OUR ADOPTION PROCESS

Friends For Life

Our adoption process begins with the completion of our application form. (There is an online copy of our dog and cat adoption application below.)  Once the application has been completed and submitted, our volunteers review the information you have provided. This includes the references, the vet information and other information you provide with respect to your personal information such as your home, etc. We then begin our process. We contact the vet for information regarding previous pets and try to get some insight on your previous experience with your pets. Additionally, we contact the people you have listed as references to help us understand you better as a pet owner. This helps us understand your compatibility with the cat or dog that you are seeking to adopt.

The home visit is performed to ensure that the home environment works for both you and the pet. Animals, like people, have specific needs and some of the requirements to meet the needs of the pet are not optional. Since our pets are fostered in our homes, we have grown to know the dogs and cats intimately. Placing a dog in a home that we know will make both you and the dog a mismatch will only make both of you unhappy. For example, placing a dog with a high energy level in an environment with limited exercise available, could create a situation where the dog would exhibit negative behavior in an effort to compensate for the lack of exercise. There are other situations and considerations that exist when evaluating the adoption. We strive to match both the needs of the people and the pets.

While our process may seem lengthy, sometimes as long as 2 weeks, we feel that the result is worth the wait. Our goal is to match our dogs and cats with homes that will make everyone happy.  Many of our dogs and cats come from bad situations.  It is our job to place them in the best forever home for them. 

We would like to have a match made in heaven, but we will settle for one made on earth.

Home Visit -

One of the things we will be looking at is the fence.  We want to make sure the fence is secure for the dog that you would like to adopt. 

You can help expedite the process.  Please check your fence before the home visit.  If you see any gaps in the fence, please try to fix it beforehand.  We will push on the bottom of the chain link fence to make sure they cannot push out.  We will be checking on the gate to make sure it is secure.  We will ask that any fixes be done before the adoption.  If they have to be fixed after the home visit, that will require another visit to check.  We understand that something might be missed but if we work together proactively, then we can shorten the adoption processing time.

We also do not want to waste your time and our volunteer's time. 

The fence must be attached to the house.  You should be able to open your door and let the dog out.  Fenced areas that are in a portion of the yard separate from the house are not the same.

Trees, shrubs, hedges do not count as a secure fence.

Submitting An Adoption Application

If you submit an application in advance of meeting your selected pet, either by fax or e-mail, you must let one of the volunteers know at the adoption event that you have previously submitted an application. 

Please Note:   We do not begin processing your application until after you have met the pet that you would like to adopt.  

We only adopt to residents of Maryland and York county, PA

We conduct mandatory home visits.

Our Adoption Fees are:

Dogs: $225.00

Cats:  $100.00

Adoption fee includes:

Dogs:  Spay/neuter, shots, wormings, microchip, tests for heartworm, lymes and erhlichia

Cats:  Spay/neuter, shots, wormings, microchip, tests for feline leukemia and FIV.

This fee only includes what it costs Maryland PetMatch to vet a healthy dog or cat.  It does not include any costs above that, even when the cat or dog comes to us with any injuries or illnesses. 

You can download an application and bring it to the adoption event.  You may also fill out an application and fax it to the number listed below if you have met the dog or cat you would like to adopt.   

You can fax your application to 410-955-9914. 

Dog Application             Cat Application