Adoption Process

We promise a better life to every dog we rescue. We take that commitment seriously. All of our dogs are brought into our rescue and into the private homes of our volunteers. We get them healthy, we start giving them basic manners, and dogs that need an extra step up get time with our amazing training partners.

We do all we can for our dogs when they are in our care - and that extends to making sure the homes the dogs go into are going to be a good fit for them.

When you apply to adopt a dog from Fur Sisters, the wheels start moving on our end!

1. Applications are Reviewed by Volunteers.
   We try to reach out to everyone, but can’t always do so. If you are denied based on background check or lying on your application we will not reach out - we simply do not have the time.
   *Our volunteers almost always have full-time jobs in addition to volunteering for us so please have patience with this process.
   

2. We Do Our Due Diligence.
   We run background checks to confirm there are no violent offenses or a history of financial instability. We confirm the details in the application against maps and the background check. We are looking to be sure the home is what you stated (own vs. rent, people living in the home, etc.) and is not in a known “hot spot” for abandoned/neglected/abused dogs.

   NOTE: While being in a house is great, we love our apartment-dwelling adopters! We do need to confirm your apartment allows dogs, and that the dog you are applying for meets any restrictions.
   If the background check shows that you lied on your application, your application will be denied!
   

3. Phone Screening.
   If everything looks clear on the application, map, and background check, one of our volunteers will reach out to have a conversation with the applicant. Heads up! We are all volunteers and using our personal phones so you may get a call from a random area code from other states like Michigan or Pennsylvania - check your messages if you apply!
   

4. We Request Videos of Your Home.
   We are no longer doing in-person home checks, so we rely on these video as “visits” to confirm the home aligns with what we expect based on your application and that it appears to be a safe place for our pups.
   

5. Vet Check.
   We verify your current pets are up to date on all their shots and that your dogs are getting monthly heartworm prevention (or the 6/12 month heartworm shot). If your dog is not up to date on shots or heartworm prevention, your application will be denied! We spend tens of thousands of dollars treating heartworms - we take this VERY seriously.
   

6. Approved.
   After you are approved, we can set up meetings with any of our fosters you haven’t been able to meet at one of our events.
   

7. Sleepover Agreement.
   When you find your pup, we ask you to fill out a sleepover form and you can start your sleepover!

   • A sleepover is your chance to have the dog in your home for about a week before you finalize the adoption to be sure the dog is a good fit for you and your lifestyle. We ask that you give our dogs a few days (at least 3 for adults) to decompress and go SLOWLY with introductions to others in your home - remember, this is all new and scary for the pup!

   • If during your sleepover you decide you wish to proceed with the adoption, let us know and we will send you the invoice for their adoption fee.

   • If during your sleepover you decide the dog is not a fit, the dog will return to the rescue to go to the next adopter. If there is a new/unexpected behavior that comes out during the sleepover we request you inform the rescue so we can resolve any issues or find a home that will be a better fit for the pup for their next sleepover (common issues relate to love/fear or water, mismatch in activity levels, or discomfort with a resident of the home).