Why should I adopt a rescue dog?
I’d like to adopt a dog that really needs help – do you have any suggestions?
I’ve thought about fostering, but I don’t know if I’d be able to give up the dog. Isn’t it hard to let them go?
What does “no-kill” mean?
I’m nervous about adopting a rescue dog – there must be something wrong with the dog or he wouldn’t be homeless, right? Don’t rescue dogs come with a lot of baggage?
Why should I adopt a dog from All Dog Rescue?
I can provide a loving home for a dog but I can't afford the adoption fee. Are your adoption fees negotiable?
Can I try out a dog for a few days before adopting him/her?
Why do you only adopt within a 60-mile radius of the Twin Cities? Do you ever make exceptions to this policy?
I really want to adopt a particular dog, but won't be ready to adopt him/her for some weeks or months. Will you hold the dog for me?
Will all of your dogs be a the next adoption event?

Why should I adopt a rescue dog?

Over 9,000 companion animals are euthanized in shelters in this country every day. Adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group reduces that number. Adopting a dog from a high-kill shelter may directly save that dog’s life; adopting from a no-or-low kill shelter or rescue group opens a space in a safe place for a dog that might otherwise be euthanized.

I’d like to adopt a dog that really needs help – do you have any suggestions?

Adopting any dog from a shelter or rescue group is helping a dog that truly needs help, but there are some types of dogs that have a harder time finding an adoptive home than others. Here are some ways you can help out dogs who really need some extra help:

Adopt a “plain black dog.” Shelters and rescue groups are flooded with black labs and black lab mixes, who suffer from “plain black dog” syndrome. Rescue groups will often receive 20 applications for a yellow lab mix for every 1 for a black lab mix of the same age, health, and temperament.
Adopt a special needs dog. There are dogs in shelters and rescues that have chronic medical conditions, and many adoptive homes cannot afford the extra vet exams, medications, and/or special diets that may be required. There are also dogs in shelters and rescues that are in need of surgeries the organization cannot afford to perform. If you are fortunate enough to have the means, please consider providing a home to a special needs dog.
Adopt a senior dog. One of the most heartbreaking things to hear is how a 10-year-old dog was dumped at a shelter by the family that supposedly loved her, because they “no longer have time” for her. It takes a special person to adopt a senior dog – you know you are looking at heartbreak sooner rather than later when your new friend passes on. But senior dogs can be some of the most wonderful companions there are, and they deserve a loving home in which to spend their golden years.
Become a foster. By fostering dogs, you can help many dogs that might otherwise never get a chance at a happily-ever-after.

I’ve thought about fostering, but I don’t know if I’d be able to give up the dog. Isn’t it hard to let them go?

It can be difficult to let go of a dog that you have cared for, loved, and perhaps even nursed back to health or helped coax out of his shell. Even experienced fosters can be pretty emotional watching their foster dogs go off to their new forever homes. But there are a few of things that make it easier. Like most rescues, All Dog Rescue will never adopt out a dog to a home the foster does not agree with, so the foster home has a say in the decision. It is so rewarding to watch your foster dog head off to start his or her new life with a wonderful new family that you helped to find. Also, even if you feel some pangs of sadness as your foster leaves, you know there are dogs waiting that are desperate for your help – and finding a home for your current foster means that you can now move on to help out another dog.

What does “no-kill” mean?

All no-kill shelters and rescues have a definition of “no-kill,” and it may vary between them. All Dog Rescue’s no-kill philosophy is this:

"No-kill" means that we will never euthanize an animal if he or she is not adopted within a certain period of time. We offer a life-time commitment to the dogs in our program, and they will be lovingly cared for in their foster homes until they are adopted. If an adopter of an All Dog Rescue animal ever decides not to keep the dog, we will always take the dog back into our program.

Unfortunately, "no-kill" does not mean that we will never euthanize an animal. The decision to euthanize an animal is taken very seriously and the board of directors must unanimously agree the dog is either terminally ill and suffering, or the animal poses a severe danger to people or other dogs. Under these rare circumstances, we believe the responsible thing is to humanely euthanize the animal.

I’m nervous about adopting a rescue dog – there must be something wrong with the dog or he wouldn’t be homeless, right? Don’t rescue dogs come with a lot of baggage?

Some dogs in rescue do have horrible pasts full of abuse, neglect, and/or mistreatment. Some have lived as strays or tied up alone outside for years. But many others end up in rescue for reasons that have nothing to do with the dog’s temperament, behavior, or health. Sometimes people decide they no longer have time for the dog; they may move to a new residence where their dog is not welcome; owners pass away; dogs get lost and can’t find their way home. There are millions of dogs in rescue, and each has a unique story all of his/her own.

So while it is true that some rescue dogs do have issues, many others are wonderful dogs that are even-tempered and well-trained. Many only need some basic obedience work that a previous home never bothered with; others may need a home without young children. The great thing about adopting a rescue dog that has lived in a foster home is that an experienced foster has had the chance to live with the dog and assess his/her behavior, temperament, and level of training, which helps ensure a good fit with a potential adoptive home.

Why should I adopt a dog from All Dog Rescue?

At All Dog Rescue, our goal is to find life-long homes for our dogs. Because that is our driving motivation, we strive to ensure the best possible fit between our dogs and their new forever homes. Not every dog is a good fit for every home, and it is good for neither if a poor match is made. All of our dogs live in foster homes until they are adopted, which means that the foster family gets a chance to assess the dog’s behavior, needs, and temperament. All of our dogs are examined by a vet, up-to-date on routine shots, heartworm tested, spayed/neutered, and microchipped prior to adoption. And All Dog Rescue will always disclose any health or behavior issues we know about to a prospective home.

I can provide a loving home for a dog but I can't afford the adoption fee. Are your adoption fees negotiable?

All Dog Rescue does not negotiate on our adoption fees for several reasons. First, we are an all-volunteer organization; we do not have a shelter or any paid staff, so all of the money we receive from donations and adoption fees go directly towards helping our dogs. All of our dogs are fully vetted prior to adoption, including vaccinations, spay/neuter, HW/Lymes and fecal exams, and all are microchipped. We also perform any additional vetting necessary if the dog has any health issues (we have actually had several dogs in just the past couple of months that have needed extensive additional vet work.) Even with the discounts we get from our wonderful veterinary partners, the adoption fees we receive for each dog may not cover the vet expenses for that particular dog. Charging the adoption fees that we do allows us to continue to help homeless dogs.

Another reason that we do not negotiate on our adoption fees is due to the expenses that come along with dogs. Regular vetting, good food, HW preventative, flea & tick protection, training, etc. costs quite a bit, and that doesn't even include the costs that can accrue quickly due to injuries or serious unexpected illnesses. Even a dog that does not have any apparent health or behavior issues may develop them or experience an injury. The majority of our adoption fees are not any higher than the cost of one trip to the emergency vet. If you cannot afford the adoption fee, it is probably a good idea to really consider if you can afford to care for a dog at this time.

Can I try out a dog for a few days before adopting him/her?

All Dog Rescue frequently receives requests from people who are interested in taking home one of our dogs for a weekend to see how it goes prior to deciding whether or not to adopt the dog. We do not allow people to “try out” our dogs for several reasons. The most important reason is that a short visit is not a good indicator of how the dog will be in your home. As those of us who foster dogs know very well, it always takes dogs several days (and often weeks or months) before a dog has fully adjusted. Especially during the first few days, the dogs are extremely stressed and may exhibit unusual behaviors – like having accidents or pacing or being snippy. It often takes awhile before the resident animals in the home get along well with the newcomer, and it can take weeks before everyone starts playing together.

Why do you only adopt within a 60-mile radius of the Twin Cities? Do you ever make exceptions to this policy?

All Dog Rescue only adopts to homes within a 60-mile radius for a few reasons. First, we often require pre-adoption home visits and it is unreasonable to ask our fosters to travel very long distances. Second, some of our dogs require follow up care at one of our vet partners, which is not realistic for adoptive homes that live further than 60 miles from the Twin Cities. Third, All Dog Rescue has a policy of always taking our dogs back into our program if for whatever reason the adoption doesn't work. While adoptive homes may move out of the area in the future, we have found this policy helps us easily reclaim our dogs should the need arise. Only under extraordinary circumstances will we make an exception to this policy; for example, if a very appropriate home is found for a very special needs dog.

I really want to adopt a particular dog, but won't be ready to adopt him/her for some weeks or months. Will you hold the dog for me?

All Dog Rescue does not hold dogs for extended periods of time for potential homes. Our organization exists to help homeless dogs, and the majority of the dogs in our program would have been euthanized if not taken in by one of our foster homes. A single foster home may be able to save several dogs in a month; once an appropriate home is available for one of our dogs, we will adopt the dog to that home so the foster parent will be free to save another precious life. If the dog you are interested in is no longer available once you are ready to add your new family member, the unfortunate reality is that there will still be thousands of wonderful dogs desperately needing homes in this area.

Will all of your dogs be a the next adoption event?

Our foster parents do their best to ensure that every one of our dogs is at every adoption event. Of course it is not always possible. If we know that a particuar dog will not make it to an event, we put a note at the top of that dog's bio page. If you are travelling a long way to meet a particular dog, please make sure to check that dog's biography the morning of the adoption. There is also a small chance that a dog will not make it do to unexpected last-minute circumstances of course, but we strive to ensure that this is a rare occurance.