and important updates.

You can send your email address to: [email protected]

Thank you for helping us continue, through your regular support, to care for animals who need our help the most.

Companies, businesses, and entrepreneurs can support the work of our Shelter through sponsorships and donations of money, goods, or services. We define each partnership through an agreement, with the option of featuring sponsors on our website and in our communication channels.

Unfortunately, during the 26 years that the Help Animals Association operated a shelter for dogs and cats, only three companies supported our work. For many years now, no company has allocated funds to help animals.

You can also support our work by sharing posts from our social media and content from our website. Help promote responsible pet ownership, spaying and neutering, adoption, and animal welfare among your friends, colleagues, and followers.

Every shared post can help an animal find a home or receive the help it needs.

Several times a year, we organize charity auctions and raffles to raise funds for the care of animals at the Shelter.

If you are able to help, you can donate new or gently used items to be offered at our auctions and raffles: handmade products, works of art, books, cosmetics, jewelry, home décor, or any other item that could find a new owner while helping animals in need.