Adopt A Dog!
Adoption Applications and Home Visit Guidelines During COVID-19: All home visits will be conducted virtually via video conference.
Pet ownership is a serious responsibility. The policy of Fetchin’ Retrievers Rescue is to ensure that each person who adopts a dog is aware of the responsibility, and is capable and willing to accept that responsibility morally, physically and financially.
Sometimes people turn to rescue groups because they are interested in finding a dog that can be trained as a service dog, a therapy dog or an emotional support animal. Rescue dogs often come with needs of their own created by the stress of their former lives or the changes they experience while in rescue. We want our dogs to have lives as beloved family pets, so we don’t adopt them out to situations that require them to perform a job.
Submit your application to adopt with us by going here.
Adoption Fees:
- 8 weeks - 2 years: $550
- 3 years - 8 years: $450
- 9 years and older: $250
- International dogs: $900
- Special situations: TBD per dog
Fetchin’ Retrievers Rescue only adopts dogs to the following areas in Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties.
Your wait time to adopt a dog may be longer than expected for a variety of reasons. Homes with children, other dogs, and/or cats will generally experience the longest wait times to find the right match. Your personal circumstances and flexibility are key factors in the process. Our top priority is to find the best homes for our dogs based upon their individual needs and personalities, and we thank you in advance for your patience.
Foster to Adopt Program:
We are a foster based rescue organization which means that we do not have any boarding facilities and only take dogs into rescue if we have a foster home available. This limited our ability to rescue dogs, so we have decided to embrace "Foster to Adopt" as a means to help save more dogs.
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Allowing adopters to foster a dog before they commit to adopting is a win/win for the dogs. It removes the uncertainty of returns or mismatches that can happen when, despite best efforts, a dog may require more time than the initial meet-and-greet provides. While you are fostering a dog for us, all their medical needs and expenses are covered by the rescue. We can provide any equipment that you may need like crates and gates and each dog will come with a collar, leash, and harness. All we ask is for you to provide love and care while getting to know them so we can learn if the dog is going to stay with you or move onto another forever home.
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If you would like to participate in the Foster to Adopt Program, answer "yes" to the following question in the application: Many of our applicants begin by fostering a dog with us. Fostering provides a short-term home for a dog in need and allows us to build a relationship with our applicants. Medical expenses are covered by the rescue when you foster, and arrangements can be made if you will be traveling. Would you like to speak with someone about helping a loving dog who needs a foster home?
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The same adoption fees apply as above.
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We understand you may have questions. Please read our FAQ's below for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Adoption Process
1) Submit your application
2) Our Application Team will review your app. If accepted, one of our volunteers will contact you to answer questions you may have and to schedule an in-home visit or a virtual home visit. We do request a minimum $25 donation before completing the home visit. All family members must be present at the time of the interview.
3) Once your home visit has been completed, our Adoption Team will review your app and home visit report to determine if any of our currently available dogs may be a match for you and your family. If so, we will discuss the dog(s) with you and if all parties agree, we'll set up a time for you to meet the dog. If we don't have any current matches for you at this time, we'll let you know and keep you on our waiting list until an appropriate dog is available.
4) If you are invited to meet a dog, please keep in mind that our dogs are in foster homes across Southern California, so you may be required to drive beyond your local area to meet the pup. A decision will be made at the time of your visit by all parties (you, the foster home and/or the adoption coordinator) if you and the pup have found their forever family.
Although we don't accept applications for specific dogs, you can indicate if you have a favorite in the "Additional Comments" on the application. We look to make the best match between our dogs and their new families and we hope our applicants will be open to other dogs that our Adoption Team feels is a better fit.
Typically the process takes a few weeks if we have a dog that is a good match for you. If we don't then our waitlist can take longer. It can take a few days to two weeks to schedule a home visit - most of these we are still doing virtually. If you are interested in how you might speed things up we are always grateful for volunteers. (If you're interested in being a volunteer, please click here.)
Our dogs are in foster homes across Southern California. Any meetings are scheduled after your application is reviewed, your home visit is completed, and a potential match is identified.
Yes, you can adopt a dog if you are a renter! We will however need to receive a copy of your rental agreement stating you can adopt a dog. There is a place to upload this within the adoption application, or you can email it to us at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions About the Foster to Adopt Process
We want to increase the number of foster homes so that we can rescue more dogs.
If you are serious about fostering with the possibility of adopting, fill out the Foster Inquiry Form.
We are happy to work with you to place a dog in your home that is a good match for your situation.
Some people are only interested in providing a temporary home for a dog and are not interested in adopting one. The Foster to Adopt arrangement assumes you wish to foster a dog that might be a good match to adopt.
Just as you may not want to commit to adopting a dog you foster before you get to know it, we also want to give the relationship some time to see if it is right for everyone. Adoption is not guaranteed, but you are given priority consideration for any dog you foster.
There are no fees to apply, just an adoption fee if everyone decides the match is right.
The rescue covers all medical costs needed for a foster dog as well as training, if needed. We provide a collar/harness and leash. If you need a crate or baby gate, we can lend that as well. We ask that you provide food, a comfy place to sleep and a safe environment for your foster. If providing the food is a hardship, we will work with you on that.
No, that rule is for your safety as well as the dog’s.
Even if I keep the dog leashed?
No, the other dogs who are not leashed are unknowns and your job is to keep your foster safe.
Can I take our foster dog to a regular park off leash?
No, again this is for everyone’s safety.
No, we will make arrangements for the dog’s care locally while you are away.
We prefer that we arrange for temporary care with our volunteers who know our rescues.
Absolutely, because we value the care you have provided for your foster and will come to know which type of dog might be a good match for you in the future.
No, but we can help by allowing you to spread out payment of the fee over a few months.
You won’t need to find a home for him/her. The volunteer who is the dog’s rep will review applications we get and share the ones that seem promising with you. You will have input as to whether a home looks like a good match or not.