1. The first step in the process is to read our guidelines for adopting a dog from Save A Dog. See guidelines below. It is also important to us that you read our Holistic Dog Web page http://www.saveadog.org/holistic.asp as we want our rescued dogs to have a healthy lifestyle, free from chemicals and pesticides. Following a holistic protocol will also save you from costly vet bills in the future.
   
   
2. Fill out the Adoption Application form on this Web site. We require an application first before allowing you to visit the dogs and the application process is at no charge to you. Knowing a little bit about you before you come down to meet the dogs saves both you and our adoption counselors considerable time and it benefits our rescued dogs as it gives us the extra time to take care of all their needs while finding them the best homes to live out their years.
   
   
3. Next is the adoption interview. Once you have filled out the application, please give us a day or so to contact you. We are not a drop-in shelter where you walk through kennels, as we feel it is upsetting to the dogs that have already been through enough disruption in their lives. First we like to see the application, get to know a little bit about you, then have a brief conversation about what you're looking for in a dog, and to make sure you have met the requirements for the particular dog you want to see. (For Example: Some dogs require more exercise than others, some require more hours with someone home during the day.)
   
   
4. Then we will have you meet the dogs. We have several play yards where we bring the dogs outside off-leash to meet prospective adopters. As well, we have a Meet-and-Greet room with comfy sofas in the house where you can meet a dog in a home setting. As some of our dogs are in foster homes, receiving an application ahead of time will allow us to notify the foster provider to bring the dog here for you to meet. If you just drop in, there's a good chance the dog you want to meet might not be here, so it's best to have a conversation with one of our adoption counselors first.
   
   We ask that all decision-makers be present when you come to meet the dogs. If you have a resident dog that you'd like to bring to meet one of our rescued dogs, we just ask that you let us know ahead of time. As weekends tend to be busy, this might not always be possible during our peak hours, so please talk to us first and we can advise the best time to bring your dog out for a meeting. If you live close by, then it might be best to meet the dog first, make sure that both you and we feel it's a match, and then we would have you go get your dog to be the final decision-maker.
   
   
5. Once you have met the dog and both parties feel it is a good match, then you may leave a $50 deposit to hold the dog for 24 hours while we check your references and/or conduct a home visit. The deposit is nonrefundable. If you change your mind, it is used as a donation. If you continue with the adoption, the fee is deducted from your total adoption fee.

If We Request a Home Visit: During the adoption screening, we will determine if a home visit is needed. If we request a home visit, we will schedule a time to come out to do a safety inspection of the home. The reason for the home visit is to make sure that you can provide a safe environment for the dog and to make sure the dog you want is the right match for your family. We also ask that other family members or people who live in the household be present so that we can meet them and answer any questions about dog ownership.

The person conducting the home visit will provide the report to a board member, who will approve the adoption.

Once the home visit is completed and approved, we will contact you to pick up the dog within 24 hours. We are not set up to hold dogs beyond that point.

Crate Training: We require crate training for puppies. No exceptions! For information on crate training basics, go to http://www.saveadog.org/cratetraining.asp.

Working people: Please bear in mind that puppies need lots of socialization so we cannot place them in homes where they will sit alone all day. Even coming home for lunch is not enough for a young puppy. Animal shelters are loaded with dogs who did not get the proper puppy socialization and we do not want to add to the problem. Puppies need time and attention. We like to have your dog walker and/or doggy daycare information on the application or at some point before we call your references. People who can spend the most time with a puppy will be given preference and we will consider those with dogs already in the household as companionship for an older puppy or young dog.

We require a fully fenced in back yard if you have children under 12 years of age. You don't have to break your piggy bank in order to purchase a fence. In fact, there's a fence that we prefer that is very afforadable. It looks like the fencing here: http://www.academyfence.com/vinylcoatedcolorpvcweldedwire.asp. You can buy this at Home Depot for less than $1 a foot and put it up in an afternoon. We like it because it goes flush to the ground so that dogs can't squeeze under, as they would with a stockade fence, and they can't climb it, as they can with a chain link fence. They can't see over it, so they don't tend to jump over it. 4-5' high is adequate for the majority of our dogs.

Invisible Fences: Invisible fences are okay in some situations, but they are not our favorite choice of fencing. It depends on the dog and on your location. You cannot put a puppy on invisible fence! We are not keen on the invisible fence if you live in a neighborhood where lots of people walk by as it frustrates any dog who wants to go and greet them. Border Collies and other herding or prey-driven breeds in particular do not do well on invisible fence. The fencing companies don't tell you about power outages and the number of people who have run over their own dog in the driveway on invisible fence. We suggest doing a lot of research before purchasing invisible fence. They are fine for some dogs and some locations, but disastrous for others.

Additional requirements if you live on a busy road: If you have live on a busy road, we require a front entry way or breezeway at minimum. This is for the dog's safety so that the dog doesn't dart out into the street.

We require obedience training for all dogs under 3 years of age. Puppies need Puppy Kindergarten for socialization and for a jump start on obedience training. Then at adolescence and beyond, they need basic obedience. We offer 3 Puppy K classes for our adopted puppies. We offer the class with your puppy's littermates and/or other pups that were fostered with your puppy so that they can socialize with dogs they already know and who will not overpower them. These classes are taught in Sudbury by our volunteer trainers. We want to thank Especially For Pets, for letting us use their training ring. You will receive an email invitation to this class shortly after adopting your puppy. We teach using positive-reinforcement, reward-based methods.

Note to families with children under 5: It is a NOT a good idea to get a puppy or young dog if you have very young children, unless you are very dog experienced. (Here is an article you should read before adopting: Postpone Family Dog Until Kids Are School-Age: Experts)

If you are a "pack rat" or love clutter, you should consider adopting a senior dog who is past the stage of chewing and getting into things.

This may sound like a lot of scrutiny, but we want the safest situation for our rescued friends. We have learned a great deal about which placements work best through trial and error over the past few years. We have placed over 3000 dogs since our incorporation and have learned a great deal from experience.

1. Web-based. Our Web Application is easy to fill out, but some servers will not let you send it because of fire wall issues. If that happens, then please print it out and fax it to our toll free fax number 877-349-9254.

2. MS Word version of application. You can download this file, fill it out, and email it to adoptions@saveadog.org or fax it back to us at our toll-free fax number 877-349-9254.

3. Text-based version of the application that you can cut and paste into your email message to us.