I want to adopt at the event, what do i need to get started?

It is important to remember that this event is not “first come, first served”. The rescues will begin processing your application at the event and will adopt to the first family that is a good fit, and some may want to do a home visit also. If you want to join us at 10am, please sign-up here for exclusive entry.

There will be hundreds of wonderful, rescued dogs and puppies to choose from all day long! We have lots of different rescues and shelters who bring their dogs to the event to find loving homes. The rescues will screen your application, and if successful, you will be the proud owner of a fabulous new pup. The screening process is complex and may not be completed on event day, but the rescues will finish the process, if necessary, quickly after the event and let you know if you have been successful. Not only do you have to pass screening but the rescues will decide if you are a good fit for any dog you choose. Make sure to bring the whole family! The rescues will want to see all family members who will be interacting with the new pup.

It is very important that you bring some items with you to make the adoption process smooth and seamless.

What to bring with you:

Vet History

  • Bring vet records from ALL vet clinics on each dog owned currently or in the past 5 years.  This includes vaccination records, heartworm prevention purchase history and annual heartworm testing. For cats, please bring proof of rabies vaccination (yes, this includes indoor cats! The rabies vaccination is required by law for all dogs and cats!). Bring a letter of recommendation from your veterinarian if possible.

  • Proof that pets have been spayed/neutered via vet records or prior adoption records. 

  • Bring a purchase history of all heartworm prevention on each dog (current or owned in past 5 years). Please note, heartworm prevention is different from flea/tick prevention. You can only purchase heartworm prevention through your veterinarian, or online with a prescription signed by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will have records of purchase, or you can print your online receipts and bring them with you.

Based on your living situation, we may need extra (and very important) information! 

  • If you rent a home/apartment/condo - Please bring a letter from your Landlord/Homeowner with their contact number, plus a pet friendly lease that notes any breed and size restrictions, as well as if there are any restrictions on the number of pets allowed.

  • If you live with your parents - we will need their consent stating that they are aware of the adoption and are on board. 

  • If you own a condo - please bring any condo documents/homeowners association documents that state any restrictions/policies in place regarding pets.

  • Student housing - please note, this is typically a special request with a lot of paperwork/phone calls needed and will require the rescue to work with you after the event.

Personal References

  • Contact name and number for 2 people who are NOT related to you and are easily accessible personal references. Even better, bring them with you to the event! If they can not come with you, make sure they know that we will be calling and will be available for a quick chat. Significant others should also not be listed as personal references. 

  • Make sure all your references ( landlord, personal reference and preferably veterinarian) are contactable on event day, as the rescues will need to call them and will not be able to proceed with your application until a later date if they can’t be reached.

Current Dogs

  • If you have dogs, bring them with you so our trainers can conduct a meet and greet. You will also need to bring someone with you who can stay with your dog outside at our “doggie check in” area as they cannot go inside the arena. Bring rabies vaccination certificate for your dog(s), as well as your ID. 

Aside from paperwork, you don’t need to bring much! Thanks to SUFA, one of our wonderful sponsors, all dogs go home with a martingale collar to ensure utmost safety. Dogs are on slip leashes, however, bringing a leash is a great idea (please no retractable leashes!). SOS re-Tail will be on site with their mobile dog market to provide you with any doggie items you may need!

Is there an adoption fee?

Adoption fees range from $200-$700 and are set by the individual rescues.

Adoption fees help cover the medical care of the animal while he or she waits for a new home, as well as food and transportation costs. These fees help to provide care for the other animals in the shelter or rescue group who may have medical bills that are much higher than any possible adoption fee. The money also acts as a donation to help support the organization as a whole, allowing the group to continue its efforts to rescue and re-home pets.

An adoption fee can end up saving you money! Shelters and rescue groups usually cover initial veterinary costs to prepare the pet for a new home. Adoption fees often include:

  • Veterinary wellness visit and exam

  • Spaying or neutering

  • Distemper vaccination

  • Rabies vaccination

  • Heartworm test

  • Heartworm preventative

  • Flea/tick treatment

  • Microchip

  • Deworming

  • Collar and an identification tag

Most of our rescues now accept credit cards, some accept checks. We do recommend adopters bring cash as a backup.

I’m From Massachusetts, can I Adopt at your event?

YES!! However, The State of Massachusetts requires that all dogs entering the state must be quarantined for a minimum 48 hours per Animal Health Emergency Order, 1-AHO-05. This is required for all dogs entering the state, regardless of their previous quarantining elsewhere; health; age; vetting status; etc.

THIS MA STATE LAW MEANS THAT THEIR RESIDENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE A DOG HOME ON EVENT DAY EVEN IF THEY ARE APPROVED ADOPTERS

Most of the attending rescues and shelters are licensed to adopt to MA residents but not all. Be sure to check before falling in love! They use several different facilities to meet this quarantine requirement. Which facility is used and the timing of the quarantine period will be determined by facility availability and other factors, once the adoption is finalized. Please note that quarantine space may not be immediately available for your dog and this space can only be secured once the adoption is finalized.

After the adoption is finalized, the rescue will make arrangements for the quarantine requirement to be met, and will provide you with the details. You will be responsible for picking the dog up from the isolation facility/vet after it is approved for release. The dog will not be released to you until it passes an extra vet check. 

Should you not be able to pick up your dog directly following the vet check, you may be responsible for additional boarding expenses.

In addition to the rescue’s/shelter’s adoption donation for your dog, an additional quarantine fee is required for all dogs adopted to Massachusetts residents ($120 as of 1/1/2016, but subject to change).

The MA quarantine fee is paid to cover the mandatory isolation period required by the State of Massachusetts for any imported dog. Please note: quarantine fees are NOT refundable.

Can I bring my dog to the event?

Yes! We actually encourage (almost require) you to bring your dog with you. With that said, please understand that personal dogs are not allowed inside of our event space. We have a designated “doggie check-in” area at each event which is where you will go before entering. you will need to have someone who can stay with your dog while you are inside, as well a proof of rabies vaccination (paperwork tag, etc.). We absolutely do not allow dogs to be left in cars, so please prepare accordingly. Once you find a potential dog to adopt, our trainers will conduct a meet and greet with your dog to make sure it’s a perfect fit! If you are not able to bring your dog to the event, please note that day of adoption is at the rescues discretion and they may require a meet and greet following the event.

I’m interested in a specific dog, what do i do?

If you have your heart set on a specific dog, we highly encourage you to apply directly to the rescue that is caring for that dog (information can be found via their petfinder link). Most of our rescues will facilitate adoptions prior to event day. All adoptions are at the rescues discretion and it is important to keep in mind that you may not be the only one applying for that dog.

I didn’t sign up in time for early entry, will there still be dogs left to adopt at 12pm?

YES! We will have hundreds of dogs and puppies still looking for homes at 12pm. If you did not sign up for 10am early entry, don’t worry, sign up is open even on event day, so sign up and bring your completed form with you. Then just pop in and see us between 12pm and 4pm! Don’t forget to bring everything you will need with you (see first question to be fully prepared)

Are the events held rain or shine?

Yes! Washington County Fairground and Clark Farms have indoor and outdoor areas. Our team is fully prepared with backup rain plans to make the day goes as smoothly as possible regardless of the weather. You may still want to bring an umbrella :)

what is the parking situation?

We have two events per year at two different locations. The events are indoor/outdoor, but the parking is all outdoors.

Washington County Fairground (June) - Has copious parking right where the event is held. If it is raining it will be muddy - prepare accordingly!

Clark Farms (November) - Parking is right on the premises and there is a very short walk to the event space! If it is raining it will be muddy - prepare accordingly!

Will there be food?

Yes!! We have an awesome farm to table food truck from Sunset Farms at the events. They will be there all day with hot and cold drinks, delicious breakfast sandwiches, then onto a vast selection of lunchtime specials and mouth watering deserts.