How does the adoption process work?
A person who wants to adopt through SPDR begins by carefully reviewing SPDR’s
Terms of Adoption and filling out the online Adoption Application. The
application will be sent to the appropriate Breed Rep(s).
What is a Breed Rep?
A Breed Representative (“Breed Rep”) is a person who has first-hand knowledge and
experience with a particular breed. He or she is responsible for evaluating dogs
of their specific breed for adoptability, and screening prospective homes for
that breed, in order to make the best match possible. SPDR has Breed Reps for
approximately a hundred different breeds.
How soon can I expect to be contacted by the breed rep(s)?
On average, you should be contacted within ten business days after submitting
your application.
What happens then?
A Breed Rep’s goal is to find the most suitable homes for dogs of her breed. Not
every home is right for every breed of dog. The Rep will review your paperwork,
and possibly contact you to ask additional questions, in order to determine
whether she thinks her breed would make a good pet for you. If the answer is
yes, she will give you information about currently available dogs. If no dogs
are currently available that meet your needs, she will put you on a waiting
list. If the answer is no, she will give you her recommendation about what other
breed(s) of dog might better match your situation.
Where do these dogs come from?
Purebred dogs handled by SPDR typically come from two places: Private individuals
who need to place their dog into a new home for various reasons, and dogs
surrendered to Puget Sound area shelters. When the Breed Rep contacts you about
an available dog, you may be referred directly to a private individual, or to a
specific shelter. Breed Reps also have dogs in temporary foster care, and you
may be referred there to visit the dog
What happens if I am referred to a shelter dog?
If SPDR receives notification from a shelter about a dog that matches your
request, the Breed rep will refer you directly to that shelter. You would be
required to go through that shelter’s approval process, and if approved, would
adopt the dog directly from them. Most shelters can only keep dogs in their care
for a very limited time--an adopter notified about a dog in a shelter should act
promptly.
How long will I have to wait to adopt a dog?
The timing varies, depending on the availability of the breed(s) you have
requested, and/or the specific adoption characteristics you are looking for. The
more specific an adopter’s requirements are, the longer it will take to find a
dog that meets them. An adopter who wants a black female longhaired German
Shepherd under six months of age will probably have a much longer wait than
another adopter willing to consider a German Shepherd of any age, sex, color and
coat type. Likewise, SPDR might see 30 German Shepherds available for adoption
one year, and only 6 the next.
In short, it is often impossible to tell... however each Breed Rep should be
able to give you his or her best guess about this. Adopters should expect to
spend some time working with the Breed Rep to find the best possible dog for
them.
What if the breed rep refers me to a dog, and I don’t like it?
Adopters are under no obligation to accept any dog referred by SPDR. If you feel
a dog is not right for you, notify the Breed Rep. The Rep will continue to refer
you to other likely prospects until the right match is found.
If I am referred to an individual who is listing their dog through SPDR, and I
want to adopt that person’s dog, do I pay them for it?
No. Listers are not selling their dogs, they are placing them into new homes
through SPDR’s referral network. If a lister expects to be paid for a dog,
contact SPDR’s message line and let us know.
Terms of Adoption.
Please read our
terms of adoption.
If you have any other questions, call our message line at 206-654-1117.
You will receive a copy of the applicaton and a Breed Rep will
contact you via email or phone