Symbolic adoption gifts
Animal Adoption Gifts
A present for someone who loves animals: a donation in their name, with a personalised digital certificate you can forward or print. From £5 — about 16p a day on a monthly gift.
Digital only · No postal deadline · Cancel future monthly payments any time
In brief
An animal adoption gift is a donation made in someone’s name. Choose one of eight animals, give from £5 a month or a one-off amount, and enter the recipient’s name: a personalised PDF certificate is emailed to you after a successful payment, ready to forward or print. Nothing is posted, so there is no postal deadline. It does not give anyone ownership of an animal.
By WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against WARN adoption and funding termsLast updated
Which animal would they love?
Each gift is a donation to the appeal linked to that animal. Open the species page, switch on the gift option and add the recipient’s name.
How do you give an animal adoption as a gift?
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Choose an animal
Pick one of eight animals and read the appeal its donation supports.
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Add their name
Switch on “Send as a gift to someone” and type the recipient’s name exactly as it should appear.
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Pay securely
Choose one-off or monthly, then pay by card or wallet on Stripe checkout using your own email address.
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Forward or print
The personalised PDF certificate is emailed to you after a successful payment. Forward it, print it or tuck it in a card.
Use your own email address at checkout — the certificate comes to you so the surprise is not spoiled.
Digital certificate or posted pack?
Many adoption gifts arrive as a posted pack. WARN’s are digital only. Here is what that changes, without comparing any particular organisation.
| Feature | WARN digital adoption | A typical posted pack |
|---|---|---|
| What arrives | Personalised PDF certificate by email | Printed pack, sometimes with a soft toy |
| Ordering deadline | No postal deadline | Must be ordered before posting cut-offs |
| Where the payment goes | No pack to make or post | Part covers making and posting the pack |
| Packaging | None | Printing, packaging and delivery |
| A named animal | No — the gift is symbolic | Varies by organisation |
Gift ideas by occasion
Christmas
A digital present that needs no posting — useful after the last posting dates.
Birthdays
Choose the animal they love most and put their name on the certificate.
For an animal lover
Ideas for the person who already has everything with fur, feathers or scales.
Gift adoption in the UK
How symbolic adoption works as a UK present, including Gift Aid and card wording.
In memory of a pet
A gentle way to mark a loss, with an optional tribute on the memorial wall.
Client and staff gifts
Arranging several gifts or a company donation? Start with corporate giving.
What should you write in the card?
Say it is a donation in their name, so nobody expects an animal to arrive. Three honest examples to adapt:
- I’ve made a donation in your name to WARN’s elephant appeal — your symbolic adoption certificate is attached.
- Happy birthday! This year your present is a symbolic tiger adoption: a donation supporting tiger conservation, with your name on the certificate.
- No wrapping paper this Christmas: I’ve given a symbolic orangutan adoption in your name. It’s a donation, not a real orangutan in the post.
Is an adoption the right gift, or something else?
An adoption is the only option with a certificate in someone’s name. If you would rather give without one, these are the alternatives.
| Way to give | Best for | Amount | How often | What you receive | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-off donation | Giving when you choose, to the most-needed fund or a named appeal | Any amount from £1, $1 or €1 | Once | Payment confirmation and receipt by email | No ongoing commitment |
| Monthly donation | Steady support that helps WARN plan ahead | From £1 a month; £5–£40 suggested | Monthly until you stop | Payment confirmation by email | Manage or cancel future payments online |
| Symbolic adoption | A gift for an animal lover, or support themed on one species | From £5 a month, or a one-off gift | Monthly or once | Personalised digital certificate (PDF) after a successful payment | Can name a gift recipient; cancel future payments any time |
| Animal sponsorship | Ongoing support for one cause, such as street dogs | From £5 a month | Monthly | Payment confirmation; appeal purpose and grant records published | Cancel future payments any time |
| In memory | Remembering a pet | Any amount — none expected | Once | Optional tribute on the moderated memorial wall | Nothing is published without your say-so |
| Gift in your will | A lasting gift after your lifetime | A sum or share set in your will | Once, from your estate | Suggested will wording | You can change your will at any time |
| Share or volunteer | Helping when giving money is not right for you | Free | Whenever you like | Appeal links and learning resources to share | No commitment |
WARN is a Community Interest Company, not a registered charity, so Gift Aid, UK Payroll Giving and US tax deduction are not available on any option. Suggested amounts are donation choices, not the price of a particular animal's care. Registration status · Where your donation goes
Before you give
Animal adoption gift questions
What is an animal adoption gift?
It is a donation made in someone else’s name, themed on an animal. The recipient’s name is printed on a personalised digital certificate. It supports the appeal linked to that animal; it does not transfer ownership of an animal or reserve a named one.
How much does an animal adoption gift cost?
Suggested gifts start at £5 a month — about 16p a day — or you can make a one-off gift instead. You choose the amount and currency (GBP, USD or EUR) before Stripe checkout. The amount is a donation choice, not the price of an animal’s care.
How does the recipient receive the certificate?
The certificate is emailed to the address you use at checkout, after a successful payment, with the recipient’s name on it. Forward it or print it. Email delivery times vary, so if you need it for a particular date, give a little early and contact WARN if it does not arrive.
Is an animal adoption a good last-minute gift?
It can be, because nothing is posted: there is no postal deadline or pack to wait for. The certificate is generated after a successful payment and sent by email. WARN does not promise a fixed delivery time, so allow for email delays and check your spam folder.
Can I give a monthly adoption as a gift?
Yes. Monthly payments come from your card, not the recipient’s, and the certificate is sent once after the first successful payment. Yes. Use manage to manage future monthly gifts, or email [email protected] for help. Cancelling future payments does not automatically refund completed gifts.
Will the recipient get a toy, a pack or updates about an animal?
No. WARN’s adoptions are digital: a personalised PDF certificate and the species guide and appeal pages. There is no soft toy, printed pack or scheduled update about an individual animal, which keeps packing and postage costs out of the gift.
Which animals can I give as an adoption gift?
Dog, cat, elephant, tiger, orangutan, sea turtle, pangolin and macaw. Each species page explains which appeal the donation supports; the cat gift, for example, supports the dog and cat meat-trade appeal.
Is a symbolic adoption a suitable gift for a child?
Yes, as long as the child understands it is symbolic: their name goes on the certificate and the donation supports that animal’s appeal, but no animal lives with them or is assigned to them. The free species guides make a good companion to the certificate.
Can I claim Gift Aid on an adoption gift?
No. WARN is not eligible to claim Gift Aid. World Animal Rescue Network is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation, not a registered charity. International donors should check their own local rules.