Adoption Process
4 PAWS' goal is to place homeless dogs into loving homes and families. We take special care to match the right home with the right dog, ensuring a lifetime of love for both the pet and the adopter. Our adoption process may seem time-consuming or unnecessarily complicated, but please understand that we have our dogs' best interests at heart. We strive to find the best homes possible for our dogs, as well as find the right dog for you and your lifestyle.
When you are ready to adopt a new friend, we'll ask you to complete our friendly screening process, which ensures safe and successful adoptions!
Step 1: Apply
Complete the Adoption Application so we can get to know you Fill out the below application with complete and accurate information.
Step Two: Vet Check
If applicable, we'll call your veterinarian to ensure that previous pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and well cared for.
Step Three: Landlord Approval
For renters, we'll check with your landlord to ensure that dogs are permitted and that the dog that you're adopting won't violate any size or breed restrictions.
Step Four: Virtual Home Visit
Lastly, we'll conduct a virtual home visit to see the environment where the dog will live, answer your questions, and complete the adoption if everything checks out. Our virtual meetings are conducted on Thursday and Friday evenings with dog/puppy delivery on Saturday.
Please understand that our organization is entirely run by unpaid volunteers, who dedicate their free time to help the dogs. If your answers are incomplete, it will delay the application process. The entire adoption process takes time; we are unwilling to sacrifice being thorough when the dog's future is at stake. We thank you for your time and patience throughout our adoption process.
"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone
who can never repay you." ― John Bunyan
Adoption Fees
4 PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We do not receive government funding or grants and therefore rely heavily on our adoption fees. Our adoption fees allow us to pay our expenses as well as to help other animals in our program that require additional care. Our fees cover vetting costs (including spay/neuter surgery for all dogs over six months of age, age-appropriate vaccinations, de-worming, microchip, and flea/heartworm prevention), shelter fees, fuel for transport, copying and printing of contracts and paperwork, our social media 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 4 PAWS, you are not saving just one life; you are helping to save others as well.
Our adoption fees are:
Puppy (6 months and under)
Young/Adult Dog (6 months to 9 yrs)
$300
$150-250
Senior dog (10 years and older)
$50 - $150
Cat/Kitten
$100​