Adopt a Dog, Change a Life

At Legacy of Love 805, we are dedicated to ensuring that every dog we rescue finds the perfect forever home. Our adoption process is designed to help both the dog and the adopter succeed by thoroughly matching needs with resources. This is a life-changing decision, and we want to ensure that both you and the dog are prepared for this lifelong commitment.

We pull dogs from a variety of challenging situations, including unsafe environments, high-kill shelters, and owner surrenders. Many of the dogs we rescue have been through a lot, whether it’s neglect, abuse, or simply being abandoned. Because of this, we take extra care to screen prospective adopters closely to ensure that each dog has the best chance at a happy, healthy, and successful life.

Our adoption process starts with an in-depth application that we ask all prospective adopters to complete. This application is essential for us to get to know you and determine if your home is the right fit for one of our dogs. We only place dogs in homes where success can be found for both the dog and the adopter, so please be thorough and honest in your application.

• Application Review: After receiving your application, we will carefully review it to assess the compatibility between you and the dogs available for adoption.

• Matching Process: If you have chosen a dog specifically, we will use your application to determine if you and the dog are a good match. If it’s not the right fit, we will suggest other dogs that might better suit your lifestyle and experience. If none of our current dogs are of interest, we will keep you in mind for future intakes.

Adoption fees for our dogs range from $500 to $1200, depending on the dog and breed. These fees help us cover the costs associated with rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing medical care to each dog.

• Breed-Specific Fees: Certain designer breeds, like French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and other breeds that require significant medical care, have higher adoption fees. This helps us offset the costs of saving more dogs.

• Why Higher Fees for Certain Breeds?: Higher fees for breeds that require extensive medical attention ensure that we can continue rescuing dogs in need while also placing these dogs in homes that are properly equipped to care for their specific needs.

We encourage all prospective adopters to research the breed they are interested in adopting, particularly if it’s a designer or special-needs breed. Different breeds have specific health concerns, activity levels, and care requirements.

• First-Time Dog Owners: We do not adopt certain breeds to first-time dog owners, as some dogs require specific knowledge and experience to meet their needs.

• Breed-Specific Needs: For example, bully breeds and designer dogs often need specialized care that may not be suitable for first-time dog owners. Please ensure you’re prepared for the breed’s particular requirements.

Before finalizing the adoption, we conduct several important steps to ensure that the home is the right environment for the dog.

• Home Visit: A member of our team will conduct a home visit to assess your living situation and ensure it’s a safe environment for the dog.

• Reference Checks: We will contact your personal references to verify your ability to care for a dog.

• Adoption Interview: An in-depth interview will be scheduled to discuss your experience with dogs, your expectations, and how you plan to care for the dog.

Once we’ve completed the necessary steps, we will proceed with the finalization of the adoption. At this point, we will discuss your dog’s specific needs, provide guidance on the transition period, and share information about their behavior, training, and medical care.

• Adoption Agreement: An official adoption agreement will be signed, outlining the responsibilities of both parties.

• Transition Support: We provide guidance to help the dog adjust to its new home and become a beloved member of your family.

We have a no shelter policy, meaning that all of our dogs must be returned to us if you can no longer care for them. This policy ensures that our dogs never end up back in a shelter environment, which could place them at risk.

• Dog Return: If, for any reason, you can no longer keep the dog, the dog must be returned to us. This allows us to ensure they are placed in a safe and loving environment.

• Limited Re-adoption: If a dog is returned to us because you can no longer keep them, there is a low likelihood that we will place another dog with you in the future. This is to ensure that our dogs find homes where they are truly wanted and can remain for the long term.

• Spay and Neuter Policy: To help address the already overwhelming shelter crisis, all of our dogs are spayed or neutered before adoption. We also have a no breeding policy and will not adopt out dogs to homes where other animals are not spayed or neutered. This is to prevent further pressure on shelters and to promote responsible pet ownership. By adopting from us, you are supporting the fight against pet overpopulation and ensuring a better future for all animals. There are certain circumstances where special considerations may be made due to age or health restrictions, allowing for the dog to be spayed or neutered by the adopter. However, any dog that is not spayed or neutered remains the property of the rescue until this procedure is completed. Adoption will not be finalized until proof of spay or neuter is provided. Your adoption coordinator will highlight this information in your adoption contract if it applies to your adoption.

Adopting a dog is a lifelong commitment, and at Legacy of Love 805, we want to make sure that every dog has the best possible future with a family that can meet their needs. Our adoption process may take time, but we’re here to guide you every step of the way to make sure the adoption is a success for both you and your new dog.Thank you for considering adoption and being part of our mission to give second chances to dogs in need.