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We would like to explain that if you are looking for a perfect dog, they are rarely found in rescue. Our dogs often have unknown histories and we do our very best to evaluate each dog with kids, cats, and other dogs as well as determine how they behave in a home. It is important to understand that we have some specific criteria for each dog based on their backgrounds and input from their foster families. The purpose of these criteria is to better match each dog with an appropriate family. While a certain dog might appeal to you based on breed, size, gender or appearance, you may not match the listed criteria. Please understand that we are not trying to make adoption difficult—we are trying to make each adoption successful for the dog and the new family.

• We would like to know your name, where you live and a phone number where we can reach you.
• Do you live in a home or rental unit?
• If you rent, does your landlord allow pets?
• Do you have a fenced yard? (not required for all dogs)
• Have you ever had a dog hit by a car?
• Please tell us the names and ages of everyone who lives in your home.
• Do you currently have other pets?
• Please list your previous dogs, their ages when they died or left your home, and the reasons.
• What experience do you have with dogs as adults?
  
• What kind of training methods do you prefer?
• Where will the dog stay while living with you?
• Do you work, and if so, how long will the dog be alone each day? (We realize that people must work and most dogs will do fine alone for periods of each day).
• If you have a vet clinic, please include the name and phone number of the clinic for our reference check.
• If you don't have a vet please let us know when you would be available for a home visit. Our home visits are primarily educational and usually occur within 1-3 days.

We will respond to your email within 24 hours and make every effort to match you with the right dog for your family. Many of our dogs arrive from out-of-state pounds and need to go to a foster or forever home upon arrival. We have some regular foster homes that provide care for our dogs, but many of our dogs go home with their forever families through our foster-to-adopt option. FOR OUR DOGS ARRIVING FROM SHELTERS ONLY, NOT THOSE IN FOSTER HOMES, approved adopters may sign the Foster Agreement and then pick up the dog from the transport and spend up to two weeks deciding if the dog is a good match for the family. No longer than two weeks after arrival, the fostering family needs to make a decision to adopt or not. If the dog is adopted, then the family mails in the adoption fee and Adoption Agreement. If the dog is not adopted we will re-home the dog. It is desirable for the fostering family to continue caring for the dog until s/he is placed in a forever home, but if this isn't possible we will move the dog to one of our regular foster homes for placement.

For our dogs who are currently in foster homes, approved adopters may visit and adopt the dog at the time of the visit. The adoption fee must be paid, including sales tax, and the adoption agreement must be left with the foster family. Happy Hound Rescue offers a full refund within the first two weeks of an adoption if the dog doesn't work out if the dog is in good condition.

Our adoption agreement requires the adopter to provide lifelong care for the dog. The provisions are spelled out in detail in the agreement. If the adopter cannot keep the dog for any reason, the dog must be returned to Happy Hound Rescue and cannot be given away, sold, or turned into a shelter or pound.