• Dog Adoption Application

    Please review the description at the top and prepare to fill out the application details. All fields will be added in subsequent steps.
  • Age range willing to consider - check all that apply*
  • Energy level willing to handle - check all that apply*
  • Open to medical-needs dogs (recovering from injury, ongoing condition, special diet)?*
  • Open to behavioral-rehab dogs (reactive, fearful, undersocialized, history of mishandling)?*
  • Are you open to a heartworm-positive dog? Treatment typically costs $500 to $1500 and requires 6 to 8 weeks of restricted activity.*

  • Working Breed Experience

  • If you selected German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, Husky, Wolfdog, or another working breed above, please answer the following questions. If you did NOT select a working breed, you can skip this entire sub-section.

  • Section 13: Rescue and Rehab Awareness

  • Are you aware that there may be special problems or quirks associated with your pet if they were neglected or abused - fear responses, food guarding, separation anxiety, leash reactivity, sensitivity to certain people or environments, etc.?*
  • Are you aware that an adopted dog may take weeks or months to fully settle in, and that the first 30 days often look very different from how the dog will be long-term?*
  • If you find that you cannot handle the dog, will you contact the rescue or foster and return the pet rather than rehoming, surrendering to a shelter, or selling independently?*
  • Many rescue dogs may have a bite history (defensive, fear-based, working-line, or otherwise). Are you open to a dog with bite history if appropriate to your experience and home setup?*
  • Some dogs may not be fully house-trained, crate-trained, or leash-trained when they come to you. Are you willing to do that work?*
  • Some dogs come with ongoing medication needs, special diets, or chronic conditions. Are you willing to maintain this care?*

  • Section 9: Current and Past Pets

  • Section 6: Time and Responsibility

  • If you have current pets: Are they all up to date on vaccinations and on heartworm/flea/tick prevention?
  • Have you owned a dog before?*
  • Have you ever adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group?*
  • Where will the dog stay when you are not at home?*

  • Section 7: Lifestyle

  • A reusable template adoption application for use by rescues and fosters. Approval is required before adoption. A separate adoption contract will be provided after approval by the rescue or foster contact. Please answer honestly - honest answers help match the right dog with the right home, and there are no wrong answers.

  • Section 1: Dog and Rescue or Foster Contact

  • Are you responding to a listing flagged as urgent? (Medical urgent, shelter deadline, foster ending, emergency pull, or owner-surrender pending)*
  • If approved, how soon could you pick up or receive the dog?
  • If the dog you're interested in is part of a bonded pair (must be adopted with another dog), are you willing and able to adopt both?*

  • Section 2: Applicant Information

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Are you local to the rescue or foster's area, or will transport be needed to bring the dog to you?*
  • If transport is needed, are you willing to coordinate and afford transport costs in collaboration with the rescue or foster?*

  • Section 3: Housing

  • Do you own or rent your home?*
  • Type of home*
  • Are there any HOA breed or weight restrictions where you live?*
  • Do you have homeowner's or renter's insurance?*

  • Section 4: Household

  • Does anyone in the household have pet allergies?*
  • Do all household members share your decision to adopt a pet?*

  • Section 5: Financial and Care Commitment

  • Approximately how much do you budget per month for pet care?*

  • Section 8: Containment

  • Do you have a fenced yard?*
  • If yes: Is the yard dig-proof and climb-proof?
  • If yes: Will the dog be supervised when outside, or left unattended in the yard?
  • Do you own or are you willing to purchase a crate appropriately sized for the dog?*
  • Are you willing to crate train if the dog needs it?*

  • Section 8a: Home Photos

  • Home photos are required for screening. These help the rescue or foster verify your containment, living space, and current pet situation before a video tour is scheduled.
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  • Section 10: Past Experience and Training Background

  • Have you ever worked with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist?*
  • Are you willing to work with a trainer if your adopted dog needs it?*
  • Many rescues and fosters offer free or low-cost follow-up training and behavioral advice for any dog adopted from them, especially in the local area. Out-of-area adopters are often connected with vetted trainers when possible. Ask your rescue or foster contact about their post-adoption support.
  • Are you open to ongoing follow-up training and advice from the rescue or foster?*

  • Section 11: Training Tools and Methods

  • This section helps match you with a dog whose needs fit your approach. There are no wrong answers, but honest answers get you the right dog. For each tool below, indicate your comfort level.
  • Flat collar*
  • Martingale collar*
  • Slip lead*
  • Prong collar*
  • E-collar (remote training collar)*
  • Crate*
  • Muzzle (for safety, vet visits, or behavioral work)*
  • Long line*

  • Section 12: Exercise and Mental Stimulation

  • Section 14: Return Policy and Microchip Retention

  • Do NOT bring the dog to a shelter if you can no longer keep them. The rescue or foster will gladly take them back, no questions asked. This is non-negotiable.
  • If at any point you can no longer keep the dog - for any reason, no judgment - do you agree to contact the rescue or foster and return the dog to them?*
  • Many rescues require staying on the dog's microchip as a secondary contact for the life of the dog. This is a safety net so that if the dog is ever lost, surrendered, or rehomed without contacting the rescue, the rescue can step in.
  • Do you agree to keep the rescue or foster as a secondary contact on the dog's microchip for the dog's lifetime?*

  • Section 15: Dog Preference

  • These questions help match you with a dog who fits your home, your experience, and your goals. Being flexible improves your chances. Selecting working breeds will trigger additional experience questions further down.
  • What role will this dog play in your life? Check all that apply.*
  • Breeds or breed types you are interested in - check all that apply*
  • Sex preference*
  • Fixed status preference*

  • Section 16: Vet Reference

  • Do you currently have a veterinarian?*
  • If yes: May the rescue or foster contact your usual vet for a reference?
  • If you do not currently have a vet, the rescue or foster may be able to refer one in your area.

  • Section 17: Personal References

  • Three personal references are required. Please provide name, relationship, phone, and address for each.

  • Reference 1

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Reference 2

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Reference 3

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Permission to contact your previous landlords or previous rescues for reference?*

  • Section 18: Acknowledgments

  • Do you understand that the dog you adopt is not a guard dog or protection dog by default, and will not be represented or sold as one?*
  • Do you agree to provide photos and a video tour of your home as part of the screening process? Some adoptions may also require an in-person home check at the rescue or foster's discretion.*
  • Do you understand that approval is at the rescue or foster's discretion, and that the dog matched to you may not be the dog you initially requested if a different dog is a better fit?*
  • Do you understand that adoption fees may apply to cover the dog's spay or neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, deworming, heartworm testing and treatment, flea and tick and heartworm prevention, and any other medical care received in rescue? Fees vary by rescue and by the dog's medical needs.*
  • Do you understand that publicly available social media may be reviewed as part of screening?*
  • Do you understand that if you are declined for a specific dog, you may still be a great fit for a different dog, and you are welcome to apply again for other dogs through this rescue or foster?*

  • Section 19: Additional Information

  • Section 20: Signature

  • By signing below, I certify that the information I have provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.
  • Date*
     - -
    2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
  • Should be Empty: