Adoption Requirements

St. Louis, Westport Area and Chesterfield Valley Adoption Centers

• Please be at least 18 years of age, apply in person and have photo identification. Additional adoption requirements and recommendations exist; for example, if you do not own your own home, we will need to speak with your landlord.
• Please allow sufficient time to get acquainted with the pets as well as complete an adoption application. Completing the application can take 45 minutes or longer; the purpose of the application is to allow clients to consider the care and finances that go into raising a companion animal for – depending on the pet - 15 years or longer.
• Feel free to ask the attendants questions about the pets, but please be aware that the attendants are caring for the animals in addition to waiting on clients. Weekends bring more clients and therefore are busier for the attendants than weekdays.

Longmeadow Rescue Ranch
Shelter

• Must be man-made with sides facing the northwest and northeast
• Should be large enough to fit all the animals in the pasture or paddock comfortably

Food

• Good-quality pasture or hay must be available.
• Hay can be grass, alfalfa or a combination of both.
• Animals must be fed twice daily.
• Grain must be available as needed.

Water

• A CLEAN source of water must be available in a safe container that should be checked twice daily.
• Water must be prevented from freezing in the winter.

Fencing
The type of fencing will depend on the animal. See Longmeadow Rescue Ranch staff for information on your specific animal’s needs.

• Can be woven wire, barbed wire, smooth wire, board, pipe or plastic fencing
• Must be in good condition with no sagging or broken posts
• Gates must be constructed in a safe manner.
• Electric fencing might be needed to keep animals contained.

Stables
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch staff has the right to inspect the boarding situation you will provide for the animal. Staff members will inspect:

• Size of stalls
• Number of animals in each pasture or paddock. (Five or more horses turned out together is discouraged as injuries are more likely to occur as a herd gets larger.)
• Cleaning routine
• Feeding routine
• Exercise routine

Medical Care

• De-worming and vaccinations per species of animal
• Health tests per species of animal
• Annual medical care such as teeth (horses)
• Hooves trimmed as needed per species of animal
• Illness and injuries attended to promptly by a veterinarian
• Pre-existing medical conditions treated per veterinarian's recommendations

Exercise

Adequate daily exercise should be available. Pasture horses are not always in shape for long weekend trail rides if you haven't been riding them.

Training

Resistance-free training methods are to be used to socialize animals, to train for veterinarian and farrier visits, and train for riding or cart-pulling. Abusive equipment and training methods are not allowed.

Adopters

• Adopters must keep Longmeadow Rescue Ranch informed of any address changes.
• A resident is required to live on the property where the animals are kept.
• Adopters cannot sell, give away, slaughter or use in any research study.
• Adopters cannot breed any animal adopted from Longmeadow Rescue Ranch .
• Adopted animals cannot be used in a commercial venture (lessons, pony rides, dude strings, etc.)
• Adopters must have experience appropriate for training needs of adopted animal.
• Any returned animal must be current with vaccinations and other healthcare requirements.

Rescued ranch animals are shown at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch by appointment. Please contact our ranch at (636) 583-8759 or via e-mail to schedule an appointment.