Adoption Application

Adoption Policies

Must be at least 23
Worthy Dog Rescue is a foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro and the surrounding area. Priority will be given to local adopters.
All applicants who live in a rental property must provide contact information for their landlord, and have approval from the landlord to have a pet at the residence listed on the adoption application
Applicants must allow Worthy Dog Rescue to conduct a home visit to confirm that your home will be a good environment for a new dog
All animals in the applicant’s household must be spayed/neutered and up to date on all vaccines before consideration
All adults living in the home must meet the dog and be in agreement about adoption
Applicants must be willing to keep their new dog and current family pets as indoor pets
All adoptive families will provide all medical care and treatment needed for the dog including, but not limited to, yearly medical checkups, vaccines, and preventative heartworm medication
Dogs will be adopted only as a personal companion and not as a gift, working animal, or guard dog
Priority will be given to applicants in the Washington, DC metro area
Worthy Dog Rescue cannot guarantee that the dog you apply for will be available once you have been approved. We do our best to work with adopters and meet your needs, but we do not adopt dogs on a first-come, first-serve basis. All applications are screened to determine the most suitable match for the dog and the adopter. We want to place dogs in good homes as quickly as possible, so the dog can start their new life with their family, and we can free up their foster home to save another dog in need.
A fenced yard is ideal for dogs, but is NOT a requirement for adoption unless specified
Because young puppies require intensive training and care, we cannot place puppies younger than five months of age in a home where someone is consistently absent from the home for long periods of time
In the event an adoption does not work out, applicants must agree to return the dog to Worthy Dog Rescue rather than rehoming the dog themselves

Basic Information

Which dog(s) are you most interested in?*

Name*

First Last

Email*

Phone*

Address*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

Age*

Personal References

List personal (non-family) references below, including a contact number. If possible, please select personal references that are dog owners.*

Employment

Occupation*

Current employer and length of employment*

Home & Family

List ALL the members of your household, including children. Include name, relation, and age.*

What type of home do you live in?*

How long have you lived at your current address?*

Do you own or rent your home?*

Own
Rent

Does your lease allow you to have pets, and are there any size or breed restrictions?*

Does your building allow you to have pets, and are there any size or breed restrictions?*

Please provide the name and phone number of your landlord.*

Does anyone in the household have pet allergies?*

Yes
No

Do you have a yard?*

I don't have a yard
I have an unfenced yard
I have a partially fenced yard
I have a fully fenced yard

What kind of fence do you have? How tall is it?*

Are all the members of your household in agreement about adopting a dog?*

Yes
No

Please explain in more detail*

It's Worthy Dog Rescue's policy to do a home visit prior to adoption. Will you allow a volunteer to visit your home?*

Yes
No

Please explain in more detail*

Current & Past Pets

Do you currently have pets?*

Yes
No

Please list all the pets currently in your household, including name, type (dog, cat, etc.), age, sex, weight, and breed.*

As an adult, how many pets have you owned, and how long did you have them? If they are no longer with you, what happened to them?*

Have your pets been spayed or neutered?*

All of my pets have been spayed or neutered
Not all of my pets have been spayed or neutered
I do not believe in spaying or neutering my animals

Are your pets up to date on their vaccinations and heartworm preventative?*

My animals are up to date on their vaccinations and receive monthly heartworm preventatives
My animals are up to date on their vaccinations but I do not administer heartworm preventative
I do not vaccinate my animals or give them heartworm preventative

Have you used heartworm preventatives in the past? If so, what kind?*

What kind of dog food do you currently use or plan to use?*

Have you ever used a veterinarian (currently or in the past)?*

Yes
No

List the name and number of the veterinarian you currently use, or have used in the past. We will contact them to make sure your pets have been given consistent care. You will need to contact your veterinarian to grant approval to Worthy Dog Rescue to discuss your pets' medical history, or it may result in a delay in your application.*

Will you contact your veterinarian's office to grant approval to Worthy Dog Rescue to discuss your pets' medical history?*

Yes
No

Lifestyle

On a typical day, how many hours will the dog be left alone?*

Describe your family's current daily work and school schedule — and your expected schedule post-Covid — including the hours for work and/or school.*

Where will the dog be kept during the day?*

Describe the enclosed area and its location in the house*

Will the dog ever be kept outside when you are not at home?*

Where will the dog sleep at night?*

Who will be responsible for walking the dog, how often, and what times of day?*

In the event that you are unexpectedly detained at work (or elsewhere) and will be home more than two hours later than normal, what contingency plans do you have to take care of the dog?*

How many weeks per year are you away from the home on business and/or vacation?*

0-2 weeks
3-4 weeks
5-6 weeks
7+ weeks

Who will care for the dog when you are on vacation or travel?*

Are you planning to move within the next two years?*

Yes
No

Please explain in more detail*

Even if you don't plan on moving right now, what will you do with the dog if you do need to move?*

Do you expect any major life changes in the next 5 years, including marriage, children, etc.?*

How soon do you want to adopt?*

Under what circumstances do you believe it would be reasonable to return your dog to Worthy Dog Rescue? Check all that apply:*

Dog Specifics

Why do you want to adopt a dog?*

Describe your ideal dog

What type of energy level would work best with your lifestyle?*

Mellow - Short, daily walks
Active - Longer daily walks and playtime
Energetic - Running buddy

What age dog are you interested in?*

Any age
Puppy
Adolescent
Adult
Senior

What size dog would appeal to you when it's fully grown?*

Tiny (under 10lbs)
Small (10 to 25lbs)
Medium (25 to 50lbs)
Large (over 50lbs)

Are you interested in:*

A male dog
A female dog
No preference

What would you consider a realistic budget to properly care for you dog for one year, including food, supplies, grooming, vet care, and training?*

What aspects of owning a dog are most appealing to you? Check all that apply:*

Training & Behavior

What would you describe as normal dog/puppy behavior problems?*

Most pets require time to adjust to their new home. How long do you feel it should take for a dog to acclimate to your household?*

Are you planning to enroll the dog in obedience classes or private training?*

Yes
No

Are you willing to work through unexpected hardships with the dog, and hire a trainer if necessary?*

Have you ever dealt with any behavioral problems with a dog, like housebreaking, dog reactivity, or separation anxiety? If so, what did you do?*

Are you open to adopting a dog who is not fully housebroken yet?*

Yes
No

Describe any experiences you have had with dog training, or caring for a dog with medical issues.

A Few Questions

Have you ever had to find your pet another home or take it to the shelter? If so, why, and where did the pet go?*

Are you adopting with a partner or spouse?*

Yes
No

Who will get custody of the dog if there is a breakup?*

Have you ever adopted or tried to adopt from another rescue group?*

Yes
No

Which rescue group?*

How did you hear about us?*

Complete the adoption application below to start the approval process

Adoption Policies

Basic Information

Personal References

Employment

Home & Family

Current & Past Pets

Lifestyle

Dog Specifics

Training & Behavior

A Few Questions

Complete the adoption application below

to start the approval process