Adopting Afghan Dogs: Navigating The Complexities

Adopting a dog from Afghanistan is possible, but it is not a straightforward process. There are a number of organisations that facilitate the adoption of Afghan dogs, such as Kabul Small Animal Rescue, SPCA International, and Nowzad. These organisations provide veterinary care, boarding, and adoption services for injured or orphaned street animals, as well as owned dogs. They also help with international adoptions of Afghan dogs, although it is unclear what the specific requirements and processes are. It is recommended to contact these organisations directly to find out more information about how to adopt a dog from Afghanistan.

Adoption agencies and services

Adopting a dog from Afghanistan is not a straightforward process. There are a number of organisations that can help with international adoptions, but it is important to do your research and understand the specific requirements and challenges involved.

One organisation that can help is Adoption Services, a not-for-profit, full-service adoption agency that has been facilitating domestic and international placements since 1985. They have a five-star rating on Google and offer unplanned pregnancy counselling and birth mother resources, in addition to adoption services. However, they are no longer facilitating international adoptions due to potential problems.

Another organisation to consider is Lifetime Adoption, which has been helping families grow since 1986. They offer ongoing adoption education through webinars and provide a free adoption application. Lifetime Adoption specialises in newborn and infant adoption and can help connect prospective parents with the right agency. However, they have stated that it is doubtful that even existing adoption arrangements for Afghan children will be honoured following the Taliban takeover.

The Joint Council for International Children's Services (JCICS) is one of the oldest and largest membership associations of licensed non-profit international adoption agencies. They are listed as members of the U.S. Department of State: Afghanistan Adoption Agencies.

If you are a U.S. citizen, the U.S. Department of State provides information on selecting an adoption service provider on its website. It is recommended that prospective parents use a licensed adoption service provider that is approved by the U.S. state in which they operate.

In addition to these agencies, there are some non-profit organisations that facilitate international adoptions of Afghan cats and dogs. Kabul Small Animal Rescue is a veterinary clinic and non-profit that has been helping animals in Afghanistan for over a year. They provide safe and healthy boarding options for their rescue partners, who assist with international adoptions. They also offer high-quality medical care, boarding, and adoption services to injured or orphaned street animals, focusing on providing a home-like environment.

Tigger House is another small, low-cost animal shelter and veterinary clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan, that has been operating since 2004. They care for homeless, sick, or injured small animals, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and monkeys. They have a full-time Afghan staff of 10, including a para-veterinarian, an English-speaking manager, and two assistant vets. They provide various treatments and procedures, such as vaccinations, deworming, surgical spaying and neutering, and treatment for skin and eye infections, abscesses, and traumatic injuries.

While the process of adopting a dog from Afghanistan may be challenging, these organisations can provide valuable assistance and support. It is important to thoroughly research and reach out to these agencies to understand the specific steps and requirements involved.

Eligibility requirements

To adopt a dog from Afghanistan, you must meet the eligibility requirements of the country and the destination country's requirements.

There is no central government adoption authority in Afghanistan. Guardianship proceedings are handled by the Afghan Family Court.

The process for gaining legal custody in Afghanistan includes the following:

• Prospective guardians must petition the Afghan Family Court for guardianship.
• The court will issue a 'wasiqa' granting guardianship to the prospective parents.
• An application for legal guardianship should be presented to the Afghan Family Court and can be obtained through the Family Courts.
• There is no specific time frame for the process.
• Minimal fees (less than USD $100) are required to apply for legal guardianship and to have the guardianship decree translated into English and authenticated by the court.
• The current passport fee for an Afghan passport with five-year validity is approximately USD $100.
• Prospective guardians or their attorney should consult the Family Court to determine what documents should be submitted with the guardianship petition.

If you are adopting a dog and bringing it to the United States, you must meet certain requirements imposed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Some of the basic requirements include the following:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• If you are unmarried, you must be at least 25 years old.
• If you are married, you must jointly adopt the dog. Your spouse must also be either a U.S. citizen or have legal status in the United States.
• You must meet certain requirements that will determine your suitability as a prospective adoptive parent, including criminal background checks, fingerprinting, and a home study.

Orphan status

In order to adopt a child from Afghanistan and bring them to the United States, the child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. immigration law. The U.S. federal agency that makes this determination is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Prospective parents must apply to be found eligible to adopt by the USCIS before bringing an adopted child into the country.

To meet U.S. immigration requirements, prospective parents may file an I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This application is to be found eligible and suitable to adopt.

In Afghanistan, guardianship proceedings are handled by the Afghan Family Court. Prospective guardians should appear in person at the Afghan Family Court in the province in which the child is currently residing to file a petition for guardianship of a particular child. A designated attorney can represent the prospective guardian in court. The court will consider the request and complete a community/background investigation. If the court approves the guardianship petition, the guardians and two witnesses will appear in person at the Family Court and a legal guardianship decree will be issued. The final guardianship decree can be obtained from the Family Court in approximately one week.

There are minimal fees (less than USD $100) required to apply for legal guardianship and to have the guardianship decree translated into English and authenticated by the court. The current passport fee for an Afghan passport with five years of validity is approximately USD $100.

Legal guardianship

Adopting a dog from Afghanistan can be challenging, and the process may vary depending on the specific circumstances and organisations involved. Here is an overview of the legal guardianship process for adopting a dog from Afghanistan:

Choose an Adoption Service Provider:

It is recommended to decide whether to use a licensed adoption service provider in the United States that can assist with the adoption process. These providers must be licensed by the U.S. state in which they operate, and the Department of State provides information to help with the selection.

Identify a Dog to Adopt:

Once eligible to adopt, you can identify a dog in need of a guardian per Afghan law. The dog should meet the definition of an orphan or stray under U.S. law, and each family must assess their ability to meet the dog's needs and provide a permanent home.

Apply for Guardianship in Afghanistan:

To obtain guardianship of an Afghan dog, prospective guardians should petition the Afghan Family Court in the province where they or the dog reside. A designated attorney can represent the guardians in court. The court will conduct a community/background investigation and, if approved, issue a legal guardianship decree. This process typically takes about one week.

Gain Legal Custody of the Dog:

The Afghan Family Court will issue a 'wasiqa', granting guardianship to the prospective guardians. There are minimal fees associated with applying for legal guardianship and translating the decree into English (less than USD $100). Additional documents may be requested, and authentication of documents from the United States may be required.

Transport the Dog to Your Country:

After obtaining legal guardianship in Afghanistan, you can work with organisations to transport the dog to your country of residence. This may involve partnering with animal rescue organisations or nonprofits that facilitate international rescue missions. Ensure you comply with any import regulations and requirements for the destination country.

Finalise Adoption in Your Country:

Once the dog arrives in your country, you may need to complete additional steps to finalise the adoption process. This could include registering the dog with local authorities, providing necessary veterinary care, and ensuring compliance with any local laws or regulations.

It is important to note that specific requirements and processes may vary depending on the country you are adopting from and the country you intend to bring the dog to. Additionally, the organisations involved in facilitating adoptions and rescues may have their own procedures and requirements. It is always recommended to consult with relevant authorities, legal professionals, and experienced organisations when navigating the legal guardianship process for adopting a dog from another country.

Travel advisories

The US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany have all issued Level 4 ("Do Not Travel") travel advisories for Afghanistan. The US and Canadian governments have suspended the operations of their embassies in Afghanistan and their ability to provide consular assistance and other support in the country is extremely limited.

The US Department of State advises that US citizens should not travel to Afghanistan for any reason. The Department has assessed that there is a risk of wrongful detention of US citizens by the Taliban, who have also harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers. Multiple terrorist groups are active in the country and US citizens are targets of kidnapping and wrongful detentions. The activities of foreigners may be viewed with suspicion and reasons for detention may be unclear. The risk of detention is high even if you are registered with the appropriate authorities to conduct business.

The Canadian government similarly advises its citizens to avoid all travel to Afghanistan due to the security situation, terrorist attacks, ongoing armed conflict, the risk of kidnapping, arbitrary arrest and detention, and the high crime rate. The security situation is highly volatile and dangerous, with the intensity and frequency of attacks having significantly increased since August 2021, resulting in numerous casualties.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) also advises against all travel to Afghanistan, stating that "terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Afghanistan". The FCDO further warns that "UK nationals, and anyone who has worked with UK, US or NATO military or the previous Afghan government, are at particular risk of kidnapping, including for political gain".

The Australian government advises its citizens to "not travel to Afghanistan due to the extremely dangerous security situation and the very high threat of terrorism and kidnapping throughout Afghanistan, including in Kabul".

The New Zealand government has issued a similar advisory, stating that the "hostile and unpredictable security situation, high and ongoing threat of terrorism and kidnapping of foreigners present a significant risk to New Zealanders in Afghanistan".

The German government also advises against travelling to Afghanistan.

Frequently asked questions