📝 Step-by-Step Adoption Process

Step 1: Submit an Application

• Apply only after reading the Facts & Questions page.
• Applications are required before any meet and greet is scheduled.
• We do not have a public facility — all dogs are in foster homes.
• Same-day adoptions may occur if everyone agrees the dog is a good fit during the meet and greet.

📌 Applications with incomplete contact information (vet, references) will not be processed.

Step 2: Vet Check

We will contact your listed veterinarian(s) to confirm that:

• All pets in your home are spayed/neutered
• Dogs and cats are current on vaccinations
• Dogs are tested annually for heartworm
• Dogs are on year-round heartworm prevention (seasonal prevention is not accepted)

If your pets are not current due to a medical reason, your vet must confirm that directly.

Step 3: Reference Check

Please list two personal references who:

• Are not professional contacts (vet, trainer, groomer, etc.) unless they’ve been to your home
• Have been to your home and can speak to your ability to care for a pet
• Can provide a valid phone number (missing numbers = incomplete application)

References may include friends, coworkers, neighbors, or family — especially if they’ve seen you with your pets.

Step 4: Home Check

Once references and vet records are verified, we’ll complete a home check (virtual or in-person). This is not a white-glove inspection — we’re simply making sure:

• The yard is secure (if required)
• The home environment is safe for the dog
• The setup fits the dog’s needs

If the dog isn’t the right match for your home, we may discuss other options or recommend waiting for a better fit.

Step 5: Meet & Greet

We’ll schedule a meet and greet with the foster family. These take place in or near Decatur IL or Troy MO, and:

• All household members and dogs must attend
• If everyone agrees the match is right, same-day adoption is possible

🐕‍🦺 Dog-Specific Requirements

Please read each dog’s bio thoroughly. Some of our dogs have specific needs:

Mill Dog Survivors often require:

• A secure physical fence
• A confident canine companion in the home

Puppies often require:

• A home where someone is present most of the day until 9–12 months of age
• No littermate or similar-aged puppy adoptions (we do not adopt out two puppies together due to littermate syndrome)

Puppy Culture Dogs: Puppies born in our care are raised using the Puppy Culture method. Adopters are encouraged to continue this enrichment-based training at home.

💡 What Happens After Adoption?

• All adoptions include a 14-day trial period
  If it’s not a good fit, the dog can be returned during that time.
  Refunds are given minus $50 and any out-of-pocket costs we cannot recover.
• All dogs are:
  • Spayed/neutered (or adopted with a spay/neuter contract)
  • Vaccinated
  • Microchipped
  • On monthly heartworm and flea prevention
  • Fully vetted — including dentals, bloodwork, or surgeries as needed

📬 A Note About Communication

We are a small, volunteer-run organization with full-time jobs, families, and foster dogs of our own. We carefully review every application but are only able to contact those we believe may be a good match for one of our dogs.

We appreciate your patience, kindness, and understanding — and thank you for supporting rescue.