Our Adoption Process
Here's what our adoption process looks like at a glance:
Application Submission
Our application is designed to help us get to know you, the type for dog that would best fit your home & the particular qualities you are looking for in the dog you want to make a member of your family. All of us at Love Dogs spend a great deal of quality time with every dog in our care. We've had the honor of befriending hundreds of dogs, each one unique and beautiful.. As a result we have learned an incredible amount about dogs in general and what it is they like about people! The more we know about you, the better we will be at match making! When you submit your application, please ask your references to call our "Reference Hotline" at 914-487-3018 to leave their comments on our reference voicemail. Click here to fill out an adoption application!
Application Processing
Once your references have left their recommendations on our system, we will be able to complete processing on your application, after which, we will be in touch to discuss next steps, answer & ask any lingering questions and plan the path ahead! Once approved we will contact you to schedule a meet and greet!
Meet & Greet
Its exciting for everyone, you the dogs and staff to gather for a meeting! Dogs do best if they are left in charge of the actual approach and subsequent greeting. We suggest that you arrive.. deep breaths.. as calm, open minded and light hearted as you can.. dogs pick up on energy first and foremost. This initial meeting will provide a lot of information about you to the dogs you meet. We will guide you through the language each dog is sharing so that your initial encounter will set the stage for a foundation of trust. When bringing children it is especially important to discuss with them how to meet new dogs. We can provide you with an easy child friendly outline!
Please understand that we cannot "HOLD" dogs for you so its best to plan accordingly. Come start the visiting process when you are ready to take home a well matched dog! We have limited space and many, many dogs in need. All rescue dogs deserve to be placed as quickly as possible into their loving homes. Because we spend a good amount of quality time with you and the dog(s) you are interested in adopting we appreciate knowing in advance if you have prior time commitments that would prevent you from taking home within a week of adopting or if you have vacations planned within the first months post adoption.
Please be aware that some lucky dogs may receive several inquiries and applications. We strive to honor the order in which we receive applications and simultaneously do our best to ensure great happily-ever-after matches! We require all household family members to attend a Meet & Greet before being able to move forward to adoption. There are times it takes multiple visits to establish your best match and get everyone off to a best ever start. How you begin this relationship strongly influences what will lay ahead. We make ourselves available to help in every way possible!
Visit our Meet and Greet Procedures page for more detailed information.
Medical Information
Each dog in our care gets a second thorough physical exam, necessary tests and medical care upon arriving to New York in addition to their initial routine exam at time of departure from shelter. Any areas of concern are thoroughly investigated and addressed with the dog's best interest in mind. The basics every dog receives are:
Adoption
All adoptions include a full hour or more with one of our experienced adoption counselors. You will see and experience demonstrations about dog body language and how best to understand and communicate with your dog as well as what you will be helpful to know before bringing your new family member home. We also share everything we have personally experienced and observed about the particular dog you are adopting. While its impossible to know how every dog will react to every situation in every environment we will do our very best to share what we have learned. We are very much invested in facilitating a meaningful and enriching relationship between you and one of our dogs!
The adoption fee is $450.00. Donations are ALWAYS welcome!
Post Adoption Support
Adoption is the just the beginning of what we all hope will be a lovely journey with your dog, full of meaning and deep connection. The transition to home life may add some surprising new experiences, for you and your dog. We are quite familiar with the sort of things that may arise and can help you to find simple solutions that will keep things going well! Please don't hesitate to call on us for support. We want to hear from you no matter what,,, good or challenging.. so not to worry if you experience some or even a lot of bumps along the way.. we are here to help! We find all updates to be both reassuring and heart warming. Everyone understands that all relationships, even the most loving ones can at times require a little more education, patience and attention. You and your dog(s) can count on us to be there for support! Oh, and we REALLY ENJOY photo updates more than you can imagine!!
Our application is designed to help us get to know you, the type for dog that would best fit your home & the particular qualities you are looking for in the dog you want to make a member of your family. All of us at Love Dogs spend a great deal of quality time with every dog in our care. We've had the honor of befriending hundreds of dogs, each one unique and beautiful.. As a result we have learned an incredible amount about dogs in general and what it is they like about people! The more we know about you, the better we will be at match making! When you submit your application, please ask your references to call our "Reference Hotline" at 914-487-3018 to leave their comments on our reference voicemail. Click here to fill out an adoption application!
Application Processing
Once your references have left their recommendations on our system, we will be able to complete processing on your application, after which, we will be in touch to discuss next steps, answer & ask any lingering questions and plan the path ahead! Once approved we will contact you to schedule a meet and greet!
Meet & Greet
Its exciting for everyone, you the dogs and staff to gather for a meeting! Dogs do best if they are left in charge of the actual approach and subsequent greeting. We suggest that you arrive.. deep breaths.. as calm, open minded and light hearted as you can.. dogs pick up on energy first and foremost. This initial meeting will provide a lot of information about you to the dogs you meet. We will guide you through the language each dog is sharing so that your initial encounter will set the stage for a foundation of trust. When bringing children it is especially important to discuss with them how to meet new dogs. We can provide you with an easy child friendly outline!
Please understand that we cannot "HOLD" dogs for you so its best to plan accordingly. Come start the visiting process when you are ready to take home a well matched dog! We have limited space and many, many dogs in need. All rescue dogs deserve to be placed as quickly as possible into their loving homes. Because we spend a good amount of quality time with you and the dog(s) you are interested in adopting we appreciate knowing in advance if you have prior time commitments that would prevent you from taking home within a week of adopting or if you have vacations planned within the first months post adoption.
Please be aware that some lucky dogs may receive several inquiries and applications. We strive to honor the order in which we receive applications and simultaneously do our best to ensure great happily-ever-after matches! We require all household family members to attend a Meet & Greet before being able to move forward to adoption. There are times it takes multiple visits to establish your best match and get everyone off to a best ever start. How you begin this relationship strongly influences what will lay ahead. We make ourselves available to help in every way possible!
Visit our Meet and Greet Procedures page for more detailed information.
Medical Information
Each dog in our care gets a second thorough physical exam, necessary tests and medical care upon arriving to New York in addition to their initial routine exam at time of departure from shelter. Any areas of concern are thoroughly investigated and addressed with the dog's best interest in mind. The basics every dog receives are:
- Current distemper, parvo & rabies vaccines as well as a current 4DX Test
- Monthly flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives
- Age appropriate spay/neuter
- Microchip
Adoption
All adoptions include a full hour or more with one of our experienced adoption counselors. You will see and experience demonstrations about dog body language and how best to understand and communicate with your dog as well as what you will be helpful to know before bringing your new family member home. We also share everything we have personally experienced and observed about the particular dog you are adopting. While its impossible to know how every dog will react to every situation in every environment we will do our very best to share what we have learned. We are very much invested in facilitating a meaningful and enriching relationship between you and one of our dogs!
The adoption fee is $450.00. Donations are ALWAYS welcome!
Post Adoption Support
Adoption is the just the beginning of what we all hope will be a lovely journey with your dog, full of meaning and deep connection. The transition to home life may add some surprising new experiences, for you and your dog. We are quite familiar with the sort of things that may arise and can help you to find simple solutions that will keep things going well! Please don't hesitate to call on us for support. We want to hear from you no matter what,,, good or challenging.. so not to worry if you experience some or even a lot of bumps along the way.. we are here to help! We find all updates to be both reassuring and heart warming. Everyone understands that all relationships, even the most loving ones can at times require a little more education, patience and attention. You and your dog(s) can count on us to be there for support! Oh, and we REALLY ENJOY photo updates more than you can imagine!!