Adopting from Dogs Hope Rescue

Dogs Hope is located near Charlotte, North Carolina. We do not ship dogs.

If you are interested in one of our dogs, we require an application from you before we can set up a visit. (See our FAQ page for more information).

Our adoption process is extensive. We are trying to match dogs with people in relationships which may last ten to fifteen years. We want this to work out permanently for both the dogs and the families who adopt them. There is no guarantee that a dog will be available that matches your interests. Dogs Hope retains the right to refuse any adoption.

• First we would like for you to consider if you are really ready to add a new family member to your household. Adopting a new dog is pretty much like adding a toddler to your home - lots of joy and entertainment, but a few spills and bumps as well. Although most of our rescue pointers and other dogs are young adults, past the puppy stage, they will still need plenty of attention and time to adjust to your lifestyle.

• Is this a family decision? Please make sure the entire household is ready for the dog before you fill out the application.

• How will you exercise and contain your new dog? Most pointers are pretty active and really need a secure place to run and play on a regular basis - this means every day even in really bad weather. We prefer for dogs to go to homes with secure fences - it is very difficult to "wear out" a pointer with just leash walking.

• What will you do when you go on vacation? Have you considered boarding and pet sitting costs? Are you ready for the expense of food, housing and annual or more frequent vet visits - please think about this and be really sure you are ready to take this on.

• If you have thought all of this through, consulted all of the family and are truly ready to start the process:

1. Application Submission
Submit your adoption application with our online . If you have trouble with this, please send email: e-mail (dogs.hope @ gmail.com - remove spaces) and we will send you a form to print out and mail through the postal service.

2: Application Review
Your answers will be reviewed and your vet and/or groomer and personal references will be contacted. Once references are approved, you will be contacted by email or phone for a more extensive interview. If that check is approved, you will be visited in your home by a Dogs Hope Rescue volunteer (or volunteer from another rescue that we have confidence in from your area). In addition, we retain the right to follow up visits at one week, one month, six months and annually.

If we feel your situation would make a good home for one of our dogs, we move on to the next step.

3: Email/Phone Interview
Once references are approved, you will be contacted by email or phone for a more extensive interview. You will also have the opportunity to ask us any questions you may have.

4: Home Visit
The next step is to see where your pet will live. Things such as the condition of your yard and house will be reviewed, as well as your home's location. A fenced yard here always helps, as well as room for the dog to move about. Remember that German Shorthaired Pointers and English Pointers are active and energetic breeds. We wish to make sure they're not confined or otherwise placed in an unsuitable situation.

5: Visit With Dog
If all previous steps are meet favorably with rescue personal, the next step is meeting the dog or dogs you may be interested in adopting. This is typically done where the dog is being fostered, or other neutral location. This gives the potential adopter a chance to meet the dog and speak at length with rescue personal.

6: Adoption
If all goes well, and both parties are happy, a pet under our care can go to his or her new forever home after the adopter signs our official adoption contract. An adoption donation is required. Currently this is $250 - $350 for purebred dogs and $150 for mixes. Dogs Hope does not accept checks - cash only.

You may think this is a lot to go through, but we want our adoptions to work out for both the adopters and the dogs.

Thank you for considering a rescue dog.