Adoption Process and Fee's
"Finding Families, Changing Lives"

Finding the right home for each dog is incredibly important to us. We take great care in matching dogs with families based on lifestyle, experience, and the dog’s individual needs — not on a first-come, first-served basis.

We are a 100% volunteer-run rescue, and while we read every single application with care, we are unfortunately only able to contact applicants we have selected to move forward with.

If you do not hear from us, please know this is not because we think you would not be a wonderful adopter. It simply means we have chosen an applicant whose home, experience, or circumstances are the closest match for that specific dog.

We truly appreciate every application and the kindness it represents.

Our Adoption Process

Step 1: Browse Our Adoptable Animals

Take your time reading each dog’s profile carefully to see who may be the best fit for your home, lifestyle, and experience.

Step 2: Submit an Application

Complete our online adoption application as thoroughly as possible. The more detail you provide, the better we can make thoughtful and appropriate matches.

Step 3: Application Review
A team member will review your application and reach out via your preffered method to arrange a phone interview to learn more about your home and answer questions.

Step 4: Meet & Greet
If your application is approved, we’ll schedule a meet-and-greet. This is a chance to spend time with the animal and ask questions. Afterward, everyone goes home to “sleep on it” before making a decision.

Step 5: Home Check
A home check is required for every adoption. This ensures your space is safe and ready for your new pet.

Step 6: Reference Calls

We will complete reference checks before moving forward to the next step in the process.

Step 7: Trial Period (Optional)
Families with resident pets or children may request a one-week trial adoption. A $200 deposit is required and will be applied to the adoption fee if the trial is successful.

Step 7: Finalization
When everyone agrees it’s the perfect match, we’ll finalize the adoption contract. That’s when your new family member officially comes home!

Long-Distance Adoptions

We are happy to consider long-distance adoptions for the right match.

However, applicants must understand:

The entire approval process must be completed first
The adopter is responsible for traveling to the dog’s location for the meet-and-greet and pickup
We do not ship or transport dogs

We have successfully completed many out-of-area adoptions and are happy to discuss this option once an application has been approved.

Our Force-Free Commitment

Ruff Start is a force-free rescue. This means we only support training and handling methods that are kind, humane, and based on positive reinforcement.

All adopters must agree to use force-free practices.
Puppy adopters are required to complete either a force-free puppy class or attend three puppy socials with a qualified, force-free trainer (at the adopter’s expense).
Adult dogs have no mandatory training requirement unless specified in their adoption profile.

We’re happy to recommend excellent local trainers who share our values.

Adoption Fees

Medium/Large Breed: $550
Small/Toy Breed: $650
Seniors (8+ years): $475
Medical dogs: $475
Bonded Pairs: $850

💡 Please note: adoption fees may vary depending on the animal.

What’s Included in the Adoption Fee

Every Ruff Start animal receives:

Comprehensive veterinary examination
Up-to-date vaccinations
Spay/neuter surgery
Deworming
Microchip
A 6-week complimentary Petsecure insurance trial

Many animals also receive additional medical care beyond this list, depending on their needs.

💡 On average, Ruff Start spends far more than the adoption fee for each animal. Adoption fees help us continue rescuing pets who need us most.

Dental care policy: Routine dental care is not included in adoption fees. We only provide dental treatment for urgent, emergency needs.

To learn more about our 6 week complimentary Petsecure insurance trial click here.

We are so excited to help you find your new family member! Our process and fees are non-negotiable—they are carefully designed to protect our animals and set up every adoption for success.

Thank you for choosing adoption and for supporting rescue animals. ❤️