Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below you’ll find some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Dirt Road Doggies Rescue adoption process and more. This is a great place to start to find answers about our adoption process and if adopting a rescue dog is right for you. If you don’t find the specific answer you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at contact.drdr@gmail.com. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions about our process for rehoming these precious little pups!
The foster will be in touch with you. If you have not received communication from us within 3 business days, please reach out to our contact.drdr@gmail.com. Please understand we will process your application as soon as possible. We all foster, have families, work, and most of our off time is spent saving these pups lives. We try our hardest to make sure your questions and applications are answered as fast as we can but sometimes saving lives takes us a little longer than expected. Your understanding is greatly appreciated!!
Let’s face it, saving a life isn’t cheap. We invest in all of our dogs by ensuring all of their vetting needs have been met and they are altered. If the dog is in need of specific medical treatment, we see to that also. Monthly food costs, parasite prevention, and basic essentials have to be considered as well. We don’t discriminate. Young, old, sick, or silly we open our hearts and our checkbook to make what was once wrong, right again.
Our dogs are lovingly cared for until their forever family is found, however long it takes. We think they are a pretty good investment. All adoption contributions are $300. This contribution goes towards costs incurred by the specific dog being adopted and other dogs in our program. We do not adjust our rates based on the popularity of a dog. We believe all of our dogs deserve owners that see their worth and are willing to contribute to the cause that saved them from an uncertain future.
Yes. We will require proof from your landlord that they will allow the dog/breed you wish to adopt in your home. Please check with your landlord first. Breed and size restrictions may apply.
Yes. You will need to have a plan to provide your dog with daily exercise safely. A tuckered out dog is a happy, well-mannered dog. Some dogs may require a fenced in yard due to behaviors like darting, please be sure to check their description carefully.
A self-sufficient adult or family that can demonstrate responsibility; has a documented history of responsible pet care if they have owned an animal previously, in addition can provide adequate assurances that they intend to provide proper care for an animal for the remainder of its life. The average life span of a medium sized dog (30-60 lbs) is 12-14 years, however a dog can live much longer based on breed and size.
At this time we are not accepting applications from full time students.
If you own a pet, or have in the past two years, we conduct vet references to ensure you are a responsible pet owner who provides the proper medical care a pet needs. We look at minimum of two years of medical care to ensure your history is consistent and not just recent. In addition, we ensure all pets in your home are up to date on their shots and receive proper preventative care. Required shots must be no later than 30 days out of date. Rabies shots are required by state law for all dogs and cats annually. Proof of annual parvo boosters are required on dogs younger than 4. We also require proof of Heart Worm prevention for all dogs living in your home.
**ALL pets (excluding birds, barn animals) in your home must be spayed and/or neutered. We see what happens when there are too many animals and not enough good homes. We believe that in order to protect man’s best friend, we must control the pet population.
We require two personal references, and only one can be a relative. It is important that you know people who are willing to vouch for your good character.
No. Please do not begin your adoption process until your family is ready to take on the responsibility of the dog you wish to adopt.
As a Non-Profit rescue organization that is regulated by the Department of Agriculture, we have very strict regulations on who is permitted to “shelter” our rescues. We also carry insurance that has approved our process. You will not find a shelter or rescue that is regulated by GDAG and carries insurance that will allow a trial period. Simply put, trial periods are not a safe practice for our dogs nor is it a wise decision for liability purposes.
Our adoption process is lengthy, and we do our best to ensure when we finalize an adoption the family and the dog are set up for success. A good rescue will be just as invested in matching a family to their foster dog as you should be in picking a pup for your family. Take your time, be honest in what you are looking for, and only adopt when you are ready to make the commitment for the lifetime of the pet.
All adoptions require a home visit. This is to ensure our rescue pup is going to a safe environment and that the adopters are fully prepared to introduce a dog into their home. It is our goal to support each adoptive family to make the adoption a positive and lasting experience. We serve all areas within a 3-hour driving distance from Gainesville, GA.
Our foster families play a HUGE role in saving the lives of our dogs. They care for them, love them, train them, and everything in between until their forever family is found. Our foster family must meet each member of your family (including your pets) to ensure the match is a good one for their foster dog. Our foster families get the final say if the adoption will take place, based on the interaction of the family and pets with their foster dog. This is critical part of the adoption process.
Our adoption process is thorough. That’s because we have invested in and love our rescue dogs and we want to ensure the families that are wanting to adopt them are willing to validate they are responsible people who can and will provide and care for their adopted dog.
Adopting a dog is making a commitment to that dog to love and care for it for the remainder of its life. To gain a family only to lose it all over again is an experience we want our rescues to avoid.
Adopting a dog is not a decision that should be made in haste or without proper preparation. We encourage you to research many established rescue groups. You will find our process is nearly identical to others. Why? Because it works.
Rescues have a much higher success rate with adoptions when this process is adhered to. All rescues want their dogs to find their FOREVER FAMILY. This process is our best shot at making FOREVER happen.
Only dogs with a clean bill of health will be considered for adoption. Our dogs are fully vetted, spayed/neutered, and parasite free. If there is an underlying medical condition of which we are aware (such as blind, deaf, etc.) it will be disclosed prior to the adoption process and on the adoption contract itself. At the time of adoption finalization each forever family is presented with all medical records for their adopted dog. DRDR offers a 10-day Health Promise. Within the first 10 calendar days following your dog’s adoption, DRDR will treat your newly adopted dog by one of our approved vets should there be a health concern that may have been present at the time of adoption. DRDR cannot reimburse you for your personal veterinary medical expenses.
First, contact your local Animal Control Officer and report the animal as a stray providing a full description of where the animal was found, when, and what it looks like. There are stray hold times to give each dog the opportunity for their original owners to find them.
If you are interested in keeping the dog after the hold is up, please contact your local Humane Society or County Animal Shelter (your local Animal Control Officer is a great resource too) to find out where to get low cost spay or neuters and shots in your area.
Dirt Road Doggies Rescue mission is to make the world a better place by saving abandoned animals of Northeast Georgia and we work very hard to find loving forever families for them. Our goal is to keep our rescues out of animal shelters, thus saving their lives and providing more time to dogs in the shelters to be adopted.
Because we are a strictly volunteer and small organization, we are not accepting owner surrenders. We do offer Courtesy Postings to a select number of dogs that have owners wishing to rehome them.
Please scroll down to the end of the foster application to learn more about Courtesy Postings.
Dogs are pack animals. Domesticated pups consider their human family to be their pack. They WANT to be with their pack. Our rescue dogs are looking for families that are wanting companion animals. We do on occasion have a dog that prefers to be outside when the weather is sunny and mild but will expect to be indoors when it is rainy, cold, or at night. In this case a fence is mandatory.
We do not under any circumstances adopt out a dog used for hunting or guarding.
A Crate. Dogs are den animals. They like to have a safe place to curl up. Their crate is their bedroom, not a place of punishment. It is The Number One Tool a successful pet owner uses to keep their pet safe when they are not home. Many dogs experience separation anxiety when their “pack” leaves them home alone. To keep your dog and your home safe you MUST be willing to purchase a crate. We can suggest an appropriately sized crate for the dog you wish to adopt. Amazon offers crates at reasonable prices. Some active breeds, such as Boxers, require a heavy-duty crate. We will be able to inform you what crate will work best for the dog you want to adopt.
Dog Beds. There are so many great ones now. Serta even offers one with memory foam for less than $50 for a large dog at your local Sam’s Club. If you provide a nice dog bed, your adopted dog is less likely to attempt to lay on your furniture. Check Marshalls and TJ Maxx as well. If your dog will be spending lots of time outside playing, a Kuranda dog bed is a soft spot to grab a quick snooze. We use and recommend these durable outdoor dog beds.
Dog Bowls. We suggest raised bowls that come in a stand. The bigger the dog, the higher you need their bowls to sit. Raised bowls help to reduce the chance of Bloat (twisted stomach) in large dogs.
Quality Dog Food. The number one ingredient needs to be meat. There should not be any gluten, corn, or soy products listed. These ingredients are not a natural food source for dogs, avoid purchasing dog food that contains these fillers. Dog Food can be designer and very high end, or quite reasonable and still great quality. Check your local feed stores, TSC, and pet stores to compare brands, prices, and ingredients. The right dog food will prevent many dogs’ health issues such a skin and allergies. Dogs with sensitive tummies will need to remain on a fish-based food diet. We use Sportsmix Wholesome Fish.
Collar, Leash, Tags and Toys. Rawhide chews are a choking hazard and although popular, should be avoided. Animal Bones can splinter, avoid those as well. Now you are ready for your dog!
We LOVE our Foster Families; they are the backbone of our organization! The process to become a foster family is identical to that of adopting one of our dogs. All the same rules and regulations apply. DRDR covers medical expenses for our dogs.
Our foster families cover food costs and spend time training and loving their DRDR foster until their forever family is found. Foster Families get the final approval on all adoption requests for their foster dog. Being a Foster Family to a rescue dog is not a lifetime commitment. It’s a commitment to save a life.
Please click on the link to foster a specific dog on our adoptable dogs’ page or use the generic foster application Link under the AAA Apps Dog on our adoptable dogs’ page.