Our Adoption Process
The Maine Dog Rescue (MDR) is a foster-based rescue, meaning we do not operate a physical shelter. All of our dogs live in loving foster homes throughout Maine while waiting for their forever families.
We proudly facilitate adoptions throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
If you're interested in adopting, the first step is completing an adoption application. We strongly encourage getting pre-approved, even if you haven't found your perfect match yet!
Before You Apply
Our goal is to create successful, lifelong matches between dogs and their adoptive families. We carefully review each application and consider the individual needs of every dog.
Our adoption screening process includes:
Personal reference checks
Veterinary reference checks
Landlord approval, if applicable
A virtual home visit
A conversation about your household, lifestyle, and expectations
Resident pets must be spayed or neutered, current on vaccinations, and receiving monthly flea/tick and heartworm prevention, unless a veterinarian provides documentation of a medical exemption.
Please complete your application thoroughly and provide accurate contact information for your veterinarian, landlord, and references. Incomplete applications may delay processing.
Important: We match dogs based on the best fit for their individual needs, not on a first-come, first-served basis. Application approval does not guarantee adoption of a specific dog.
How Our Adoption Process Works
Step 1: Submit Your Application
Complete our online adoption application with information about your household, pets, lifestyle, and experience with dogs.
Our volunteer team aims to begin processing applications within 48 hours.
Please notify your personal references that we may contact them and authorize your veterinarian to release information to our rescue.
Step 2: Reference Checks & Virtual Home Visit
Once your references have been completed, a team member will contact you to schedule a virtual home visit through Google Meet or FaceTime.
This allows us to get to know you, learn about your home environment, and discuss what you're looking for in a new family member.
Step 3: Getting to Know You
During the home visit, we'll discuss your experience with dogs, household routines, training expectations, and the adjustment period that comes with welcoming a rescue dog.
We also encourage you to ask questions! We want every adopter to feel informed, prepared, and confident about bringing home a new dog.
Step 4: Approval & Matching
Following your home visit, our adoption team will review your application and determine whether your home is a suitable match for one of our dogs.
If approved, you may be matched with a specific dog or added to our pre-approved adopter list.
Pre-approved adopters are encouraged to contact us about available and upcoming dogs. Our team will help determine which dogs may be the best fit for your home and lifestyle.
Step 5: Meet-and-Greet
Once a potential match has been identified, we'll connect you directly with the dog's foster family to learn more and arrange a meet-and-greet.
Because our dogs are in foster homes throughout Maine, adopters are responsible for traveling to the foster family's location. Foster families are not required to travel for meet-and-greets, although they may choose to do so at their discretion.
We encourage all household members to participate in the meet-and-greet when appropriate.
Step 6: Finalizing Your Adoption
If the meet-and-greet goes well and everyone agrees it's a great match, you'll complete the adoption agreement and submit the adoption fee.
All adoption fees must be paid directly through The Maine Dog Rescue's website.
To complete your payment:
Visit the Donate section of our website.
Change the designation from "General Fund" to "Adoption Fee."
Enter the appropriate adoption fee and complete your payment.
We do not accept adoption payments through Venmo, PayPal, cash, checks, or other payment methods outside of our website.
Dogs must be picked up within 24–48 hours following the meet-and-greet if they are not going home that same day.
We do not accept deposits, reserve dogs, or place holds on dogs. This policy helps ensure our foster homes remain available for incoming rescue dogs.
Once everything is finalized, congratulations on welcoming your newest family member!
Adoption Fees
Dogs under 8 weeks - 6 years $525
Dogs 7 years and up $400
What's Included?
Our adoption fees help cover the veterinary care and transportation necessary to prepare our dogs for adoption, including:
Spay or neuter surgery
Age-appropriate vaccinations
Deworming
Microchipping
Flea and tick prevention
Heartworm prevention
Transportation to Maine, when applicable
Important Medical Information
Puppies under six months of age may still have intestinal parasites despite receiving deworming treatments. We strongly recommend scheduling a fecal examination with your veterinarian after adoption.
Dogs over six months of age are tested for Heartworm, Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis in accordance with applicable Maine state requirements.
Important Adoption Policies
Best-Fit Matching: Our dogs are placed based on compatibility, individual needs, and the likelihood of a successful lifelong adoption—not application order.
No Holds or Deposits: We do not reserve dogs or accept deposits to hold a dog.
Pickup Timeline: Adopters must be prepared to welcome their new dog home within 24–48 hours of the meet-and-greet.
Meet-and-Greet Travel: Adopters are responsible for traveling to the dog's foster home. Foster families are not required to travel or meet halfway.
Sibling Adoptions: We do not adopt sibling dogs together.
Adoption Payments: All adoption fees must be submitted through our website's Donate section, with "Adoption Fee" selected instead of "General Fund."
Adoption Fees: All adoption fees are non-refundable.
Application Decisions: The Maine Dog Rescue reserves the right to deny an application or decline an adoption at any point in the process.
Post-Adoption Support
Our commitment to our dogs and their families doesn't end on adoption day!
We understand that welcoming a rescue dog into your home is an adjustment, and we're here to help make that transition as smooth and successful as possible.
Our dedicated Post-Adoption Coordinator follows up with adoptive families at three important milestones:
3 Days After Adoption: Checking in on your dog's initial adjustment, answering questions, and offering guidance during those first few days.
3 Weeks After Adoption: Discussing your dog's progress, routines, training, and any challenges as they continue settling into their new home.
3 Months After Adoption: Celebrating your dog's progress, checking on their long-term adjustment, and making sure everyone is thriving together.
We believe adoption is a lifelong commitment, and our goal is to help every dog and family build a happy, lasting relationship.
Rescue doesn't end at adoption. It's where their next chapter begins.
Questions? We're Here to Help!
Our adoption team is happy to answer questions about available dogs, upcoming arrivals, pre-approval, and the adoption process.
Cassie Mocciola
Vice President & Adoption Coordinator
Email: cassie@mainedogrescue.org
Thank you for considering adoption and giving a deserving dog the opportunity for a second chance.
Rescue. Love. Home.
