Thank you for choosing to rescue. At Ruff Dog Rescue, our goal is to place each dog in a safe, loving, and permanent home where they can truly thrive.
Every dog who enters Ruff Dog Rescue’s program receives care, evaluation, and time to decompress before adoption. We do our very best to provide healthy, loved, and well-socialized dogs, while also making thoughtful matches between each dog and their future family.
Before Adoption
Before our dogs go to their forever homes, they receive:
A medical exam by one of our partner rescue veterinarians
Age-appropriate vaccinations
Deworming and preventative care as needed
Spay or neuter, unless medically or age-appropriate timing requires otherwise
Temperament and behavior evaluation while in our care
Quarantine and monitoring before placement in a foster or adoptive home
Because we are a foster-based, volunteer-run rescue, we get to know our dogs in real home settings whenever possible. This helps us better understand their personalities, needs, and the type of home where they will be most successful.
Applying to Adopt
The first step in adopting from Ruff Dog Rescue is completing our online adoption application.
Please complete the application in full, including current phone numbers for your current and past veterinarians and personal references. Our goal is to obtain a complete vetting history for all current and previous dogs in the home.
Missing or incomplete information will delay processing or remove you from consideration, especially when we receive multiple applications for the same dog.
This is not about finding a “perfect” applicant. It is about finding the right match for both the dog and the adopter.
Our Screening Process
Ruff Dog Rescue has a comprehensive screening process to help ensure every dog is placed safely and thoughtfully.
As part of the adoption process, we complete:
Application review
Veterinary reference check for all current and previous pets, including those who are now deceased
Personal reference check
Virtual or in-person home visit
Meet and greet with the dog
Meet and greet with current dogs in the home, when applicable
For any virtual home visit, all family members living in the home must be present, including children and resident pets. This helps us get a full picture of the home environment and make sure the adoption is a good fit for everyone.
All pets currently living in the home must be up to date on vaccinations and spayed or neutered, unless there is a documented medical reason from a veterinarian.
Meeting the Dog
Ruff Dog Rescue is a foster-based rescue. We do not have a physical facility where dogs can be visited.
Dogs may be met at adoption events when they are scheduled to attend. Please note that not all available dogs attend every event.
Once your application is approved, we can arrange a meet and greet with the dog’s foster family at an approved location. All family members are required to attend. If you currently have a dog, we require that your dog attend the meet and greet to help ensure everyone is comfortable together.
Important Adoption Notes
Submitting an application does not guarantee approval or hold a specific dog. We often receive multiple applications for the same dog, especially puppies and highly requested breeds.
A dog is not considered secured until:
Your application has been approved
The adoption has been confirmed by Ruff Dog Rescue
The adoption fee has been paid
All required adoption paperwork has been completed
Our team works as quickly as possible, but we are 100% volunteer-based. We appreciate your patience as we carefully review each application and work to make the best match for every dog in our care.
ADOPTION FEES:
Our adoption fees range from $275 - $875 depending on the dog’s age, medical care, transport, and individual needs. Whey you adopt from us, your adoption fee helps cover the care your dog received and allows us to continue rescuing the next dog in need.
Our adoption fees include:
Spay or neuter
Age-appropriate vaccines, including rabies
Deworming and parasite treatment, as needed
Heartworm testing and treatment, if needed
Lifetime registered microchip
Adoption fees are refundable only if Ruff Dog Rescue denies your application or within 3 days of signing the adoption contract. After that time, fees are non-refundable if you decide not to move forward.
Before adopting, please make sure everyone in your household is committed to the lifelong responsibility, time, and expense of pet ownership — both now and as your family, lifestyle, and circumstances may change.
Payment of the adoption fee and an approved application will secure an animal in your name. You may pay the adoption fee by hitting the “Donate” button below.
Ruff Dog Rescue offers out-of-state adoptions only for certain dogs and only in approved states.
Approved adopters must be willing to meet and pick up their dog in Georgia or through Ruff Dog Rescue NE in Pennsylvania. We do not ship dogs, arrange long-distance transport for dogs adopted sight unseen, or allow dogs to fly as commercial cargo.
All out-of-state adoptions must follow Georgia Department of Agriculture export requirements and the adopter’s state import laws. Additional fees may apply for required health certificates or travel-related veterinary paperwork.
Due to strict import and quarantine requirements, Ruff Dog Rescue does not adopt to certain states, including Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
For dogs available through Ruff Dog Rescue NE, please visit www.RDRNE.org.
Not Ready to Apply?
We welcome you to attend one of our adoption events to meet some of our available dogs and learn more about Ruff Dog Rescue.
Please remember that we are foster-based and do not have a physical shelter. Not all available dogs attend every event. Once your application is approved, we can arrange a meet and greet with the dog’s foster family.
