Adoption FAQ
Just a small-town dog
Livin’ in a lonely world 🎶
Adoption Process
Please submit your information through the adoption inquiry link. The steps our Adoption Counselors will take are:
- Check Non-related personal References.
- Vet check to check your past and present animals are kept up to date on vaccines, heartworm and flea and tick prevention, and are spayed/neutered at an age-appropriate time.
- Landlord/property check to be sure you can have a dog and there are no breed or weight restrictions.
- Our adoption counselors are 100% volunteers and work diligently to do what is best for our fosters. Disrespectful behaviors will not be tolerated.
Other important things to note:
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If you have filled out the inquiry in the past, no need to fill out another. Please email the adoptions team: adoptapip@pipsrescue.org
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Once our adoption counselors are finished working with you , we will send your information over to the foster parent for review and ask for any further information or set up a meet and greet. Our foster homes do have the final say on who adopts their foster pup.
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If one of our lucky pups is lucky enough to have more than one application, our team will work to find the best match for that dog.
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If the dog you inquired about is adopted or not the right fit, our match makers would love to help find you another dog that would be a good match. We will keep your inquiry on file for 9-12 months (depending on how many changes in your life since your last one was submitted, please email us to determine if we need updated information.
Submitting this inquiry does not mean you are committing to a dog, nor does it guarantee you will get that dog. It is simply a tool we use to help identify a potential match for your family and lifestyle.
What is the cost to adopt?
Our adoption fees are $325 for adult dogs and $375 for puppies under 1 year old.
The dog will be current on age appropriate vaccines, microchipped and if old enough they will be spayed or neutered. If they are adopted before they are spayed or neutered, PIPs will cover the cost of the surgery at a PIPs vet in the Triangle area.
We keep all of our PIPs on their monthly heartworm and flea / tick prevention.
What makes PIPs unique?
From the beginning, everyone involved in starting PIPs wanted to make sure we focus on quality. Quality foster families- families that will be committed to helping their foster dog thrive and giving them the best chance at finding their forever home. We believe that this starts with offering those families support and having an open line of communication. Quality volunteers- people who are willing to give their time to not only supporting the foster families but people willing to work on adoption applications, with the community, with adopters, people willing to go the extra mile to make PIPs a successful, amazing dog rescue. We also offer ongoing support to adopters through the PIPs adoption counselor program.
Are all the dogs in PIPS special needs?
NO! We are all inclusive which means that we take in healthy, sick, PIP-Abled, young old and all breeds! If the dog is special needs it will say it will state it in the details section of the pups profite on our page! You can always ask if you are not sure.
Will I have the support of the rescue after adoption?
This is one of the many ways we are unique. Your adoption counselor will be there for you with any questions you have or guidance that you need. They will try and help you stay on top of medical, training and handle hiccups (because there will be some!) before they become issues. Your adoption counselor will check in on you from time to time following the adoption and you will always have the support of the rescue.
There is also a PIPs Facebook page- Parents of PIPs. This is a wonderful space to ask questions, discuss issues you may be having, share your pup’s milestones and meet other PIPs adopters!
What is expected of me as an adopter?
You will be expected to keep your pup up-to-date on all vet recommended vaccines and heartworm prevention. If the pup wasn’t spayed or neutered when leaving the rescue, this needs to be done between 4-7 months.
You will be expected to keep the dog inside the home. PIPs Pups cannot live outdoors full time.
You will be expected to keep up with your pup’s behavior and tackle any hiccups before they become serious behavioral issues. Training classes are a great way to get started on training and get your pups on the right track. We are always happy to give out trainer recommendations, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
If you feel you can no longer keep your PIPs Pup, you must contact PIPs before you make any tough decisions.
Where are you located and how far out do you adopt?
We are a foster based rescue located around Raleigh NC. While we do try and keep adoptions close to our base in case any issues arise, we will consider each dog on a case by case basis. We will prioritize applications within a 4 hour drive to Raleigh and then look at applications outside that area with the exception of our pip-abled pups, we will consider all over the US. PIPs does not transport dogs. If you are out of the area and interested in adoption, you must come to the Raleigh area to meet the dog you are interested in.
I don't have a vet yet, is that ok?
Yes, but you must have a vet picked out before the adoption is complete. PIPs requires that an appointment is scheduled within 3-4 weeks of the adoption. If you aren’t sure where to go, your adoption counselor can provide vet recommendations for your area. Besides a wellness check to get your new pup established, your pup may be due for prevention, vaccines, etc. You will get access to your pup’s medical records once an adoption is finalized and we encourage you to work with your vet to decide what else is needed.
I have no experience with a special needs dog, can I still adopt one?
YES!!!! We ask that you do your research so you have an idea of what to expect both in care of the pup and what extra cost there may be. Our adoption counselor will talk with you about the extra care of a PIP-Abled pup. We will be there for you every step of the way.