Adoption Application

The TRU Rescue Adoption Application is our way of getting to know you. The application asks questions about your home, family, and lifestyle so we can match you with a dog who will thrive in your care.

Please gather the following information before you begin:

• Name, contact number, and email of three personal references. Note that references must be someone other than family members, including parents, grandparents, children, siblings, in-laws, roommates, or partners.
• Name, address, and contact number of your current veterinarian, if applicable.

Adopting a rescue dog is a serious commitment, and we take the job of matching a TRU dog with an adopter equally seriously. Processing time is dependent on the availability of TRU Rescue volunteers, the completeness of your application, and the availability of your references.

Applications are processed in the order received, and it is possible the dog you are interested in will be adopted by the time your application is processed.

We primarily adopt dogs to applicants who live in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Sometimes we are asked whether we adopt dogs outside this area. We occasionally adopt dogs to applicants outside of our immediate area in some exceptional circumstances for some special dogs. As with most rescues, we are heavily dependent on our network of support professionals. We work closely with these individuals (veterinarians, behaviorists, trainers, groomers, kennels, etc.) to ensure our dogs end up in the right home. Our goal is to find great homes AND to support those great homes. We cannot offer a high level of support to folks who live very far away from us. If you decide to apply and live outside our normal service area, understand that chances are, we may not be able to place an animal with you.

Our approval process includes the following:

• You must be 21 years of age to apply for an adoption
• We conduct a background check
• We explore available social media
• We call all references listed on the application
• We call an applicant’s landlord when necessary
• We check with an applicant’s veterinarian, if applicable
• We assess an applicant’s lifestyle to be sure it matches a dog’s need for exercise and mental stimulation
• We conduct a virtual house visit

Submit Adoption Application

Submit Adoption Application here.

It is unnecessary to submit a new application for each dog you are interested in adopting. If you answer “Yes” to the application question of whether or not you would consider other dogs if the one you have applied for has already been placed in a home, you are automatically considered for other dogs. All applications stay on file with TRU Rescue for six months. TRU Rescue will send an email acknowledging receipt of your application to the email address you provide on the application. If you don’t see the email, please be sure to check your SPAM folder.

After you submit an application, here is what happens.

• Application Review
  TRU Rescue will review each application to identify those applicants who present the BEST option for the dog being considered. Yes, this is a subjective process. If your application is selected, a TRU Rescue Adoption Coordinator will be in touch with you and your references.
• Home Visit
  TRU Rescue will schedule a virtual home visit. The home visit will be conducted using FaceTime or a similar video and audio chatting application.
• Meet a TRU Rescue Dog
  TRU Rescue will schedule a Meet and Greet session with the dog you would like to adopt. We want to make sure that each applicant and dog are a great match. Our dogs are not housed in a central kennel. All our dogs are cared for in foster homes until the appropriate adopter is found.
• Adoption Contract
  When the adoption is fully approved, the adopter will complete the Adoption Contract. This is in addition to the Adoption Application.
• Adoption Fees
  Adoption fees help TRU Rescue offset the many costs (age-appropriate vaccines, a microchip, transport, foster supplies, for example) of saving an adoptable dog.
  • Dogs less than 12 months old – $400
  • Dogs more than 12 months old – $375

  If a dog has not been sterilized at the time of adoption, the Adoption Fee includes an ADDITIONAL $100 refundable spay/neuter deposit.

• Home Prep
  Prepare your home and obtain supplies for the arrival of your new dog. Please check out the links under the New Owner tab.
• TRU Rescue Check-In
  Soon after you adopt, a TRU Rescue volunteer will be in touch with you to see how you and your new dog are adjusting and to answer any questions.

Thank you for considering adopting with TRU RESCUE and for helping to save a dog’s life.