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Detroit Dog Rescue Adoption Program

So, you’re ready to adopt?

We’re so excited you’re interested in adopting a dog from Detroit Dog Rescue! The following information is requested so that we can assist you in the selection of your dog.

The following survey, and consultation with a Detroit Dog Rescue representative, is designed to help us determine the best possible fit for you and our rescue dogs. We do not place dogs on a first come, first served basis, and take special care placing dogs into homes where they will be able to thrive.

At this time, none of our dogs qualify for emotional support animals. We currently do not have a training program for emotional support or service dogs.

Make sure to check our Adoptable Dogs to find your perfect match!

Quick Facts

A home check is required for all adoptions and potential fosters to ensure that the dog and your household are a great fit for one another. A team member will assist with the proper introduction of your current animals and the prospective dog. Per the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, a binding contract is required for fosters and adoptions.

To help cover the costs of the spay/neuter of age appropriate dogs, age appropriate vaccinations, medical care, temperament testing and temporary boarding of the dog, we do require a fee. Adoption fees* are as follows:

$200 for senior dogs
$250 for medium and large adult dogs
$300** for puppies (there is an additional $25 spay/neuter deposit)
$375 for small dogs 

*If for some reason you feel the dog is not a fit for your home within five days of the adoption, we can keep your fee on file for another adoption for up to 90 days. Donations made to Detroit Dog Rescue are non-refundable.

*We reserve the right to alter or edit fees depending on promotions, medical care, and availability.

**The $25 spay/neuter deposit will be returned to you upon certification that the dog has been altered.

We do not adopt to:

  • Homes with cats. We do not have the means to properly cat test our dogs and we will not take a chance on the safety of your cat and put one of our dogs into this situation. This is not to say that cats and dogs won’t get along — of course they can! — but we are not set up to properly test our dogs with cats in in a responsible scenario.
  • We do not adopt to homes with children under 5 years old. We are not set up to properly temperament test our dogs for this scenario.
  • We do not adopt to homes that are under HOA guidelines unless we are able to receive in writing that you are allowed to have the dog you are interested in adopting from us.
  • Although we do not require a fenced in yard, if you do have one, it has to be at least 5 to 6 feet tall (depending on which dog you are interested in).
  • We do not adopt our dogs out for the purpose of making them into “service dogs” or emotional support dogs. With too many people and trainers fraudulently obtaining fake service dog vests and certificates and unscrupulous trainers claiming that they are “credentialed”, we do not want to have our dog put into a situation that they are not qualified for.
  • We do not adopt out of the country. This includes our friends across the Canadian border.
  • We do not fly our dogs.

Adoption Application

Please answer the following questionnaire to the best of your ability. If you are unsure what dog you are interested in and would like our team to guide you, please write in a short description of what you are looking for (size, breeds, temperaments).

Our adoption team will contact you within 10 business days to discuss your application.

Having issues submitting the form? Download the application PDF and email our Adoptions team at adoptions@detroitdogrescue.com