BEFORE beginning our dog adoption process, please ask yourself these six important questions:
Do you live within 90 miles of Bedford Hills, NY?
We do NOT adopt out of a 90-mile radius of Bedford Hills, NY. Our volunteers visit applicants’ homes as part of our adoption process, and this requirement keeps their driving and follow-up times reasonable.
Is everyone in your household on board to adopt a dog?
Having a dog affects every member of the household and all members need to agree that this is the right time to adopt.
Are you ready to adopt immediately?
We do not “hold” dogs so only complete the application if you are ready to adopt immediately.
What is your dog personality?
Think about what type of dog you would like and what type of home environment and lifestyle you would be sharing with your dog. Assess how active you and your home are, how much dog experience you have, whether the dog would accompany you places, etc.
Do you have time for a new dog?
What is your household rhythm and daily schedules like? How much time do you have to devote to the care of a dog? Puppies, especially, need a lot of care, training, socialization, exercise, and attention. Older dogs might also need higher levels of care.
Are you prepared for the cost of a new dog?
Veterinary care can run $1,500 a year with visits, vaccinations, and preventatives. Food, grooming, toys, and other supplies can also add up. Boarding, at-home stay, or dog walking costs also need to be considered if you need to be away.
Ready to adopt? Here’s what happens …
Carefully read over our dog profiles
Please look through our website at our dogs available for adoption, paying particular attention to the descriptions that are posted. These profiles are informed by input from foster families and our experienced adoption committee, and any criteria regarding a dog’s personality, lifestyle needs, and compatibility with children or animals have been carefully considered and tested. A cute dog with the wrong personality for your family never makes a happy situation for anyone.
Fill out our Adoption Application
Once you have found the dog(s) that you are interested in adopting, please fill out our adoption application. Please be sure to fill out every question on the application. Each question is seeking important information that will help us in determining if the dog is a good match for you. An incomplete application will not be processed nor will we adopt out of the 90-mile radius.
We will be in touch
After submitting a completed application, if you do not hear from us within a week, please resubmit your application because it may not have gone through.
Applications are usually processed in three to ten days, depending upon how long it takes to reach your references. During COVID, processing times may be up to 2 weeks.
If you are pre-approved, we will conduct a home visit
ANCAR is continuing to operate with an abundance of caution around the COVID-19 virus, so our volunteers are currently conducting home visits virtually.
For this virtual home visit, one of our volunteers will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time. Not everyone in the family needs to be on the call. The goal of the call is to get a sense of your environment to ensure the dog you are interested in would be a good match. The volunteer may also show you ways to help make your home ready for a rescue dog. After the visit, the volunteer will update the Adoption Committee, and you will hear from us within 48 hours.
We will next arrange for you to meet the foster and the dog
If the home visit was approved, your contact information is passed on to the foster family of the dog you are interested in and they will contact you to discuss the dog more specifically. If you both agree that s/he sounds like a good match, an in-person meeting will be set up.
Everyone in your home, pets, and people, must meet the dog.
If it is a good match, then your adoption will take place
If all agree that it’s a good match the adoption can take place immediately. You will fill out the Adoption Agreement, including the donation of $500. You will receive your dog’s medical records, related documents, microchip transfer instructions, and add a wonderful new member to your family.
If it does not seem like a good match, we will work with you to find a dog that fits into your household well.
