FAQ’S
Frequently Asked Questions
Adoption
What is included in the adoption fee?
We provide our animals with complete and top quality care. All animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, dewormed, and flea treated. Other procedures such as dentals, mass removal, hernias, amputations are done if the animal needs it. It is important to us that our animals are adopted out as healthy as they can be and full transparency in their health.
What is the adoption process?
The Ruff Project follows a thorough adoption process to ensure each pet is matched with their ideal forever home. Below is a general outline of how our adoption process works:
Adoption Application: To get started, prospective adopters must complete an adoption application.
Phone-call Interview: After reviewing your application, we will schedule an interview with Shaland to discuss your experience and needs and the specific needs of the dog(s) you’re interested in. If needed, we may request additional information to ensure a good match.
Home Visit: We will conduct a home visit to verify that your environment is suitable for the dog. This helps us evaluate your living space, yard, and potential safety concerns, ensuring the dog will be in a secure and welcoming home.
Meet and Greet: All of our dogs are in private foster families homes, therefore it is by appointment only. This is your opportunity to interact with the dog you’re considering and assess how well they might fit with your family in terms of temperament, compatibility, and connection.
Adoption Fee and Agreement: If everything aligns and the adoption is approved, we require an adoption fee to help cover the dog’s care. You will also need to sign an adoption agreement, which outlines both your responsibilities and the expectations we have for the care and well-being of the dog.
Transition and Ongoing Support: Once the adoption is complete, we’ll provide you with all the necessary paperwork, including medical records, and offer guidance on how to smoothly transition your new dog into your home. We are here to provide continued support, advice, and resources to help ensure a successful adjustment period.
How long does it take for your application to be processed?
Depending on the popularity of a dog, we are usually able to review your application within a 24-72 hours. Our rescue is run by volunteers so please be patient if we take longer to respond. We are doing our best to get back to everyone and choose the best homes for the dogs.
Do you provide support after adoption?
Absolutely! We are here for you and your dog their entire life! Once the adoption is complete, we’ll provide you with all the necessary paperwork, including medical records, and offer guidance on how to smoothly transition your new dog into your home. We are here to provide continued support, advice, and resources to help ensure a successful adjustment period.
Can I meet your available dogs prior to filling out the application?
We do not have a facility so all of our dogs are in private family homes. Applications must be filled out before meetings to make sure it is a good fit and for the protection of our fosters.
Do you adopt out of state?
We do not usually adopt outside of the Southern California but each situation can present circumstances that allow an adoption outside of the area to be considered.
Do you offer discounted rates?
To be able to provide the utmost care for every dog we intake, we are unable to provide discounts. We are always in need of donations and every dollar counts. Our adoption fees only cover part of our expenses.
I adopted from you and it’s not working out, do I bring the dog back to you?
In the event that your adopted dog does not adjust well to your home, we ask that you return the dog directly to our rescue. We kindly request your patience in securing an appropriate foster home before the dog can be relinquished. If an immediate return is necessary, the responsibility falls on the adopter to arrange for temporary care, such as placing the dog in a boarding facility, until we are able to find a suitable foster.
As we do not have our own kennels, we are unable to accept dogs back on an immediate basis. However, we are committed to supporting you through any challenges related to behavior or health concerns. While we are not certified trainers or veterinarians, our team has extensive experience with dogs and can offer valuable advice to help prevent the need for re-homing.
We also strongly recommend considering professional help, such as hiring a trainer or behaviorist, or enrolling in obedience classes, to address any issues that may arise.
If you know of someone who is interested in adopting your dog, please have them speak to us directly and they will begin the adoption process. We are required by law to maintain records on all owners of our adopted puppies.
What is foster-to-adopt?
We require this process for all of our adult dogs to ensure the best possible outcome for both the dog and their potential family. Our top priority is to match dogs with families where both will thrive, and we believe this approach sets everyone up for long-term success.
Adopting a dog is a significant decision that can be challenging to make after just a brief meeting. To ensure the adoption is a good fit, we recommend taking the dog home for an introductory period. This allows both you and the dog time to adjust to each other’s routines and to the new environment. It’s important to give the dog time to settle in so you can gain a clear understanding of their personality and needs.
We believe that a successful match is one where both the adopter and the dog feel comfortable and confident. This process is not only about ensuring the dog is a good fit for your family but also about making sure that you are able to meet the dog’s needs in the long term.
To facilitate this, we typically allow up to two weeks for this trial period. This time frame offers you both a chance to truly get to know each other, helping to ensure a happy and lasting adoption.
If at the end of the week you do not feel the dog is a good match, we can either re-home the dog to a new foster or, hopefully, you will continue fostering until a permanent home is found.
In general, very young puppies are not up for trial periods as we prefer not to disturb their environments until a firm commitment is made. Since they are puppies, their true personality has not yet developed and it is the new owner’s duty to form and shape the puppy’s behavior as it matures.
dog care & health
What happens to the dogs after they are rescued?
All our our dogs go into private family homes to be fostered prior to adoption. During this time we provide any veterinary care, training, and love they need to get ready for their homes!
Are the dogs vaccinated and spayed/neutered?
This is a priority! All of our dogs are vaccinated prior to adoption. Depending on the dog’s age determines whether the dog will be spayed or neutered prior to adoption. Puppies 8 months and younger are not fixed but are under contract to be fixed at decided upon date with the adopter by 1 year of age. Adult dogs are always spayed or neutered prior to adoption.
What if the dog I adopt has behavioral issues?
We want you to do your best to overcome any behavioral issues you have. Once you adopt, that dog is part of your family. We hope you will do everything in your power to make it work. We are always here to provide guidance and support. If a professional dog trainer is needed, here are a few wonderful trainers we work with personally all the time.
Wet Nose Warm Heart Dog Training
https://www.wetnosewarmheart.com/
Sit Happens Dog Training
The OC Pack (Board & Train)
Humble K9 (Board & Train)
If you have done everything you can and it becomes an unsafe or dire sitaution that you cannot keep the dog, please contact us so we can assist you.
Item #4
Fostering
What is covered when you foster?
All medical is covered and supplies are provided. Food, toys, play pens, potty pads, etc., and all veterinary appointments and expenses are taken care of. Whatever you need to have a successful foster experience! All we need you to do is give your foster dog TLC!
How long is the foster period?
We ask for a minimum of two weeks to help the dog settle into a routine. We prefer the dog stay in the same foster home until adopted; since the goal is to give our rescued friends love & stability until their forever families are found. We greatly appreciate your leniency and flexibility!
Can I adopt my foster dog?
If you and the dog are a match and you are approved to adopt, then yes!
Why can I foster a dog but still be denied to adopt the same dog?
In many instances, dogs and their foster families form an ideal match, establishing routines and boundaries that help everyone thrive. This is particularly common with experienced dog owners and dogs who have been in the rescue for over two weeks.
However, in other cases, a dog may be new to rescue, and the foster family plays a crucial role in helping us better understand the dog’s personality and long-term needs.
If we determine that a dog’s long-term needs do not align with what the foster home can provide, we may decide not to approve that adoption. This does not reflect negatively on the foster home, nor does it mean that they would not be considered for other dogs in the future. Our placements are made on a case-by-case basis, with each dog’s unique needs in mind. Our goal is to ensure that every dog is placed in a home where it can be happy and fulfilled for the duration of its life.
For example, if we rescue a dog from a shelter noted for being aggressive toward other dogs, we would likely place that dog in a foster home without other pets. However, after the dog has had time to decompress, we may find that its behavior was stress-related, and the dog actually thrives with other dogs. In this situation, while we prefer not to move the dog to a new foster home unnecessarily, we recognize that this dog would be best suited to a home with a canine companion. As a result, the original foster may not be the ideal fit for that dog’s long-term needs.
We believe that while fosters can be excellent short-term guardians, they may not always be equipped to provide the optimal long-term environment for every dog. Our priority is ensuring that every dog finds the best possible home to suit its individual needs.
What is the process for selecting fosters?
After reviewing your application and preferences we try to match you as best we can. Of course you can refuse any dog for whatever reason, but we ask that you keep an open mind and remember that you are helping to save a dog’s life no matter their breed.
What if I am fostering a dog and it is not a good fit?
We work very hard to support our fosters throughout the entire process. If for some reason your foster dog is simply not working out in your home, please provide us with a 48 hour notice to ensure another appropriate place is found.
Volunteering & donating
How can I volunteer at The Ruff Project?
We are in need of help and looking for the following volunteer positions!
- Transporter
- Photographer
- Administrative work
- Social media management
- Blogger
- Fundraising
- Special event coordinator
- Medical coordination
- Community outreach
How can I donate to The Ruff Project?
Check out our Donate page! You can make a monetary donation or donate items! We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible!
Can I donate supplies or items for the dogs?
Absolutely! We have an Amazon Wishlist that has all the items we need! You can find a link to this on the Donate page!
If you have items you’d like to donate, please email us at [email protected] with a detailed list of the items.
Other questions
How can I stay updated on available dogs and events?
Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook and regulary check our website for new dogs coming in! Blog coming soon!
Do you have any upcoming events or fundraisers?
We occasionally host adoption events and fundraisers! Please follow our social media or join our email list to be notified of any upcoiming events!
Do you accept owner surrenders or stray dogs?
Yes we do! Please contact us to see if we can help!
Do you have any training resources?
Check our our trainers we regularly work with!
Wet Nose Warm Heart Dog Training
https://www.wetnosewarmheart.com/
Sit Happens Dog Training
The OC Pack (Board & Train)
Humble K9 (Board & Train)
Online training resource:
The WA Academy
Are you a registered charity?
Yes, The Ruff Project, is non-profit 501(c)3 organization.