Frequently Asked Questions

Rescue saves lives — plain and simple. Most dogs in shelters aren't there because they're bad dogs. They're there because their owner moved, had a baby, or just wasn't ready for a pet. Some come from puppy mills — dogs that were bred for profit and then abandoned. The lucky ones end up with rescues like us.

Because every dog costs us money before they ever meet you. We pay vet bills, vaccinations, heartworm tests, and spay or neuter surgery for every single dog. We're an all-volunteer nonprofit — nobody here gets paid. The adoption fee just helps us cover what we already spent on your dog.

Submit an adoption application and we'll connect you with the dog's foster family. They know the dog best — their personality, quirks, and what kind of home they'd thrive in. We want the match to be right for everyone.

Popular dogs get a lot of applications. We work through them in the order they come in. The first applicant who passes all the checks — application, references, vet history, home visit — gets the dog. If someone applied before you, we'll let you know. Our goal is always to find the best possible home, not just the fastest one.

If your dog is crossing state lines, you'll need a health certificate — a USDA requirement showing a vet cleared them for travel. A small number of states also require a 48-hour quarantine on arrival. We'll let you know if either applies to your adoption.

It happens, and that's okay. Our adoption contract actually requires you to return the dog to us if things don't work out — rather than rehome them yourself. We'd rather take them back and find a better match than have a dog bounced around to strangers.

Yes! Renting doesn't disqualify you. You'll just need to provide written permission from your landlord confirming that pets are allowed. A quick email or note from them is all we need.

Honestly? Sometimes we don't know. We can usually make an educated guess based on how they look, but we can't always be certain — especially with litters where multiple dogs may have been the father. If knowing the exact mix matters to you, a DNA test is always an option after adoption.

We move as fast as we can — our dogs need homes and we want to get them there. Once your application is submitted, someone from our team will reach out to you. The timeline depends on how quickly we can complete reference checks and a home visit, but we don't drag our feet. The dogs are always the priority.

Yes! We adopt all the way down the East Coast. If your dog is crossing state lines, you'll just need a health certificate — see the fees question above for details.

Absolutely. Every dog's profile shows exactly what they're comfortable with — good with kids, good with dogs, good with cats, and more. Check the dog's page before applying and make sure it's a match for your household.

Your application goes to our team and someone will reach out to you. We review every application and nobody gets left in the dark. Just make sure to check your email after submitting.

Every dog is different — check their individual profile page for details on their personality, habits, and training. Our foster families know each dog personally and that information comes straight from them.

The $15 gives you 7 days of access to complete your application. The form is detailed and has to be done in one sitting — there's no saving mid-way through. Once you close out, any unsaved progress is lost, so set aside a solid chunk of time before you begin. Within your 7-day window you can always get back to your application by clicking Adopt in the navigation — it automatically detects your active application and takes you straight to it. You can also access it anytime from your Member or by clicking Launch App in the header.