Adoption Application

P.O. Box 1574, Midlothian, VA 23113-1574

info@labrescue-richmond.com

Before You Begin
Our adoption application is detailed and thorough because we want to learn about your family, lifestyle, and expectations so we can help find the best match for you and the dog. Please take your time and answer each question as completely and honestly as possible.

If you rent your home: Please attach a copy of your rental agreement or pet policy confirming that you are permitted to have a dog.

Applying for a specific dog: There may be other approved applicants ahead of you, so submitting an application does not guarantee that you will meet or adopt that dog. We receive new dogs regularly, so keeping an approved application on file may allow us to contact you about future matches.

After you apply: An Adoption Coordinator will be assigned to work with you through the adoption process. Due to the number of applications we receive, assignment may take 2–3 weeks.

Application fee: LRGR requires a $25 non-refundable application fee, which will be collected after your application is submitted. Submitting an application and paying the fee does not guarantee approval or adoption.

Personal Information

Applicant's First Name:

Applicant's Last Name:

Applicant's E-mail:

Applicant's Phone Number:

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Applicant's Age:

Applicant's Employer:

Applicant's Position/Title:

Average number of days applicant is out of town a month for business and/or pleasure:

I am the sole applicant

Co-Applicant's First Name:

Co-Applicant's Last Name:

Co-Applicant's Phone Number:

Co-Applicant's E-mail:

example@example.com

Co-Applicant's Relationship to Applicant

Co-Applicant's Age:

Co-Applicant's Position/Title:

Co-Applicant's Employer:

Has the applicant or co-applicant applied to adopt from Lab Rescue before?

What was the outcome of your application?

What was the dogs' name?

What was the name of your adoption coordinator?:

Household Information

Type of Dwelling:

Do You Own or Rent

Upload Rental Agreement /Pet Policy Here

Browse Files

Have you received permission from your landlord to have a dog?

Is there a weight limit for dogs on your rental property?

What is the limit?

How many stairs to enter your home?

Front of home and back of home

Do you plan to move within the next year?

List all of the residents of your household other than applicant

and co-applicant.

Residents:

Describe Household

Does anyone in the household uses devices such as walkers, wheelchairs, scooters...

Are there any anticipated changes to your household in the next few years that we should consider when helping you find a dog? For example, moving, marriage, children, another pet, changes in work schedule, etc.

If there are anticipated changes, please explain

Is your yard fenced, either physical or invisible?

What type of fence?

Describe the type/style of fence: Are all sides of fence the same height?

Please include: Invisable, material and height

Height of fence

Are there any gaps or low areas in the fence?

Do you have a doggie door?

If you have a doggie door, does it lock? If so, when is it locked?

Will the dog have access to the yard when you are away for work, errands etc.?

General Questions

Is anyone home during the day?

Who?

On a typical work day, how many hours will the dog be left alone?

Do you plan to use any of the following in order to provide a midday break?

Plans for crate use:

Please be thorough and use multiple sentences for the following questions.

Why do you want a Labrador Retriever?

What is your plan for the dog's exercise and enrichment on a daily basis?

Where will the dog stay/sleep during the night?

How much do you believe it will cost to take care of your dog each year (food, vet care, license, toys, supplies, training)?

Training & Care

Have you ever owned a dog before

Have you ever trained a dog before

Please explain the type of training:

Basic obedience, Behavior modification, advanced commands

Have you ever worked with a dog trainer or behaviorist?

If Yes, please explain your experience with the training

Please list your training tools you use currently, plan to use or have used in the past.

Do you have experience with house training a dog?

Please explain your house training methods:

Have you ever crate-trained a dog?

How would you work with a dog who pulls on leash?

How would you work with a dog that is reactive on a leash?

Reactive: Barks, lunges towards dogs, people or triggers when on leash.

How would you correct a dog that jumps up on people?

How would you work with a timid/shy dog?

Explain your training method to help a dog that play bites (mouthy).

Explain how you would work with a dog that displays resource guarding. Resource guarding refers to a dog displaying behavior (growling, snapping, etc.) intended to convince other dogs or humans to stay away from a particular treasure or “resource.” You can think of it as possessiveness. The resource can be food, treats, toys, a place (a bed or favorite chair), or occasionally a person.

Please list all pets that you have owned in the past five (5) years:

List Pets below

Have you ever had a pet die at an early age due to an accident? Have you had to euthanize a pet for any reason besides old age?

Please give details:

Have you ever given a pet away or turned a pet over to a shelter or rescue group? (This includes animals adopted from and then returned to a shelter or rescue group.) Have you ever given your pet to a family member or friend?

Please give details:

Adoption Preferences

Preferred age of dog:

Color Preference:

Preferred Energy Level:

Gender preference:

Would you consider a Lab/Mix?

Would you consider adopting any of the following?

Would you consider Fostering to Adopt (FTA)?
Foster‑to‑Adopt gives approved adopters the chance to welcome a dog into their home on a trial basis while deciding if it’s the right long‑term match. Spend 1–2 weeks getting to know the dog, build a routine, and see how they settle into your home. During this time, the dog is still considered “in foster,” and LRGR continues to provide support, guidance, and approved veterinary care.
If you decide to adopt, you will complete the adoption contract and officially make them part of your family.

Why Choose Foster‑to‑Adopt?

Save a life — Help a dog leave a shelter or difficult situation and begin their new chapter.
No‑pressure transition — You and your foster dog have time to adjust, bond, and settle before committing.
Support along the way — LRGR covers approved veterinary care and provides guidance throughout the foster period.
Matchmaking made easy — See how the dog fits into your home and lifestyle before finalizing adoption

Foster‑to‑Adopt is a wonderful option, but it isn’t the right fit for every situation.

This program may not be ideal if:

You prefer a fully trained, turnkey dog with no adjustment period.
You cannot commit to 1–2 weeks of decompression, routine, and structure.
You are unable to follow LRGR guidance during the trial period.
You want to “try out” multiple dogs — Foster‑to‑Adopt is for one dog at a time.
You cannot safely manage introductions, transitions, or basic behavior needs.

Would you be willing to participate in the Fostering to Adopt program?

Tell us about your family and your life with dogs.Why is having a dog important to you? What are you hoping to experience with your new dog? What personality and energy level do you think would be the best match for your family?

Is there a particular dog that you are interested in? If yes, please explain what drew you to this particular dog.

Veterinarian Reference: Please provide the contact information for the Vet clinic(s) that can verify the vaccination and spay/neuter status of all dogs and cats you currently or have owned within the last 5 years.

Veterinary Practice, If no vet established, please put N/A:

References

To help us get to know you better, please list two personal references who can speak to your responsibility, lifestyle, and experience with animals.

At least one reference must be someone outside your family
Please do not list anyone who lives with you
Good examples: neighbors, coworkers, long‑time friends, community members

Reference #1

First and last name

Relationship to Applicant

Phone Number:

Email

example@example.com

Reference #2:

First and Last name

Relationship to Applicant

Phone Number

Email

example@example.com

ADOPTION PROCESS,

Thank you for considering adopting a Labrador Retriever! LRGR is a non-profit organization that rescues and re-homes Labs in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

After submitting your application online, you will receive an email within 2-3 weeks from an LRGR Adoption Coordinator (AC). The AC will work with you over a period of months to find the perfect match for you among all of the Labs in our care.

All of our Labs are up to date on all vaccines and are on heartworm preventative. Dogs over 9 months are spayed/neutered. Puppies under 9 months require a spay/neuter deposit of $100. The new adoptive family is responsible for the puppy's spay/neuter around 9 months of age. The adopter may apply for a $125 Grant towards the spay/neuter with proof of sterilization. If your vet recommends altering after 9 months of age, we will honor their recommendation.

The adoption process requires a $25 non-refundable application fee and an approved application, signed contract, and non-refundable adoption fee of $375.00 for dogs under 9 years of age, $250.00 for dogs 9 years and older, and $500.00 for a bonded pair.

Details:

Adopters must be at least 21 years old.

A phone interview will be conducted by one of our Adoption Coordinators. All adults in the household will be interviewed together or separately.

Once approved, you will be assigned an approval date and added to our approved adopter's list. Your approval date will stay in effect as long as you are actively communicating with your assigned Adoption Coordinator.

If there is no communication for 6 months or more, your application will become inactive.

If you have not found your perfect match within 2 years, you will need to resubmit an application for our records.

To reactivate your application, you must contact LRGR, where you will be assigned a new approval date.

If you have adopted from LRGR within 2 years and want to add another dog, you must contact your AC to let them know you are interested in adopting again and will be assigned a new approval date.

An Adoption Coordinator will work with approved applicants to find a Lab who meets the needs of the family as well as the needs of the Lab.

When a match is found, the adopter will have 24 hours to contact the foster family in order to set up a time for all family members, including children and other dogs in the home, to meet the potential Lab. We do not hold dogs, so once referred, be ready to meet.

Adopters have 10 days from the time of referral to meet a dog. If your schedule does not allow you to be able to meet a dog within the 10 day period, then LRGR will move on to the next interested applicant.

On the meeting day, please come prepared to adopt. Adoptions are first-come, first-served. If you choose not to adopt, then the Lab is available for the next referral. Despite this rule, you should never adopt if you have reservations.

During the meet and greet, a Lab Rescue representative must believe a positive match is made in order to complete the adoption.

The adoption contract and payment, using the Pay Pal platform, will be expected at that time of the meet and greet. If it is not a perfect match, we will continue searching for your ideal Lab.

Adopters will need to bring a collar, leash, and ID tag.

After an adoption, you can expect a phone call from our follow-up coordinator and a home visit.

How did you hear about Lab Rescue of Greater Richmond

Application Fee

Application Fee$25.00

Application Fee

Total $0.00

Lab Rescue of Greater Richmond

Adoption Application

Co- Applicant Information

Yard/Fence

Pets

Application Fee