Adopting a dog isn’t the same thing as going to a dog breeder, pulling out cash, and bringing the dog home after a quick handshake. Instead, the adoption process tends to focus on ensuring that the dog is going to a good home and that the dog will be loved, trained, and properly cared for. Therefore, it’s important to know what you need in order to be approved to adopt a dog before you begin the process.
So, what do you need to adopt a dog? In this guide, we answer that question, cover the adoption process, and much more.
What Do You Need to Adopt a Dog?
There are a few things you need to adopt a dog, and they can be grouped into a few categories. For example, shelters require identity verification and some type of application to be filled out prior to bringing the dog home. Learn more about some of these requirements and how to meet them below.
Identity and Age Verification
First and foremost, most animal shelters, rescues, and foster programs have age limits. In other words, if you’re under the age of 18, you’ll need a parent or guardian to adopt the dog on your behalf. For this reason, you’ll need to have a valid photo ID to prove your age and address.
The best type of photo ID to have in this case is a driver’s license or passport. This will help with both age and identity verification.
Adoption Application
Many organizations will have an online application that you should fill out before you meet with the dog. More often than not, the application will ask for information about your home, training goals, occupation, and more information about members of the household.
The adoption application may also come with a brief interview process that you need to pass. This isn’t always the case for online applications until you meet with the dog, but if you fill it out in person, it may happen at the same time.
Meet and Greet
A meet and greet is also something you usually need to do if you want to bring a dog home from a shelter or rescue. This meet and greet includes you, sure, but it also includes other members of the family.
Let’s say that you have cats and two other family members; the shelter may bring the dog to your home or request that you bring everyone to meet the animal, including your current pets. This ensures that everyone is compatible and that you can safely bring a dog to visit you.
Home Visit and Reference Check
Most animal adoption organizations require some level of reference check and home visit. Now, you can sometimes group this and the meet and greet together, but someone will want to visit your home and evaluate it. Typically, they’re looking for fences (if you have a yard), and that you have enough space to care for the dog.
If you have a small apartment and want a Greyhound, for example, your application may be rejected. Most organizations will also check with your references and any vets that you’ve worked with. Overall, you need to have a home and lifestyle that’s adequate for the dog you plan on adopting.
The Adoption Fee
Last but not least, you need to be able to afford the adoption fee. It’s usually around $50 to $500, but it may be more for puppies. You should also have another $500 to $1,000 for food, toys, a crate, and other necessities for the first year or two. In fact, many organizations will check to see that you know how much it will cost to raise them for a year or two, especially younger dogs.
Overall, if you can’t come up with the adoption fee, it doesn’t matter how great a match you are – you won’t be able to bring a dog home.
What Do You Need to Adopt a Dog? Our Final Words
Adopting a dog requires time, patience, and meeting a handful of requirements. While you need to be at least 18 years old and have a photo ID in most states, you’ll find that every animal shelter, rescue, and foster program will require something different. In fact, there can even be additional rules with some rescues requiring people to be over 21 years old.
It’s for these reasons that it’s important to fully understand the adoption process before you begin. The last thing you want is to have your application rejected, especially if you’re a great fit for the dog.
Therefore, we recommend reading a few online adoption guides to fully understand the process from start to finish. Aside from what you need, they can help you get approved.