Our adoption fee, which runs from $175.00-$200.00, helps to offset the costs for spaying/neutering, vaccinating, and microchipping, each of our fosters. It also helps to cover other emergency expenses, and to buy food, flea treatment, cleaning supplies, and all the other things necessary to keep our fosters happy, and healthy. While our adoption fee is higher than that found at the pound, we do not get state, or county funding like they do. We also do NOT put animals to death like they do. Wood's adoption fee is also less than ours, but they charge the person relinquishing the animals an intake fee. Wood's will also put an animal to death if they determine it is unadoptable. Since most of our fosters are rescued from high-kill pounds, there is no intake fee. And our rescue does not EVER put a dog to death. No matter how long it takes to find a home for that foster, it remains with us until we find the appropriate home for it.
If interested in adopting one of our dogs, please email us JUST THE ANSWERS to the following questions. Include anything additional you would like us to know. We require you do this BEFORE meeting any of our dogs.
We do not have kennels, so you cannot "come over and browse" to see which dog you like. Each of our dogs is housed in a private home.
Because of this we try to get as much information about what personality you are looking for, the energy level that would work best for you/your household, your experience with dogs, if there are certain requirements you have (must be good with cats, kids, dogs, etc.), how often you will exercise the dog, etc. PLEASE BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND WITH US!
From this information we try to direct you to the dog we think will best fit your situation. Not every dog will fit into every household unless the humans in that household are willing to give the dog what IT needs,(walking a high energy dog at least 45-60 minutes a day, being assertive with a more dominant dog personality, etc.). Unless that happens, the adoption will ultimately fail.
We generally adopt only to our immediate area.This is because we INSIST the dog be returned if the adopting party is unable, or unwilling to keep the dog adopted from us.We have adopted to people outside of our county, if that requirement is thoroughly understood and complied with.
If you live elsewhere, go to www.petfinder.com to find a dog in your own community to adopt and therefore save.
We do NOT adopt dogs out as a "gift", or a "surprise".
EVERYONE in the household must meet the dog/s you are interested in. This allows us to see how the family interacts with the dog, and to properly introduce ALL household members to the dog/s.
Dogs/puppies are NOT gifts. Would you adopt an infant or toddler and then give it to someone as a surprise? Of course not. Adopting a dog comes with the same responsibilities for at least the next 10-15 years. That is not a decision to be made by anyone but the person responsible for caring for the dog/s. Please so not give a pet as a gift.
We only adopt locally. Everyone should adopt a dog from their own community as there are literally thousands put to death every week throughout California.
In what town do you live?
Have you had a dog before?
What happened to it?
Do you have other pets?
What kind?
Have those pets been spayed/neutered?
Do you own or rent your home?
How long have you lived there?
Do you have a dog-safe fenced yard attached to your house?
How high is thelowest point of your fenceline?
Do you have a pool?
Have you ever taught a dog how to get OUT of the pool once it is in the pool?
How often will you walk your dog on leash?
How many minutes will you walk your dog each time you walk them?
How many miles do you walk each time you take your dog for a walk?( the average person walks 3 miles/hour)
Is the walk a stroll, a brisk pace, slow jogging, quick jogging, etc?
Our dogs must sleep in the house at night, not the garage. They are crate trained for this purpose. Is that something you are willing to do?
Who does your household consist of? (Spouse, roomates, kids, just you, etc.)
How old is the youngest child in your household, if any?
How many hours a day will your dog be left alone?
Are you allowed to take your dog to work with you?
Is that something you plan to do and how soon after adopting would you do so?
When going out of town, what would you do with your dog?
Why do you want a dog? (walking partner, playmate for kids, protection, companionship, etc.)
Our contract states that if you are ever unable, or unwilling to keep a dog adopted from us, you MUST RETURN the dog to our rescue. Is that something you are willing to do?
Have you had a life changing experience that caused you to give up a previous dog? If yes, please add explanation.
What are the traits you are looking for in a dog? (mellow companion, athletic agility dog, short haired, large, small, protective, water dog, playful, energetic, running partner, etc)
What is YOUR energy level? (low, medium, medium-high, high)
Do you exercise daily, several times a week, or not at all?
Did you see a dog that interested you?
Which dog?
What appealed to you about that dog?
Since we live with these dogs, are you open to our opinion about which dog we think might work best for you/your family?
If we find a dog that suits your family well, are you ready to adopt today? (Is your fencline secure, do you have a leash, food, ID tag with your info on it, etc.) If not, when are you going ro be ready to take a new dog home with you.
Have you read the webpage about properly introducing a new dog to your home?
Do you have at LEAST the next two weeks to dedicate to integrating your new dog to your household?(Are you going on vacation, having houseguests, home renovations, etc. that would distract you from your new dog?
Do you think you can do some of the things recommended in introducing a new dog to your home?
Did you read the link to "The Working Walk"? It shows you how to PROPERLY walk your dog on leash. It is VERY IMPORTANT to walk your dog properly on leash. It establishes the pack heirachy. Can you emulate the "Working Walk"?
Please include your phone number when submitting your answers. We often correspond via email, but will need your phone number to confirm an appointment day and time.
We schedule appointments to show dogs after work hours. We do NOT do "drive through" or "drive-by" appointments/adoptions. If you are interested in meeting one of our foster dogs, you must schedule an appointment, AND BRING ALL FAMILY MEMBERS to meet the dog at that time. We INSIST on this policy, as we must see how all members of the household respond to the dog, and how the dog responds to them.It is an important factor in integrating a dog into your family/pack. Please let us know when your family is available for such an appointment. Our appointments also consist of walking with each dog you are interested in for at leash 15-20 minutes. Be sure to wear your walking shoes when you schedule an appointment.
We generally respond to emails in the evening, after work. Please include any questions you may have about a particular dog with your application answers.
Please check your email regularly, as this is our most common form of communication.
