Thank you for considering adopting a dog from CCLS. Before filling out the adoption application, please read these adoption requirements. If you understand and agree with these requirements and are serious about adopting a dog from us, we would love to have you fill out an adoption application. Please note that next to each requirement, we explain why these policies are so important to us and to the dogs entrusted to our care.
- CCLS will only adopt dogs out to homes that are in an approximately 200-mile radius of Cuba, NY. While our goal is for every adoption to work out perfectly and the adoptive home to be the permanent home, there is always a chance that an adoption may not work out for an unanticipated reason(s). If for any reason an adoption is not working out, our sanctuary will always take the dog back right away. We need to be prepared to do this and traveling long distances unexpectedly is not something in which we are prepared to do. Naturally, some adopters will eventually move out of an approximate 200-mile radius of our sanctuary and even out of state…our unwavering commitment to always taking our dogs back if an adoption doesn’t work will never change and we will travel anywhere to repossess a dog. However, we do not want to subject our dogs and their caretakers to unnecessary travel and turmoil by routinely adopting dogs out to distant locations.
- CCLS will not adopt to homes who use or plan to use choke, prong or electric collars or any form of invisible fencing. Our sanctuary believes firmly in utilizing science-based, gentle training techniques and equipment. We have seen first-hand the obvious and not-so-obvious impact this type of training equipment creates and has the potential to create.
- Adopters are required to respond to follow-up calls from CCLS regarding the dog’s welfare. CCLS was created to rescue homeless dogs and we have put an incredible amount of time, money and energy into healing the wounds (physical, mental and emotional) that society has caused them. We make a lifetime commitment to each and every one of our dogs and we care deeply about how the dog is doing throughout the rest of his/her life and it is our right to know how our adopted dogs are doing. If this sounds strange or overbearing to you, please do not apply.
- All dogs adopted from CCLS must live in the home with the family. Dogs will not be adopted out to outdoor-only homes, nor will they be adopted to homes where they only have access to a garage, barn, basement, etc. Being a part of a family unit plays a crucial role in a dog’s overall well-being.
- Our goal is to make each and every adoption a smooth, happy transition for the dogs in our care. Shy dogs are prone to experiencing high levels of anxiety if immediately tossed into a new environment with unfamiliar people. They also pose a higher “flight risk” when adjusting to so much new stimuli. It is for these reasons that with certain dogs, we’ll require potential adopters to come multiple times and get to know the dog before taking him/her home. We may also bring the dog out to the potential adopter’s home several times for “field trips” so that the dog can gradually get acclimated to his/her new surroundings. While this may seem like a lot of “extra” work, we believe wholeheartedly that we owe it to these dogs to not cause additional stress, confusion or regression in their confidence.
- If the adopter wishes to pursue additional training with the dog, he/she is required to choose a certified trainer that is committed to using gentle, science-based methods. Please understand that we are not telling you which trainer to use, we are simply trying to ensure the trainer you use has the skills and credentials to help your dog and at the very least, will not have a negative impact on your dog’s well-being.
- Adopters must be 21 years of age or older. Additionally, we are looking for individuals/families that have stable incomes, stable homes and are not in a transitionary time in in their life. While we recognize that many people switch jobs, move to new homes, etc. throughout their lifetime, we want to ensure that the dogs we adopt out will always be the priority in the adopter’s life. A dog should always be considered a cherished family member and his or her quality of life should never be compromised by factors such as long working hours, lack of income or anything else a person wishes to pursue that would put the dog’s needs/best interests at risk.
- Generally speaking, CCLS will not adopt dogs to homes with children under the age of 5. While this requirement is not set in stone for absolutely every situation, small children are much more vulnerable to miscommunications with dogs because they do not yet have the mental capacity to understand and interpret canine body language or be able to follow directions about what to do and not do around dogs. Please understand that this is not a judgement regarding a parent’s management skills but instead, a recognition that we cannot guarantee how our dogs, some with unknown histories, will react to daily life with a baby or toddler. The safety and happiness of our dogs and the families who adopt them guides all of our decisions with adoption placement.