🐾 How Our Adoption Process Works🐾
Please note: You must be available to meet and adopt your dog within 48 hours of approval. If you're not ready to move forward that quickly, we kindly ask you to apply when the timing is right!
1. Submit an Application ~ Fill out the adoption application on our website, completing ALL fields. It helps us learn about your home, lifestyle, and what kind of dog you're looking for. Note: We match dogs based on the best fit—not first come, first served.
2. Reference Checks ~ We will contact your current or previous vet and/or groomer to verify your pets’ care history. Make sure the references listed on your application are accurate and up to date. Please make sure they are the vet/groomer that has seen your current and previous pets.
3. Initial Interview ~ If your application seems like a good match on paper, a member of our team will reach out for a phone interview to go over your application and discuss potential fits.
4. Foster Parent Interview ~ If the initial interview goes well, the foster parent of the dog you’re interested in will contact you for a second conversation. They know the dog best and will help decide if a meet-and-greet should be scheduled.
5. Meet-and-Greet (In Orlando Area) ~ If the foster agrees it's a match, a meet-and-greet will be set up—usually within 24–48 hours.
- You must be willing to travel to the Orlando area.
- All household members, including pets, must attend.
- We do not adopt dogs out as gifts or surprises.
- Please be on time and respectful of our foster families’ time and allow extra time if you are traveling from outside of the area.
6. Final Decision ~ If the meet-and-greet goes well and both sides agree, the adoption can be finalized and your new furry family member will head home with you! An adoption contract must be filled out and signed in order for the dog to leave for its new home. While adoption applications may be sent through e-mail, contracts must signed in person. We do not ship dogs and we do not adopt dogs outside of the state of Florida.
7. Adoption Fee ~ Adoption fees range from $150 to $550 depending on the dog's age and medical needs. This helps cover veterinary care, food, preventatives, and other expenses. All dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and heartworm tested before adoption.
💡 A Few Things to Keep in Mind:
- Dogs listed on the “Adoptable Dogs” page may already have applications in process. Dogs are moved off the "Adoptable Dogs" page once they have left foster care and are in their new home.
- We’re 100% volunteer-run, so response times may vary.
- Every decision is made with the dog’s best interest in mind.
We DO NOT accept applications or adoption inquiries for dogs that are not currently available for adoption and we do not keep applications on file or any "wait lists". If the dog is not on the ADOPTABLE DOGS PAGE we will NOT answer any questions or adoption inquiries/applications about that pup. We ask that you please only apply when there is a dog you are specifically interested in on the Adoptable Dogs page, as we do not "pre-approve" applications, since we consider each application against the individual needs of each dog:)
Please note we generally do not permit adoptions December 20-28 due to the holidays. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
