Frequently Asked Questions
What do I get with my adoption?
What is my adopted animal’s name?
When will my package arrive?
How does my donation help?
Can I ship my package internationally?
Who is Warren Brown?
What creatures are available for adoption?
I adopted an animal last year that isn’t available this year. How come?
How much does it cost to adopt a creature?
Will you send me updates on my creature?
This adoption is a gift. Can I have it sent to some else?
I want to adopt a seal or a whale, but get a cookie cutter. Can I do that?
I want to adopt a polar bear, penguin, sea turtle or octopus, but get a stuffed animal. Can I do that?
I don’t want to give my credit card information online. Can I still adopt?
I’m experiencing a website error. What should I do?
I have a question that isn’t answered here? What should I do?
Is my donation tax-deductible?
I want to donate, but I don’t need anything in return. What should I do?
Will I receive e-mails from you if I make an adoption?
Will you sell or rent my personal information if I make an adoption?
Why should I adopt a creature from Oceana?
I adopted a creature, but my package hasn’t arrived. Where is it?
I want to adopt more than one creature. Can I do that?
Can I personalize the adoption certificate for more than one person?
I’d like to make a donation above the suggested amount, but I still want to get a cookie cutter or stuffed animal in return. What should I do?
Who is Oceana?
I already made a donation of $35 or more this year, can I get a cookie cutter or stuffed animal now?
What do I get with my adoption?
Your adoption package varies with your donation amount. You will receive a cookie cutter or a stuffed animal depending on your selection. See donation amounts below.
$35: (1) cookie cutter, (1) personalized adoption certificate in cardboard frame, (1) CakeLove sugar cookie recipe
$50: (1) stuffed animal, (1) personalized adoption certificate in cardboard frame
$75: (1) cookie cutter, (1) Oceana oven mitt + (1) personalized adoption certificate in wood frame, (1) CakeLove sugar cookie recipe
$75: (1) stuffed animal, (1) personalized adoption certificate in wood frame
$100: (6) cookie cutters, (2) Oceana oven mitts, (1) personalized adoption certificate in wood frame, (1) CakeLove sugar cookie recipe
$150: (4) stuffed animals, (1) personalized adoption certificate in wood frame
What is my adopted animal’s name?
Your adoption is a symbolic adoption. Your donation is not specific to one marine creature. Your donation to Oceana helps us prevent overfishing, protect ocean habitat, and stop seafood contamination – which helps all marine creatures. To learn more about what we do, go to www.oceana.org/campaigns
When will my package arrive?
For shipping to U.S. addresses, you can expect your package to arrive 8 – 12 business days after you make your donation. For shipping to Canadian addresses, we anticipate delivery 2 – 4 weeks after you make your donation.
How does my donation help?
Your donation helps Oceana carry out our important campaign work. Right now, our teams of marine scientists, economists, lawyers and advocates are fighting to reduce overfishing, seafood contamination and habitat destruction.
Can I ship my package internationally?
At this time, packages can only be shipped to U.S. and Canadian addresses. If you would still like to make a donation, you can do so at www.oceana.org/donate (US) or https://secure.oceana.org/donations/euo/?&L=en (UK).
Who is Warren Brown?
Warren Brown is host of Food Network’s “Sugar Rush.” He also owns bakeries in the Washington, DC area. Warren created a sugar cookie recipe especially for the Oceana creature adoption program.
What creatures are available for adoption?
Whales, sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, polar bears, penguins, seals and octopuses are available for adoption.
I adopted an animal last year that isn’t available this year. How come?
In an effort to keep inventory costs down, we chose to offer the 8 most popular creatures from last year for this program.
How much does it cost to adopt a creature?
Adoption amounts range from $35 - $150. If you would like to donate a different amount, and choose not to receive a cookie cutter or stuffed animal, you can do so at www.oceana.org/donate.
Will you send me updates on my creature?
Your adoption is a symbolic adoption. Your donation is not specific to one marine creature. Your donation to Oceana helps us prevent overfishing, protect ocean habitat, and stop seafood contamination – which helps all marine creatures. To learn more about what we do, go to www.oceana.org/campaigns. We will keep you informed of our campaign work through e-mail communications about once a week.
This adoption is a gift. Can I have it sent to some else?
Yes! Just be sure to fill out the name and shipping address of the gift recipient during checkout.
I want to adopt a seal or a whale, but get a cookie cutter. Can I do that?
No. Seals and whales are only available as stuffed animals.
I want to adopt a polar bear, penguin, sea turtle or octopus, but get a stuffed animal. Can I do that?
No. At this time, those animals are only available for cookie cutters.
I don’t want to give my credit card information online. Can I still adopt?
Yes. You should fill out this printable adoption form and mail it in with your check or credit card number to: Oceana Adoption Center, 1350
I’m experiencing a website error. What should I do?
Try reloading the page. We may be experiencing a high amount of volume at the moment. If that doesn’t work, email us at wavemaker@oceana.org and let us know about the problem.
I have a question that isn’t answered here? What should I do?
E-mail us at wavemaker@oceana.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. The amount that is tax deductible depends on the size of the donation and the gifts you receive. Please refer to your email confirmation for further detail on tax deductions.
If you would like to make a 100% tax-deductible donation, where you do not receive a gift, you can do so at www.oceana.org/donate
I want to donate, but I don’t need anything in return. What should I do?
Please visit www.oceana.org/donate.
Will I receive e-mails from you if I make an adoption?
Yes. All donors will become Oceana Wavemakers and will receive emails about our campaign work about once a week. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time.
Will you sell or rent my personal information if I make an adoption?
No. You can view our privacy policy here.
Why should I adopt a creature from Oceana?
Your donation helps Oceana carry out our important campaign work. Symbolic creature adoptions are also a thoughtful and meaningful gift for the holiday season that can be personalized for you and your loved ones.
I adopted a creature, but my package hasn’t arrived. Where is it?
It typically takes 2 – 6 business days for your package to arrive after you’ve made a donation. If it has been longer than that, please contact us at wavemaker@oceana.org and include the details of your adoption.
I want to adopt more than one creature. Can I do that?
Yes! Please note that if you need to send items to multiple addresses, you should create a separate order for each shipping address.
Can I personalize the adoption certificate for more than one person?
We can fit a maximum of 24 characters on the adoption certificate (including spaces). Please enter multiple names if they can fit within the 24 character limit.
I’d like to make a donation above the suggested amount, but I still want to get a cookie cutter or stuffed animal in return. What should I do?
Please contact us at wavemaker@oceana.org and let us know how much you would like to donate and what you would like to receive and we will accommodate you.
Who is Oceana?
Oceana is the largest international non-profit organization focused 100 percent on ocean conservation. Founded in 2001, our teams of marine scientists, economists, lawyers and advocates are fighting to reduce overfishing, seafood contamination and habitat destruction. For more on Oceana, visit www.oceana.org
I already made a donation of $35 or more this year, can I get a cookie cutter or stuffed animal now?
No. You must specify your donation is a symbolic creature adoption at the time of the transaction.
