At Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation (LDCRF), we help connect people who have love to give with pets who need homes.
Our adoption process begins with a conversation in an open, welcoming environment. We want to hear about your hopes for your new pet, your day to day routine, and your concerns. We will tell you about our available pets and help you make a choice that we hope will be just right. This takes place in person at one of our weekly adoption events and if you find the right fit, you will take your new family member home that same day.
What to Expect at an Dog Adoption Event
Adoption events are held every weekend at designated PetSmart stores and occasionally at special adoption events. Our adoption events are dogs only, with our cats being adopted remotely from foster homes or our Seven Corners PetSmart Cat Condos. Be sure to check out our events list to see the events each weekend. .
At our adoption events, dogs will be leash-walked by volunteer handlers while young puppies will be in playpens. We always have plenty of volunteers on hand to answer your questions and help you meet our dogs for adoption.
While we accept requests for dogs to attend particular events, we don’t hold or reserve animals, so be sure to arrive early if you are interested in a particular dog.
Please know that a dog could be requested to attend an event on both a Saturday and Sunday and thus could be adopted before an event you attend.
Adoption events are exciting and busy. Remember to head to the info table if you need help or have questions.
The Adoption Process
Check out our available cats and dogs online. If you are interested in a particular dog or cat, email the address in their bio to find out where you can meet them. For our dogs who will be attending in-store or in-person events, see our event page. Be sure to check back on the day of the event to view the attendees!
Once you have seen or met a dog or a cat you would like to adopt, fill out an adoption questionnaire (View Cat Application & View Dog Application) and be sure to review the process for the specific event you are attending.
An adoption counselor will talk with you about the pet you have chosen and help you determine whether it would be a good fit in your household. If you and the adoption counselor agree that this is the pet for you, you will pay an adoption fee (see below what the fee covers), complete an adoption contract and some other paperwork and take your new pet (and their medical records) home right away!
Adoption Fees (payable by cash or credit card)
- Adult Dogs and Puppies– $475
- Cats & Kittens – $195.00 for one, and $300 for two.
What’s Included in the Adoption
- EVERY adult animal we offer for adoption has already been spayed or neutered (all cats/kittens are altered prior to adoption).
- All pets are given age-appropriate vaccines and tested for heartworm (dogs) or feline leukemia and FIV (cats)
- All pets are given preventative medication for heartworm (dogs), fleas and ticks and parasites.
- Each adoption comes with a two-week trial period. If you return the pet to our care during that time, you will receive a refund of the adoption fee or we will help you find a better match.
All adoption fees go directly to LDCRF to help pay for medical expenses and daily care. Our audited financial statements and tax returns are on our website for public viewing.
Adoption Requirements
- Adopters must be at least 21 years of age and must bring a driver’s license or other government-issued ID to the adoption event.
- Renters will need to demonstrate they have permission to own pets
- Criteria such as the need for a fence, hours the animal may be left alone, level of experience required, or the need to be adopted with a companion animal will be determined according to the needs of each dog or cat.
- Adoption approval is at the sole discretion of LDCRF adoption counselors.
What if someone else is interested in adopting the same pet?
It happens, especially with puppies and kittens. Over the years, we have developed a system that we think is fair and easy to follow. As a bonus, it doesn’t require anyone to camp out overnight!
- Each adoption event will have a designated interview sign-up start time. The first 15 minutes of this period is considered priority interview sign-up. If more than 3 potential adopters submit an interview request for a particular dog during this 15 minute priority period, we will randomly select 3 potential adopters to interview with one of our adoption counselors.
- The adoption counseling interviews are then conducted (we plan for 20-30 minutes per interview).
- After adoption counseling is complete, if more than one adopter presents a great match for the dog or cat and is approved to adopt, then there will be a random drawing to determine placement.
- After the interview sign-up priority period, if the animal has not received an interview request, the first person who signs up for adoption counseling for a particular pet will have precedence over anyone who signs up after them.
After you Adopt
Remember, you have two weeks to make sure this is a good match for your household. Our goal is for both the adopter and the pet to be happy with the adoption. If you return your adopted pet during those two weeks, we will refund the adoption fee or help you find a better match.
We cannot guarantee the health of any animals adopted. You will receive medical records when you adopt showing the care your adopted pet has received and what we have done to address any medical issues known to us. Please be aware that the animals available for adoption have been in contact with other animals and could have been exposed to a disease. Like human illnesses, these disorders can have an incubation period of up to several weeks. If the animal you adopt shows signs of illness at any point, please take it to the vet for treatment. Once an animal is adopted, the adopter is responsible for all medical expenses. LDCRF will not pay for medical care for an adopted animal.
Puppies
Puppies are so much fun! They also require some extra planning and work. Here are some questions you might consider before choosing to adopt a young puppy:
- Can you provide your puppy with a potty and play break at least every 4 hours until he or she is over 6 months of age?
- Are you prepared to crate-train or otherwise contain your puppy when you are not home so he or she is safe?
- Do you have a couple of hours in your day to socialize and train your puppy?
- Are you prepared for potty accidents, shoe-chewing and other sorts of puppy mischief?
- Will you be able to provide your “teenage” puppy with daily long walks and play sessions? Lack of adequate exercise is often the reason puppies and young dogs get into trouble.
Giving your puppy what he or she needs early in life will set both of you up for a better life together. If you are planning to adopt a puppy for the first time, there are plenty of great resources to help you through it, including our experienced adoption counselors.
Kittens
There is nothing cuter than a kitten! Even better, two kittens! We like to adopt kittens in pairs because they are happier with a friend and get into a lot less trouble when they have a buddy. We don’t require you to adopt two, but we’ll tell you why it’s a good idea. If the kitten you want to adopt is under 12 weeks, it will need to be adopted with a companion if you don’t already have a playful companion of some sort in your home.