Adopt a Dog

Overview:
The process of adopting a dog from the Friends of Falmouth Dogs is designed to match the dog with the best home we can find. By design, the process is measured and involved. Please keep in mind that we do not make adoption decisions based on who has seen the dog first, or who has completed an application the earliest. The well-being of the animal is our paramount concern.

Step One -- Meeting the Dog:
Before an application to adopt a dog can be accepted, it is necessary for all members of the family/household to meet the dog and unanimously agree that this is the dog for them. All introductions take place at the Animal Control Center.

If there is already a dog in the family, then it is necessary that the dogs be introduced and their compatibility determined. Your dog will need to leashed, under your control, and be current on all shots and vaccinations. If the dogs do not get along and/or if a human member of the family is not in complete agreement with the proposed adoption, then the process ends here.

Step Two -- The Application:
The next step is completing our lengthy application form. Questions include names and ownership dates of current and previous pets, contact information for your current or previous veterinarian, rental or ownership status of the family's residence, and ages of children and occupations of the family's adult members.

Friends of Falmouth Dogs volunteers will contact the veterinarian(s) to verify responsible pet ownership. If the family resides in rental property, the landlord needs to confirm in writing that ownership of this dog is acceptable. Homes with small children may not be the most suitable for some dogs; homes in which no adults are present for extended periods of time are generally not right for young dogs and puppies.

Upon acceptance of the completed application, Friends of Falmouth Dogs volunteers determine whether or not the process should move to the next step, the home visit. Not every application results in a home visit!

Step Three -- The Home Visit:
The purpose of the home visit is twofold: to see the kind of environment the dog might be living in, and to see how the dog interacts with that environment. Home visits give us insight into the family and further help us in determining if this is the right match between dog and family. The home visit is scheduled at a time mutually acceptable to the family and the visiting volunteers. In many cases, the volunteers will bring the dog to the visit. This is especially useful when there are other pets in the household, such as cats, rabbits, and birds. Not every home visit will result in the family being approved for adoption of this dog!

Step Four -- Waiting for the Decision:
Based on the results of the home visit, review of the interactions the family has had with the dog, reports from the veterinarian, and in consultation with the Animal Control Officers of the Town of Falmouth, the Directors of the Friends of Falmouth Dogs will make their decision as to the placement of the dog.

This can be a very difficult decision as there are often multiple families interested in adopting the same animal. It is rare that a family is denied because they are not capable of providing a loving, secure home for a dog. When a family is turned down, it is because we believe that another home is the better choice for this dog.

Step Five -- Adoption Day:
Once a decision has been reached, the adopting family is contacted and an appointment is made to finalize the paperwork and take their dog home. In general, we expect that the dog will be in its new home within days of the adoption approval.

On adoption day, there will be a number of forms to be completed and fees paid. Adoption fees are paid to the Town of Falmouth as are license fees if the adopting family resides in the Town. The dog will have been micro-chipped and you will need to complete the registration form and pay the registration fee for AVID PETtrac™. Should the dog become lost, the microchip greatly improves the chance of reuniting family and pet.

Additional Information:
With the exception of very young dogs, spaying or neutering is a standard procedure for all adopted dogs and the surgical procedure will have been done prior to finalizing the adoption. Your new family member will be current on rabies and kennel cough shots, will have been tested for heartworm and given HeartGard™, and had Frontline™ applied for the control of fleas and ticks.

After the Adoption:
After the adoption is finalized and you have taken your new family member home, Friends of Falmouth Dogs stays involved! As dog and family adjust to their new relationship, we are here to provide help and encouragement, and are eager to hear how things are working out for all of you. We can provide you with assistance with obedience training, behavioral issues, house breaking, etc.

Each dog that passes through the Friends of Falmouth Dogs finds a place in our hearts and remains there even after they have found a home in yours.

 
 
 
Home |  Our Dogs |  About Us |  Adopt a Dog |  Directions |  How to Help |  FFD Items |  Links

 
© 2005-2012, Friends of Falmouth Dogs. All rights reserved.
Site design and maintenance by Duck Web Design of Falmouth.