Pet Adoption Application Form

Adoption Application, Contract and Waiver

Before You Apply: Adopting a Rescue Dog

Thank you for considering adoption from Rusty’s Legacy. Adopting a dog is a lifetime commitment. Before applying, please consider whether you are prepared to provide a safe, loving home, regular veterinary care, and daily attention for the rest of your dog’s life—including through unexpected changes and challenges.

Understanding Rescue Dogs

Many of our dogs come to us with little known history. Their behavior may change as they adjust to a new home and become more comfortable.

Your dog could experience barking, separation anxiety, house-training accidents, chewing, leash pulling, nervousness, fear, or reactivity. Please be prepared to help your dog through this adjustment period with patience, consistent routines, training, and love.

Please think honestly about your expectations and any true deal breakers before applying, and share them with us. Understanding what your household can manage helps us find an appropriate match and reduces the likelihood of a dog being returned.

Giving Your Dog Time to Adjust

Use the 3-3-3 Rule as a general guide, rather than a fixed timeline:

First 3 days: Your dog may feel overwhelmed or uncertain and need quiet time to decompress.
First 3 weeks: Your dog may begin learning your routine, becoming more comfortable, and showing more of their personality.
First 3 months: Your dog may be building trust and feeling more secure in your home.
Every dog adjusts at their own pace, and some need considerably longer. Patience, consistency, and realistic expectations are essential.

Veterinary Care Requirements

All dogs living in your home must be current on vaccinations and heartworm testing, and receiving regular heartworm prevention. Exceptions may be considered when your veterinarian confirms that a dog’s age, illness, or other medical condition makes a particular requirement inappropriate.

Please provide your current veterinarian’s name and contact information. We will contact the practice to verify your dogs’ medical records and ongoing care. Please authorize your veterinarian to release this information to Rusty’s Legacy.

If vaccinations or flea, tick, or heartworm prevention are obtained from another provider, please identify that provider and submit supporting documentation. This may include vaccination records, prescriptions, receipts, or proof of purchase showing the product and purchase date.

If you already have a dog

If you are brining a new dog into your home and you currently have 1 or more dogs, please read and follow THE ESSENTIAL INTEGRATION GUIDE >> https://rustyslegacync.com/f/how-to-introduce-a-new-dog-into-your-home

Your Commitment

Our goal is to create a successful, lifelong relationship between each dog and their adopter.

By submitting this application, you acknowledge that you understand the responsibilities and potential challenges of adopting a rescue dog and are prepared to provide the care, patience, training, and lifelong commitment your new dog deserves.

Prospective Pet Parent

First NameLast Name

Name of Pet You Wish to Adopt

Email Address

Enter Your Birthdate

Date

Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry

Are you employed, unemployed, retired, a student? Please explain your current situation and if employed, please list the name of your employer.

Do you own any pets?

Pet Name(s) and ages(s)

Pet Breed(s)

Pet's disposition and behavior towards other dogs?

Who is your VETERINARIAN?Please list current and or former vets

What is your VETERINARIAN'S PHONE NUMBER

Area CodePhone Number

If you have never had a dog before, you will need to establish your new rescue dog with a vet for heartworm prevention medication, flea and tick prevention, and yearly checkups and vaccines. Which vet will you be using?

Do you have a yard?

If "Yes" to the above, is it fenced? please describe

Do you own or rent your home?

If you rent, please provide your landlord's contact information as well as their Pet Policy here:

Have you ever surrendered a pet you own to any animal shelter including a "low" or "no kill" shelter?

If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please provide detail:

Are there children in the home? (If yes, please list ages)

Where will the pet spend most of the time and where will he/she sleep?

How many hours per day would the pet be alone?

Will you crate your dog?

How will you provide adequate exercise for your dog? PLEASE BE SPECIFIC

If you have to leave town, emergently or planned, where would your dog/other pets stay?

How would you deal with behavioral issues such as barking, chewing, destructive behavior, bathroom accidents indoors, unruly leash behaviors in your pet?

"If you or your family were to suffer a catastrophic financial or physical event that rendered you unable to house or care for your dog/dogs; who would care for them and where would they live?" Please Be Specific. It's something every dog owner needs to consider and plan for

Have you spoken to the person/persons named above and have confirmation that they will care for your dog if you no longer can?

Have you ever been convicted of an animal related crime, such as cruelty to animals, animal theft, or animal abandonment?

Have you ever been convicted of a violent crime such as domestic abuse or assault

If you answered "Yes" please provide a detailed description:

Please provide the names, and phone numbers for 3 personal references. We will call them in the process of approving your application:

Veterinary Care is Essential

By adopting a dog from Rusty’s Legacy, you agree to provide ongoing veterinary care for the dog throughout its life, including keeping the dog current on all core vaccinations, maintaining year-round heartworm prevention medication, and ensuring regular wellness examinations as recommended by your licensed veterinarian.

Routine veterinary care is essential to protect your dog’s health and prevent the spread of preventable diseases, and by submitting this adoption application you acknowledge that maintaining appropriate medical care, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and veterinary checkups is a required condition of adoption from Rusty’s Legacy and a responsibility you accept as the dog’s guardian.

Do you agree to keep your dog up to date on vet recommended vaccines and heartworm prevention

Are your current pets up to date on vaccines?

Have your current dogs had regular heartworm tests as recommended by your veterinarian?

Are your current dogs on regular heartworm prevention?

Have your pets been seen by a veterinarian within the last 12–18 months?

I understand that if my vet records do not show regular veterinary care, current vaccines, heartworm prevention, and heartworm testing, my application may not be approved. If I obtain vaccines or heartworm prevention from a source other than my veterinarian, I understand that I will be required to provide proof of purchase or other documentation verifying that my pets have received appropriate care in order for my application to be approved.

By clicking the submit button, I understand there is no "cooling off" period, and that if I no longer want or can no longer care for my adopted pet, I agree to notify Rusty's Legacy BY EMAIL and provide up to 14 days to allow Rusty's Legacy to make arrangents for my pet to be taken back into rescue. I will not surrentder my dog to anohter rescue or shelter, or give my dog to someone else. I will return the dog to Rusty's Legacy.
By clicking the submit button, I agree to Rusty's Legacy adoption process, will undergo a homecheck, and interview at the discretion of Rusty's Legacy
By clicking the submit button, I understand Rusty's Legacy will check my references including veterinary and personal.
By clicking the submit button, I understand there is an adoption donation associated with adoption of a pet from Rusty's Legacy and that it is tax deductible according to IRS 501(c)3 guidelines. I understand this donation will ensure the organization is equipped to rescue another homeless pet.
By clicking the submit button, I agree to indemnify and hold harmless Rusty's Legacy against any losses, lawsuits, claims, injury, damages incurred by me or to any persons or property by my adopted pet, once adoption has been completed.
By clicking the submit button, I verify all of the above information is true and accurate.

Signature of Potential Pet Parent