**Adoption Process**

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• **Submit an application** for the dog you are interested in. Please make sure all information is complete and accurate.

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• **Application review:** We review your application, including your vet history, fencing setup, household details, and overall fit based on the dog’s needs.

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• **Follow‑up questions:** If your application appears to be a good match, we will email you additional questions and request photos of your home and fenced-in yard.

  Please check your email often. If we request more information, we need it within 24 hours so we can continue processing your application.
  Please also check your spam folder.

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​• **Approval & deposit:** Once approved, we will request the required deposit to hold the dog.
  We only schedule appointments for approved applicants who have paid the deposit.

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• **Meet-and-Greet / Adoption Appointment:** 
  We conduct meet-and-greets and adoptions at the same appointment. This allows you to meet the dog, ask questions, and—if it is a good match—complete the adoption during the same visit.

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• **Finalizing the adoption:** 
  After the adoption is completed, you will receive all medical records, microchip information, and transition guidance for your new dog.

**Adoption Criteria**

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Applicants must be 24 years of age or older.

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Puppies and some adults must be adopted to homes where someone is home during the day. This may include people working from home, working different shifts, homemakers, or retired individuals. Puppies need extensive socialization, so we cannot place them in homes where they will be alone all day. Even coming home for lunch is not enough for a young puppy. Shelters are full of dogs who did not receive proper early socialization, and we do not want to add to that problem. Puppies need time and attention.

For adult dogs, we do not believe in crating a dog for 8 hours a day while the owner is at work. Please read the description of each dog on our website for more information.

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We require a fully fenced-in backyard (unless otherwise noted in the dog’s description). A door exiting your home must lead directly into the fenced area, and the fence must be attached to your home. We will not approve any kennel, pen, or fence that is not attached to your home. We do not approve driveway gates unless the fenced-in backyard is a separate enclosed area.

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We will not approve invisible fences unless the dog for adoption has already been trained on one, which will be indicated in the dog’s description.

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If you live on a busy or high-traffic road, or where the speed limit is above 25 mph, we require a front entryway or breezeway at minimum. This is for the dog’s safety so they do not dart out into the street.

We may deny an application for any reason, especially if we suspect that you are not being honest on your application. We will contact your vet. If you do not currently own a dog, we will contact the vet for previous dogs you have owned. If you have never owned a dog, this may be a concern for us, and obedience or puppy school may be required. We rely on veterinary references, not references from friends or relatives.

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All previous and current dogs must have a history of being on heartworm prevention that can be verified by your vet. If you are not familiar with heartworm disease, please do your research.

Adoption to renters will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We take into consideration the neighborhood, how long you have lived there, and many other factors.

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Please read the description of each dog for more information on adoption criteria specific to that dog or puppy.

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The primary caregiver is considered the owner of the home and must be the person applying.

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We do not adopt dogs as gifts.

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We will seldom adopt dogs to homes with more than two dogs, and we will not adopt puppies to homes with more than one dog.

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We require a puppy pen or x-pen (instead of a crate) for most puppies under 4 months old. We will provide you with a list of recommended pens. The pen must be purchased before your puppy comes home. Sometimes a baby gate in a safe utility room or kitchen can also work. Puppies cannot roam free even if you are home 24/7. A puppy pen offers a safe, low-anxiety area where they

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We reserve the right to deny an application for any reason, including concerns about accuracy of information, veterinary history, safety requirements, or overall suitability for the specific dog.

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