Your application for a particular dog starts our adoption process. This is required for any adoption to proceed. Our adoptions team will take a look at your application and forward it to the foster family if it is a good fit for our dogs. 

   Due to the volume of applications we receive for some dogs, the foster family will have a hard time picking just one application - so please be patient. We will do the best we can!

    Sometimes, our foster or adoptions team member will give you a call to discuss your application, or ask for further clarification by e-mail, so keep an eye out!

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Wondering what our adoption donation is? It's listed on each dog's profile on our Available Dogs! In general, our adoption donation is $300 for dogs, $350 for puppies, and $200 for seniors.

We are pretty thorough with our reference and background checks! We will talk to your personal references and your vet references. If you rent, we will need to talk to your landlord. 

    Our policies require a home visit. This is to ensure the best fit for our dogs and for you. Its not a white glove test, we promise! We're just there to see where your new pup might sleep, eat, and play. ​

    Most of the time, we like to talk about our dogs (who doesn't!) and it is best if all family and/or household members are present for this visit.

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PLEASE NOTE: NEW COVID-19 PROTOCOLS: During this challenging time, we have suspended all in-person home visits and will be conducting them via FaceTime or Zoom. We may ask you to "walk us" around your home so we can get a look around. 

Whoo hoo! If we get to this stage, this is where you meet your potential new best pupperoni! These meet and greets are primarily conducted at or near a foster's home, so be prepared for a road trip with your fam and any other pets (primarily dogs) that live with you.

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    While we want every dog to have a great and fantastic home, please note at this time we do not ship dogs or put dogs on interstate transport for their safety and to make sure that you can see a dog in an environment that they are most comfortable and act most naturally! We want you to feel confident that this is the dog for you.

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     This is why we are so careful and thorough with our reference checks and home visits - not only do we ensure the safety of our foster home, but we also ensure that you don't fall in love with a dog that wouldn't be a good fit for you because...

    If all goes well at the meet and greet, you most likely can take the dog home the same day! Whoo hoo! Be prepared and bring a leash, collar, tag with your number on it, and a method of payment for the adoption donation.

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PLEASE NOTE: OUR COVID-19 PROTOCOLS HAVE SLIGHTLY CHANGED THIS PROCESS. During this time, our volunteers will be sending you a link to our adoption contract and to pay at our PayPal donation link so no cards, checks, or paperwork need change hands. If you prefer a scanned copy of the dog's records, please let us know so we can make that happen for you.​

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     Keep in mind that there is always a transition period with a new dog while you adjust to them and they adjust to you, and we are here to help and counsel you through this period, whether it is with our professional trainers who volunteer with us or through talking with the family that fostered your pup. We are here for you and your new dog!

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    We do have a "trial period" of two weeks to make sure that the dog you adopt settles in appropriately to your family - if your new best friend just isn't getting along, let us know and we will take them back - we always want people to feel as if they have welcomed a family member that's a perfect fit into their home. For about 90% of our dogs, that's exactly true and they are a beloved family member the second that they got into your car - and we hope it will be with you, too!

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     Don't forget to send lots of photos of your adventures with your new pup, and welcome to the SOHO Family!