Dog Adoption Process

  • Fill out an adoption application HERE.
  • Our Adoptions Team will review your application and send you an email to let you know whether or not your application is accepted. The Adoptions Team may contact you for additional information if there are any omissions or remaining questions.
  • If your application is accepted, it will be forwarded to the Dog Program Leader for review.
  • The Dog Program Leader will acknowledge your application, and connect you with the dog’s foster parent.
  • The foster parent will contact you to set up an initial “meet and greet” with the dog.
  • If the “meet and greet” goes well, the foster parent will arrange a time to visit your home with the dog to assure that all looks welcome and safe for the dog.
  • If the home visit goes well, the foster parent will set up a time for you to keep the dog in your home for a trial period. The trial period includes overnight or several nights to be sure that you have a good match before you commit to adopt. The trial period should be scheduled when you have adequate time to supervise the dog in his/her new environment. Often you can get a good sense as to whether or not a dog is good match within a few days, but you may extend the trial period to a full week if necessary to make an informed decision.
  • When you are ready to commit, the foster parent will have you sign the adoption contract and collect the adoption fee. The foster parent will also give you a copy of the dog’s medical records and a certificate for a discount on group training lessons.
  • If there are multiple applicants for the same dog, the foster parent will do his/her best to keep all applicants informed of the dog’s status. We try to find the best home for the dog from the available applicants. We will move forward with the applicant that is determined to be the best match for the dog. The order of arrival of the adoption applications is not used as a factor unless there are no other factors distinguishing the best match.
  • The foster parent makes the final decision as to whether or not an adoptive home is a good match for the dog. The foster parent knows the dog better than anyone else, and has the authority to refuse any application that he/she feels is not a good match for the dog.