Adoption is a big decision. When making the decision to adopt a Doberman, keep in mind the lifelong responsibilities associated with dog ownership- these involve commitments of time, love and financial resources:
- Yearly medical expenses (e.g. vaccinations, monthly heartworm preventative, etc.) and occasional emergencies
- Quality food
- A good, secure fence (i.e. no underground/invisible fencing and no runners/cables) is highly suggested
- Grooming
- Boarding (when you must be away from home) or in-home care services
- Training
- Toys, collars, leashes, dog houses, etc.
Despite our best efforts, and the efforts of rescue groups across the country, hundreds of Dobermans are euthanized every year because there are more homeless pets than there are homes available. The suffering and needless deaths of these dogs could be eliminated if only responsible owners would spay and neuter their pets. Additionally, there is a desperate need to eradicate the “disposable pet” mentality from our society. ADAPT is not interested in placing pets into homes “until the children grow up” or “until the baby is born” or “until the family loses interest”. We need to teach our children, and remind ourselves, to cherish and care for these unique four-legged family members.
Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love… they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog: it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs, your heart is very big. ~Erica Jong
Adoption Process
Thank you for your interest in helping save a life by adopting a pet for your family. Please remember that adopting an animal is a SERIOUS commitment. Animals may take several weeks to months to settle into their new environment. They cost money and require lots of attention and love. We ask that you seriously think through your decision.
Sadly, too many animals are adopted and returned simply because folks didn’t think adoption through enough. We highly suggest that you research what is best for your particular situation, read some books, research on-line, and plan to participate in a training course in order to make the adoption experience a positive and lasting one.
Pet Adoption APPLICATION, Interview, Home Visit
Fill out the ADOPTION APPLICATION with your adoption interest. We will help you from that point on.. You will first be required to complete our Adoption Application. Once received, our representative will contact you via phone or e-mail. If it seems you are a good fit for each other based on the info you provided, a phone interview will follow. If you are renting, we require proof that you are allowed to have a pet as well as any breed or size restrictions that may exist. If you have pets or did previously, we require your vet information and we will call them to verify that your pets are in good health, current on vaccines and spayed/neutered. We require that all pets in the home be spayed/neutered unless there are health reasons that can be verified with the vet. The final step is a home visit, where our volunteer comes to your home to verify your home is a safe place for an animal. It is also a time where the volunteer can answer questions and discuss safety precautions.
Pet Adoption Agreement
In our Adoption Agreement, we require that every animal be spayed/neutered (if not prior to adoption) by a specific date. This is VERY important as the overpopulation of dogs and cats in our country is a sad result of too many unplanned litters! If for any reason the match is not as perfect as we all had hoped, the dog must be returned to ADAPT, not given away or turned in to a shelter. Serious fines apply to violators of the ADAPT Agreement to Adopt. So be clear about what you are signing and be prepared to abide by the contract. It is legally binding and we take it very seriously.
Note: ADAPT requires adopters to be at least 21 years of age. We will require proof of age to finalize any adoption.
Pet Adoption Fee
Our adoption fees range depending on the animal and the vetting the animal has received. Our adoption fees are set to allow us to cover our expenses as well as to help other animals in our program that require additional care. Our fees cover vetting costs, shelter fees, fuel for transport, copying and printing of contracts and paperwork, our website presence, food, boarding, behavioral training and additional medical care. It is important to note that while the animal you adopt may not require all of these things, many other animals in our system do. Thus, any “extra” money from adoption fees goes to help those animals who may require additional care. By adopting from ADAPT, you are not saving just one life, you are helping to save others as well.