PHOENIX AREA ONLY!

Our puppies and dogs are placed in the Phoenix metro area, for proximity to our rescue (home checks, follow-up visits, visit to finalize adoption) and for access to our veterinarian, trainers, and behavioralists.

APPLICATION REQUIRED

Discussion about a dog, including scheduling of a home check or other dialogue, cannot occur until we have received your completed adoption application. NO EXCEPTIONS. Humans aged eight years and older only, please.

COMPANION ANIMAL

“Needs companion animal” means the dog requires a home where a similar-sized dog with similar energy level is already part of the family. Other than in the case of very senior dogs, we do not place siblings together because although they have similar needs, they will adjust, bond, and thrive when placed in separate homes. We DO NOT place dogs in homes where there are unaltered puppies or dogs because we support spay-neuter and because an intact dog significantly impacts the dynamics of dog-dog relationships.

HOME VISIT

We appreciate getting to know everyone who lives in your home, pets included!  Melding a new dog into a family of humans and other animals is both a joy and a responsibility. We do not take chances with people’s beloved pets, so meeting them to determine their energy level, stamina, and demeanor before introducing them to a new dog is key. We do a quick walk of your yard to identify any potential safety issues. (See “YARD” section, below.)

SPAY/NEUTER

BDR puppies are not spayed or neutered until they are at least six months of age; some larger breeds wait longer. So that puppies can bond with their new families and begin training, unaltered puppies are placed on a foster-to-adopt basis until it’s safe and healthy to spay/neuter. 

STATUS

We are a tiny rescue and manage the care and placement of the dogs in addition to our full time jobs. We do not have sufficient resources to respond to individual inquiries. If you are not contacted concerning your application, it is likely that the dog’s placement is already “in process.” Status of each dog is communicated in their profile, which appears on our website and is broadcast to public pet-search websites. Due to lags in export time (outside our control), the absolute best place to check for current information and status on a dog is here on our site. 

• Once a dog begins their foster-to-adopt period, we note “adoption pending” on its profile, and the profile will soon be retired from the site and will no longer display on pet search sites.
• Occasionally, due to family emergency or compatibility issues between pets, a foster-to-adopt period does not culminate in a lifetime placement. This results in a dog returning to “available” status as we review additional applications. Our website is the best place to check for status of a dog!

STUDENTS

We DO NOT adopt to students as we have found that they often do not know or anticipate where life will take them.

TRAINING

Adoption of a dog two years of age or younger begins with a Foster-To-Adopt arrangement that continues until Puppy Kindergarten (or Basic Obedience) and Intermediate Obedience training are complete. Training must begin immediately upon starting the foster-to-adopt period. We encourage adopters to use online search sites such as Yelp, as well as references from friends and animal care professionals, to identify affordable group training sessions that offer a convenient location and schedule. It’s sometimes worthwhile to travel a few extra minutes to a specific retail location in order to gain the benefit of a particular trainer who comes highly recommended!

YARD

We prefer to only rescue our dogs once! Although some puppies and dogs are able to function well without an attached, fenced yard, it’s a requirement for most of our dogs. Extremely large dogs, senior dogs, puppies who are still house-training or whose immunizations are incomplete all require a private yard. As do extremely active dogs, dogs who are overly concerned about strangers, dogs who’ve have always had access to a yard, and those who are vocal when left alone. 

• “Fenced yard” means a backyard that is adjacent to and connected with your residence. It does NOT mean a nearby fenced area/dog park.
• Gates must have padlocks and thresholds (cement or buried pavers to prevent digging.)
• Yard and patio must be free of debris and have room for dogs to run and play on a lawn and/or in a shaded area. Please don’t invite us to your home if you have not yet landscaped your yard!
• We do not place dogs in situations where there are drained or empty swimming pools, which are a fall hazard and contribute to the propagation of mosquitos. If a dog’s profile indicates that he/she requires a swimming pool, that means “a private, in-ground pool that is available to the dog daily or multiple times per week.”
• Please check with your HOA, landlord, and/or management company for prohibited breeds and any other limits on pets before applying to adopt.