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Available Dogs:

Photos coming soon!

SAVE A LIFE - ADOPT

Thank you for considering adoption and choosing to save a dog’s life!

Adding a dog to your family is a rewarding and life-changing experience. Dogs enrich our lives and have the amazing ability to give and receive love unconditionally. They can be your loyal companion and friend, and a watchful playmate for your kids, but they are also a serious, long-term commitment. They will depend on you for their health and well-being, and require an investment of love, time, and money for the rest of their life.

As you search for your new dog, please remember that there is no shortage of dogs who need saving. There are far more dogs waiting to be adopted than people who are willing to adopt them, so if the dog in the picture who you’ve imagined bringing home isn’t available, there are thousands more amazing, loving dogs just hoping for the chance to be your dog. We ask that you keep an open mind, stay flexible, and we will do our best to work with you to find a great match for your family.

We strongly encourage anyone thinking about adopting a dog to do your research and make sure you are prepared for the commitment. If you have thought about what’s required and are ready to adopt, here’s what you can expect when you apply to adopt a dog from Team Leo Animal Rescue.

APPROVAL PROCESS

APPLY

To start the approval process, the first step is to complete our non-binding adoption application

INTERVIEW

Once your application is submitted and reviewed, a Team Leo Animal Rescue volunteer will contact you to schedule a phone interview to discuss your application

REFERENCES

If applicable, we check vet references to ensure that your pets have been kept current on care, and a copy of your lease to ensure that adopting doesn't violate your rental agreement

HOME VISIT

A Team Leo Animal Rescue volunteer will schedule a time to visit your home, in person, to meet you and verify that your home is a good, safe environment for one of our dogs

APPROVAL

Upon approval, if the dog you applied for is still available and a good match, we will schedule a time for you to meet the dog. If not, we will work with you to find another dog who will suit your family.

TIMING

The approval process can take a week or two depending on your availability and our volunteers’ schedules. The rescue is run by a team of volunteers from your community who love dogs. We are just regular people with jobs, kids, and lives whose time is as limited as yours. That means that during periods of high activity or seasonal vacations the process may take a little longer.

THE DOG YOU APPLY FOR IS NOT GUARANTEED

Team Leo Animal Rescue cannot guarantee that the dog you apply for will be available once you have been approved. We do our best to work with adopters and meet your needs, but we do not adopt dogs on a first-come, first-serve basis. All applications are screened to determine the most suitable match for the dog and the adopter. We want to place dogs in good homes as quickly as possible, so the dog can start their new life with their family, and we can free up their foster home to save another dog in need.

We understand how easy it is to become attached to a dog you’ve found online, but sometimes the dog you apply for may already be scheduled to meet another adopter, or it may not be the best fit for your home for a variety of behavioral reasons. Our dogs are fostered by one of our volunteers, living in their home as part of their family. This allows us to get to know the dog, what they need, their level of socialization, and the type of home that will best suit them.

Our goal is to place dogs in loving, responsible, and committed permanent homes. We take great care in finding good matches for our dogs and adopters too. We look forward to working with you to find the dog that will be with you and your family for many years to come.

ADOPTION POLICIES

Must be at least 21
All applicants who live in a rental property must provide contact information for their landlord, and have approval from the landlord to have a pet at the residence listed on the adoption application
Applicants must allow Team Leo Animal Rescue to conduct a home visit to confirm that your home will be a good environment for a new dog
All animals in the applicant’s household must be spayed/neutered and up to date on all vaccines before consideration
All adults living in the home must meet the dog and be in agreement about adoption
Applicants must be willing to keep their new dog and current family pets as indoor pets
All adoptive families will provide all medical care and treatment needed for the dog including, but not limited to, yearly medical checkups, vaccines, and preventative heartworm medication
Dogs will be adopted only as a personal companion and not as a gift, working animal, or guard dog
A fenced yard is ideal for dogs, but is NOT a requirement for adoption unless specified
Because young puppies require intensive training and care, we cannot place puppies younger than five months of age in a home where someone is consistently absent from the home for long periods of time
In the event an adoption does not work out, applicants must agree to return the dog to Team Leo Animal Rescue rather than rehoming the dog themselves.

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Application to Adopt:

​COMPLETE THE ADOPTION APPLICATION BELOW

TO START THE APPROVAL PROCESS

ADOPTION POLICIES

Must be at least 21

All applicants who live in a rental property must provide contact information for their landlord, and have approval from the landlord to have a pet at the residence listed on the adoption application
Applicants must allow Team Leo Animal Rescue to conduct a home visit to confirm that your home will be a good environment for a new dog
All animals in the applicant’s household must be spayed/neutered and up to date on all vaccines before consideration
All adults living in the home must meet the dog and be in agreement about adoption
Applicants must be willing to keep their new dog and current family pets as indoor pets
All adoptive families will provide all medical care and treatment needed for the dog including, but not limited to, yearly medical checkups, vaccines, and preventative heartworm medication
Dogs will be adopted only as a personal companion and not as a gift, working animal, or guard dog
A fenced yard is ideal for dogs, but is NOT a requirement for adoption unless specified
Because young puppies require intensive training and care, we cannot place puppies younger than five months of age in a home where someone is consistently absent from the home for long periods of time
In the event an adoption does not work out, applicants must agree to return the dog to Dogs Deserve Better rather than rehoming the dog themselves

BASIC INFORMATION

Which dog(s) are you most interested in?*
Name*
First Last
Email*
Phone*
Address*
Street AddressAddress Line 2CityState / Province / RegionZIP / Postal Code
Age*

PERSONAL REFERENCES

List personal (non-family) references below, including a contact number.*

EMPLOYMENT

Occupation*
Current employer and length of employment*

HOME & FAMILY

List ALL the members of your household, including children. Include name, relation, and age.*
What type of home do you live in?*

Single Family Home
Townhouse/Duplex
Condo/Apartment
Mobile Home

How long have you lived at your current address?*
Do you own or rent your home?*

Own
Rent

Does anyone in the household have pet allergies?*

Yes
No

Do you have a yard?*

I don't have a yard
I have an unfenced or partially fenced yard
I have a fully fenced yard

Are all the members of your household in agreement about adopting a dog?*

Yes
No

It's Dogs Deserve Better's policy to do a home visit prior to adoption. Will you allow a volunteer to visit your home?*

Yes
No

CURRENT & PAST PETS

Do you currently have pets?*

Yes
No

As an adult, how many pets have you owned, and how long did you have them? If they are no longer with you, what happened to them?*
Have you used flea/tick prevention in the past? If so, what kind?*
What kind of dog food do you currently use or plan to use?*
List the name and number of the veterinarian you currently use, or have used in the past. We will contact them to make sure your pets have been given consistent care.

LIFESTYLE

On a typical day, how many hours will the dog be left alone?*
Describe your family's daily work and school schedule.*
Where will the dog be kept during the day?*

Crated
Outside
Free roam of the house
Enclosed area
Basement

Will the dog ever be kept outside when you are not at home?*

Always
Sometimes
When the weather is nice
Never

Where will the dog sleep at night?*
Who will be responsible for walking the dog, how often, and what times of day?*
How many weeks per year are you away from the home on business and/or vacation?*

0-2 weeks
3-4 weeks
5-6 weeks
7+ weeks

Who will care for the dog when you are on vacation or travel?*
Are you planning to move within the next two years?*

Yes
No

What will you do with the dog if you have to move?*
Do you expect any major life changes in the next 5 years, including marriage, children, etc.?*
How soon do you want to adopt?*

Right away
Probably in the next week
I'm taking my time, a few weeks is fine
It could be a few months
I'm waiting for the right dog

Under what circumstances do you believe it would be reasonable to return your dog to Dogs Deserve Better? Check all that apply:*

Dog is not getting along with other pets
New baby
Divorce
Allergies
Job loss
Increased work hours or new job
Behavior Problems
Escaping under/over fence
Housetraining problems or marking in the house
Chewing or destructive behavior
Barking
Medical problems
None of these

DOG SPECIFICS

Why do you want to adopt a dog?*
Describe your ideal dog
What type of energy level would work best with your lifestyle?*

Mellow - Short, daily walks
Active - Longer daily walks and playtime
Energetic - Running buddy

What age dog are you interested in?*

Any age
Puppy
Adolescent
Adult
Senior

What size dog would appeal to you when it's fully grown?*

Tiny (under 10lbs)
Small (10 to 25lbs)
Medium (25 to 50lbs)
Large (over 50lbs)

Are you interested in:*

A male dog
A female dog
No preference

What would you consider a realistic budget to properly care for you dog for one year, including food, supplies, grooming, vet care, and training?*
What aspects of owning a dog are most appealing to you? Check all that apply:*

Companionship
Breed or appearance
Playmate
Good with kids
Active/running partner
Low maintenance/low energy
Obedience
Good with cats
Good with other dogs
Protection

TRAINING & BEHAVIOR

What would you describe as normal dog/puppy behavior problems?*
Most pets require time to adjust to their new home. How long do you feel it should take for a dog to acclimate to your household?*
Are you planning to enroll the dog in obedience classes or private training?*

Yes
No

Are you willing to work through unexpected hardships with the dog, and hire a trainer if necessary?*

Yes
No
Not sure
I would like to learn more about trainers

Have you ever dealt with any behavioral problems with a dog, like housebreaking, dog reactivity, or separation anxiety? If so, what did you do?*
Are you open to adopting a dog who is not fully housebroken yet?*

Yes
No

Describe any experiences you have had with dog training, or caring for a dog with medical issues.

A FEW QUESTIONS

Have you ever had to find your pet another home or take it to the shelter? If so, why, and where did the pet go?*
Are you adopting with a partner or spouse?*

Yes
No

Have you ever adopted or tried to adopt from another rescue group?*

Yes
No

How did you hear about us?*





SUBMIT

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