Save a Life! Foster or Adopt Today!
Why Foster?
Fosters are critical to allowing an animal rescue to continue saving animals. Without fosters, rescues would not be able to do their part in reducing overcrowding in shelters. When you foster, you’re saving two lives! When you become a foster, you are not only allowing a rescue to save that animal, but you are freeing up a much-needed space for another homeless animal to be taken into the shelter and placed into a kennel instead of being euthanized due to a lack of kennel space. Fostering helps prepare animals for adoption by giving them a chance to live in a home environment where the can fully express their personality, work to overcome fears, become healthy and recover from trauma.
Why Adopt?
Millions of perfectly adoptable animals are euthanized each year in the U.S. simply because there are too many pets coming into the shelters and too few families adopting. Adoption and spay/neuter are critical to ending the homeless pet crisis. Be part of the solution, not the problem! #adoptdontshop
Applications
Applying to Foster or Adopt
- To be eligible to adopt a LOVEPAWS animal, you need to be at least 23 years old.
- If you would like to learn more about one of our rescue animals, please fill out one of our non-binding applications above. Completing the online application is the first step and will provide us with the initial information we need but does not obligate you to adopt in any way.
- An application processor will contact you, or you may call or email the person listed in the animal’s bio for more information. Note: We are a 100% volunteer-based organization. A team member will contact you as soon as possible.
- If applicable, we’ll call your veterinarian to ensure that your current/previous pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and well cared for. For renters, we’ll check with your landlord to verify applicable pet policies, and if you are adopting a dog – whether there are any size or breed restrictions.Once you have spoken to us about the pet you are interested in, and if you would like to continue with the adoption process, arrangements will be made for a virtual home visit. The purpose of the home visit is to ensure that the rescue animal will be living in a safe environment, as well as to support the adoption process. All members of the home must be present for this.
- Next a meet and greet will be arranged with you and the pet. For dog adoptions, all resident dogs must be at the meet and greet. Meet and greets for cats will be done in the foster’s home.
Note: We review applications in the order in which they are received. We focus on matching the right animal to the right family to ensure successful adoptions. Our goal is to place these pets into homes where they will be safe and loved forever. We require adopters to meet our adoptable pets in person, and therefore give preference to applicants in the Metro Washington, DC area, but will consider out of area adopters on a case-by-case basis.
If you’re ready to foster or adopt an animal in need, complete an adoption or foster application above!
Adoption Fees
DOGS
- All Puppies & Dogs Under 8 Years: $410*
- Mature Dogs (8+ Years): $310
The fees above include a $10 electronic processing fee.
*A refundable $100 spay/neuter deposit will be collected for intact puppies under 6 months.
CATS
- All Kittens & Cats Under 8 Years: $185*
- Mature Cats (8+ Years): $135
- 2 cats or kittens: $335**
**Kittens under 4 months old must be adopted in pairs for socialization purposes, unless there is a cat in the home.
What Does the Adoption Fee Cover?
What You're Getting When You Adopt a L0VEPAWS Dog
- Each dog in our program has passed behavioral assessments and temperament evaluations.
- Our dogs live in a home-based foster environment.
- Our dogs work on basic obedience skills while in their foster homes and are assessed / trained by our trainer as needed.
- We list dogs for adoption two weeks after they’ve been in their foster home so we can properly assess them and get to know their personalities and needs, so we’re able to better target their ideal family and home environment.