Welcoming Love Step By Step

🐾 Looking for Love, Ready to Give It

Welcome to a place where tails wag with hope and every bark is a call for belonging. Here, you'll find dogs of all shapes, sizes, and stories — each one waiting for their next chapter to begin with you. Whether you're looking for a loyal companion, a gentle soul, or a bundle of goofy energy, your future best friend might just be a click away.

Two dogs, one with light brown fur and a bandana, the other with dark gray and white fur, are playing together outdoors.

🐶 How to Adopt a Dog

Your Guide to Giving a Dog a Second Chance

Adopting a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. Whether you're bringing home your very first pup or adding to your pack, you're not just saving a life—you’re gaining a loyal companion who will love you unconditionally. Every shelter may do things a little differently, but the heart of the process is the same: matching dogs with loving homes.

Here’s everything you need to know about adopting a dog, from start to happy tail-wagging finish.

Take a look at some of the wonderful shelter dogs

who’ve touched our hearts along the way.

Four dogs, including a brown and white one with its tongue out, on a green turf in a fenced outdoor area.

🏠 Why Adopt?

  • Save a Life: Each adoption makes room for another animal in need.

  • Support Animal Welfare: Adoptions reduce the demand for puppy mills and unethical breeders.

  • Find Your Perfect Match: Shelters have dogs of all ages, breeds, and personalities.

  • Comprehensive Care: Most adopted dogs come vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered.

Three small brown dogs with blue collars standing on green artificial grass

📝 Step-by-Step: The Adoption Process

1. Browse Available Dogs

Most shelters have online listings where you can view photos, bios, and behavior notes. This helps you get a sense of the dogs available and think about what kind of companion you’re looking for—young and active, calm and cuddly, special-needs, or senior.

Four dogs playing outdoors on a grassy area surrounded by a black fence, with one dog bouncing, another with mouth open and tongue out, and others looking at each other.

2. Fill Out an Adoption Application

Before meeting a dog, you’ll usually need to fill out a simple form. This helps shelter staff understand your home, lifestyle, and dog experience. Some questions you might see:

  • Do you rent or own your home?

  • Do you have a fenced yard?

  • What is your experience with dogs?

  • Are there children or other pets in your home?

Take a look at some of the amazing dogs

waiting to become part of your story.

Two dogs, one brown with floppy ears and the other black with white markings, sitting on green artificial grass and looking up at the camera.

3. Meet & Greet

Once your application is reviewed, the shelter will often schedule a meet and greet. This might be:

  • At the shelter

  • In a play yard

  • During a foster-to-adopt trial

  • Or even a virtual meet-up if the dog is in foster care

Ask questions, observe how the dog interacts with you, and take your time. If you have other dogs, some shelters may require a dog-to-dog introduction.

Two happy dogs, one with black and white fur and the other tan, looking up at the camera on a grassy area.

4. Home Check or Reference Call

Some shelters (especially rescues) may do a quick home visit or call your references to ensure a good match. This isn't about judgment—it's about making the adoption a lasting success.

🏠 Don’t Let a Home Check Hold You Back

While some shelters still do home checks, many are easing restrictions and focusing on finding loving, responsible homes. Don’t let the idea of a home visit discourage you—every shelter is different, and most just want to see their dogs go to safe, caring families.

Three dogs on a grassy outdoor area, one white, one brown and white, and one black and white, all with their tongues out and happy.

5. Adoption Approval

Once approved, you’ll finalize paperwork, pay the adoption fee, and receive medical and behavior records. Adoption fees vary but typically include:

  • Vaccinations

  • Spay/neuter surgery

  • Microchip

  • Deworming/flea treatment

  • Starter supplies or discounts

Take a look at some of the wonderful shelter dogs

who’ve touched our hearts along the way.

Close-up of a dog's face upside down, showing its nose, mouth open, and light-colored eyes, with a green outdoor background.

6. Bringing Your Dog Home

Congratulations! You’re ready to bring your new family member home. Ask the shelter about:

  • Transition tips

  • Feeding schedules

  • Crate or potty training

  • Adjustment period expectations

Some shelters even offer a trial period (aka “foster-to-adopt”) to ensure a smooth fit.

Five dogs in a fenced yard with green grass, some standing and some lying down, all with tongues out and appearing happy.

🧠 For First-Time Adopters: Tips for Success

  • Be patient: Your dog may need time to adjust.

  • Use structure and routine: This helps them feel safe and builds trust.

  • Start simple: One room, one schedule, one person at a time.

  • Seek support: Many shelters provide training resources or free classes.

  • Don’t rush introductions: Especially with other pets or children.

Three dogs playing and cuddling on the grass, one lying on its back with tongue out, surrounded by the other two dogs.

🔄 Return Policies & Post-Adoption Support

Sometimes, things don’t work out—and that’s okay. Most reputable shelters:

  • Welcome returned dogs (often for life)

  • Offer support with common behavior concerns

  • Provide referrals to trainers or vets

Returning a dog doesn’t mean you failed—it means you care enough to ensure they find the right home.

Take a look at some of the amazing dogs

waiting to become part of your story.

Close-up of a brown and white dog with wide eyes in the foreground, and a yellow dog with a red collar jumping in the background on green artificial turf.

👪 Already a Dog Parent? Things to Consider

  • Is your current dog ready for a friend?

  • Have you budgeted for another pet (food, vet, training)?

  • Will the new dog match your household’s energy level?

Ask the shelter about dog intros, personality matches, and foster-to-adopt options to test compatibility.

Three dogs on a grassy surface, one standing on hind legs with front paws on another dog, appears to be playfully interacting. The third dog is standing with a pink tongue out. Background includes a black chair and a concrete wall.

❤️ Adoption is a Journey

Every adoption is a story in the making. By adopting, you're changing a dog's life—and likely your own. Be open, ask questions, and trust the process. Your perfect match is waiting for you.

Close-up of a smiling white dog with a pink nose in the foreground, with two black dogs in the background on a grassy area.

📍Looking to Start?

Check out our Shelter Spotlight Page or Visit your nearest adoption center. You can also check our FAQ page for more information like tips to use when speaking with an adoption counselor.

Take a look at some of the wonderful shelter dogs

who’ve touched our hearts along the way.

💛 Every Paw Has a Purpose

Behind every set of hopeful eyes is a heart ready to love. Whether playful, shy, or full of spunk, each dog here is waiting for someone like you. Open your heart, make a friend, and help us turn “adoptable” into “adopted.”

It’s A Journey, four pawz

- Fentley