DOG ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS

• All members of the household must meet the pet prior to adoption. For families with children, we require children to be 10 years of age or older, although exceptions are made depending on the circumstances.
• If the dog/cat is in a foster home, boarding kennel, or vet office, a completed application will be required before an appointment is arranged to meet the dog/cat.
• A veterinary reference is required if you currently or previously owned a pet. If your veterinarian no longer has your files, your application will not be processed. We will consider applications from individuals or families who have never previously owned a pet.
• The home visit is scheduled when all the family members are present. The home and yard must be safe with adequate fencing (varies per dog), locked gates, and no poisonous plants or toxins.
• Pools, jacuzzis, and spas must be fenced separately from the rest of the yard and must be adequate to keep the dog out. AALOC requires that all pools/jacuzzis/spas be fenced separately. Some dogs do not know how to swim. Other dogs can swim, but cannot get out of the water because they do not know where the steps are. Trainers emphasize that dogs need five weeks of repetitive training on which steps to exit. Some dogs develop medical conditions during their lives that cause the dog to fall in or not be able to exit the pool (diabetes, heart problems, bad hips, seizures, cataracts, dementia, and many more). The dog then drowns from exhaustion. A pool or spa fence is mandatory to prevent needless drowning of pets.
• The dog/cat/rabbit must be compatible with your pets. If there is animal aggression on the home visit, the adoption will not be approved.
• Adopting family must be able to handle the pet and provide for its needs.
• Dogs/cats/rabbits are not adopted on the home visit.
• If you rent or if you live in a home which is part of a homeowners association, you must provide a copy of your lease or copy of HOA bylaws/rules/regulations that states that there are no restrictions regarding the pet you are adopting.
• Donation of $165 for a dog adoption includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, and a microchip. 
• We do reserve the right to refuse adoption. A denial is not a rejection of you as a person; it is a refusal to place a pet in a situation that we do not feel is a good match or does not meet our policies.

Please note: If any question on the adoption form does not apply to you simply put n/a in the blank.