Adoption Application

Adopting a dog

Thank you for your interest in adopting a dog from Small Dog Rescue (SDR).

Adopting a dog is a big decision. Dogs require an investment of time and money and may also require a commitment of well over fifteen years. Having a dog is a very rewarding experience, but requires a thorough evaluation of your decision before you adopt.

Things to Consider

The fact that you are looking at rescue dogs is a wonderful thing -- it is definitely the responsible, caring thing to do. But one should consider a few important things before filling out the adoption application:

Why do you want a dog?
If you want a dog because he or she is cute, everyone else is getting one, or the kids have been nagging you for one, your motivations are not conducive to a healthy relationship with an adopted dog. Therefore, adopting a dog will most likely be a mistake. Do not forget that small dogs may be with you for ten to fifteen years and will need care every single day during that time. Make sure you are adopting a dog for the right reason.

Do you have time for a dog?
Dogs need you to take care of them even when you are busy, tired, sick, and otherwise inconvenienced. Many of our dogs have ended up in a rescue home because their previous guardians did not take the time commitment seriously.

Can you afford a dog?
Dogs are expensive. Dogs need quality food, veterinary visits, grooming, heart worm and flea medication, a state license, training classes, toys, treats, and other expenditures that can add up to a large bill. If your puppy gets sick or one of their tiny legs is seriously injured, you can be looking at thousands of dollars in veterinary expenses. You may want to consider adding dog health insurance to your list of annual expenses.

Are you prepared to deal with special problems that dogs can bring?
Flea infestations, scratched-up furniture and doors, bathroom accidents from animals who are not yet housetrained, holes in the yard and gardens, and unexpected medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of lives with dogs.

Can you have a dog where you live?
We always call your landlord if you rent to verify that you are a tenant and that dogs are allowed. Therefore if your residence does not allow dogs, there is no need to apply until your landlord's policy or your residence changes.

Is it a good time for you to adopt a dog?
If you have small children less than six years old, or have any of these things occurring or might occur within the next six months, you may want to wait to adopt: marriage, divorce, move, death in the family, new job, lost job, etc. If you travel frequently or serve in the military, a dog might not be the best match. These are all common reasons why people bring in and surrender their dogs to shelters. Having a stable, settled lifestyle is best for dogs.

Have you done your research?
Do you know the personality and activity level of the dog breed you are interested in? Many different dog breeds have different personalities. Also, different breeds of dogs have certain medical complications which must be taken into consideration.

Will you be responsible?
Dogs depend on their people for everything. You need to be able to provide the things they require every day of every year for the rest for their lives. This is a big responsibility.

Are you prepared to keep and care for the pet for the rest of his or her life?
We cannot stress this enough! These dogs have already been given up once. It is our commitment to place them in safe, loving, forever-homes.

We understand that this is a lot to think about, but it is better to think about it before you adopt. It is important not to adopt a dog for the wrong reasons or without being prepared to care for them for their entire lifetime. Otherwise, this may lead to a dog being returned to another rescue or shelter. Our inbox is flooded with desperate emails about dogs who die because individuals were impulsive. Most of the dogs needing rescue are not puppies; they come from people who did not think about what it takes to care for a dog before they brought one home. Each one of these dogs will bring their person or families joy, laughter, and love -- but only if their people are willing to commit entirely to them.

I have considered all of the above, and I would still like to fill out an adoption application