Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, Inc. Required Adoption Forms

Adopting a German Shepherd Dog via Virginia German Shepherd Rescue is a process that involves VGSR

volunteers interviewing the prospective adopting individual or family to determine the conditions under which

the potential new family member will be living. Questions can include things such as the working hours of the

adopter(s), who will care for the dog, training, experience with GSD's in specific, age(s) of resident children,

availability of a contained/safe yard, other animals in the house, etc. VGSR is not concerned with the lifestyle

of the prospective adopter, per se, but is sincerely trying to find the best match of GSD to adopter and living

circumstances. For example, we would not want to place a young, 100 pound, GSD with a person who would

be unable to provide the GSD with the type of exercise and discipline it needs to be healthy and happy. Similarly,

we would not want to place an aging GSD that has lived its life as the sole dog in a quiet home, with a family of

children, knowing that this GSD has a need for quiet time. Nor would we want to place a GSD with separation

anxiety in a home where the adopter is gone at work for long periods of time. Although VGSR carefully evaluates

all dogs that it brings into the Rescue for suitability for adoption, we sometimes do not know a dog's history and

can never predict the future behavior of any GSD (or any human!). Our goal is to place all GSDs that are accepted

into our Rescue in loving homes in which the GSD and the family will thrive together.

How to Adopt From Us (Form at Bottom)

1.Due to the fact that VGSR requires a home visit and face-to-face interviews with all potential adopters,

we will accept applications only from those people who reside in the Virginia, Maryland, and DC areas and

sometimes a case by case on other surrounding areas.

2. Complete the adoption application, and mail the application along with a non-refundable processing fee of

$10 (cash or check ONLY) to:

Virginia German Shepherd Rescue
Attn: Adoption Application
P.O. Box 126
Sterling, VA 20167

3. Upon receipt of your application, our volunteers will review it for completeness and call and check on your

references. If you rent your home, your landlord will be called to verify that you live in pet-friendly housing.

We need to be sure dogs are allowed, and that there is no restrictions. (Some townhouses and condos do have

size and weight restrictions on pets.)

4. Once your application has been approved, you will be informed of scheduled, upcoming events where you

can meet our dogs, or arrangements will be made for you to visit our foster dogs on a case-by-case basis.

5. We will choose a mutually convenient time to have our volunteer meet with you and your family in your home.

6. Once you have selected the dog that best fits your needs, you will be asked to make a minimum $250 donation

(cash or check ONLY) to help VGSR defray the costs of getting the dog fully vetted and ready for adoption, and

sign an adoption contract.

We will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about your dog for the rest of its life.

Should we feel that a home situation does not meet the needs of a particular dog, we may refuse an

applicant at our discretion.

Please come to our Adoption Days to meet our dogs. All VGSR dogs are housed in private foster homes and

as such are not available for spontaneous, unscheduled visits. For the security, privacy and safety of our

volunteers and our dogs, private meetings will not be arranged until an applicant has been fully approved

to adopt from VGSR.

Please Click on One of the Forms Below

(Use Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view and print the application.)

ADOPTION APPLICATION

FOSTER APPLICATION

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader Free!