Adopting a Dog from a Rescue or Shelter? The 4 Step Adoption Process.
My pug Chatita has been as silly and playful as can be for as long as I can remember. One day I noticed she was moving a little slower, taking a bit longer naps, and becoming a little more lethargic. A little flag went up in my mind. Okay, don’t freak out yet. Let’s monitor the situation for a week I told myself.
After a week of her not being her, it was time to visit the vet.
“Chatita is a healthy pug.”, said the vet. He explained that she was slowing down as part of the aging process. After all, she was about 9 to 10 years old now.
I knew it was time to intervene. She needed a friend to play with and encourage her. Let the adoption process begin!
That’s when I found a local pug rescue and began the adoption process:
Step 1: Fill out the Adoption Form. Enter the necessary information about my household, current pets and our daily schedules, and my surroundings.
Step 2: Approval and background check. In a couple of days my application to adopt a pug was reviewed and approved.
Step 3: Home visit. A few representatives from the rescue came to visit my home to verify everything was as I stated on my adoption form, my home was safe for the rescue to place a pug in my care, I had the necessary time to devote to another pug, and I knew how to properly care for a pug. This is their due diligence.
Step 4: Finding a best pug fit.
Chatita and I met one other pug, Blake, before we found the right pug fit. When Chatita and I first met Blake, he was ecstatic! He couldn’t get enough of Chatita and followed her everywhere. His foster mom and I sat and talked for awhile while the two were growing accustomed to each other. Next, I finalized the contract, and, as we sat to take a picture of all of us, Blake had enough. He couldn’t take Chatita anymore!
He had come from a family where he was the only pug. He was accustomed to it being this way and it was clear he would not be a good fit for Chatita and I.
While we were a little bummed, about a week later, we received a call about Misty! Chatita and I tried not to get our hopes up too high just in case things didn’t work out, but once we arrived, I had a really good feeling about Misty. She was full of life and energy and so sweet. Misty and Chatita bonded for a bit and I made the arrangements to bring her to her new forever home, my home.
According to https://www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/81114820-the-ultimate-guide-to-pet-adoption-the-adoption-process
No matter where you go, adopting a pet from an animal shelter or an animal rescue usually consists of 4 main steps. The steps are:
- Filling in the adoption questionnaire.
- Having an interview with a shelter or rescue representative.
- Attend the meet and greet.
- Finalize the adoption.
Filling in the adoption questionnaire simply lets the rescue or adoption know a little bit about you. It lets them know you have the time to devote to the dog, that your house is safe without hazards, general living conditions, if there’s a vet you plan on using, and such. Usually during these 4 steps there will be a background check as well. During the time my adoption questionnaire was being accepted was when mine occurred. After Chatita and I were approved, next came our interview.
Having an interview with the representative of a shelter or rescue ensures the dog and you will be a proper fit. For instance, if you work from 9am to 9pm and are interested in a Husky which would need a lot of exercise, this dog might not be the best fit for you. Or, for instance, if you have one or two other dogs in your home, they would look to see the dog you’d like to adopt will fit with the others you currently have. For our interview, two representatives from the pug rescue visited my home and brought with them a pug mix to see how my pug would interact. During this time, they asked a series of general questions about my work and hours, the feeding schedule of my current pug, any issues I had encountered with her and how I had dealt with them, and others.
Although our interview occurred at my home, most of the time it will occur at the shelter or rescue. They may schedule you a date or they may interview you at that moment as you are there. In other instances the interview will occur during the meet and greet. If you have a meet and greet at the shelter or rescue, the shelter or rescue may want to schedule an inspection of your home. Again, this will be to ensure the dog you want to adopt is placed into a safe environment.
The meet and greet is when Chatita and I met first Blake and then Misty. If you’re at a shelter or rescue, ask for some help. Chances are the representatives at the shelter know the dog well and will be able to put it at ease as you meet the dog. The best thing is to act as natural as possible around the new dog to put it at ease. This is also the best time to ask any questions you might have. What situation/living conditions did the dog come from? Is it accustomed to being around other dogs? House trained? Feeding issues? Does the dog show aggression when eating? Does the dog have anxiety issues? Is it high energy or more lethargic and like to lay around? Assess the lifestyle and personality of the dog to see if it fits with yours. Again, this is the best time to ask those questions.
If, during the meet and greet, you determine this dog WILL NOT FIT with you or your family, it’s okay. Let the representative know, so you can find one that does fit.
It happens.
Don’t get too discouraged.
There are so many dogs needing a forever home. You will find the one for you.
If this dog happens to be the best fit for you, you should move towards finalizing the adoption.
Finalizing the adoption comes after you and the shelter or rescue have determined the dog is the best fit for you, your lifestyle, your family, and the dog. The finalization step is where you sign a contract for the dog. There are many clauses to it. Mine even included items such as if I came into a situation where I could no longer take care of the dog, that I was to give it back o the rescue. Read through it carefully.
This step is usually also where the adoption fee is collected. It will vary depending on the age of the dog, the condition of the dog, and many other factors.
This step of the process is when I was given Misty’s medical records. It included her spay record, shot record, and any medications she had been on.
Misty became a part of my family in 2017. Chatita didn’t take to her immediately, but immediately Misty jostled Chatita out of her aging decline she was slipping into. Misty was more alert, quick, and a bit spastic, challenging Chatita. Today they are best friends and snuggling, snoring buddies. This process taught me about the good shelters and rescues do for dogs in need and how much joy, love, and purpose adopting a dog can bring to your life.
Adopt. Don’t Shop.
Let’s help dogs live that best life.
