Do you have an age requirement?

Yes. We require adopters to be at least 23 years old. If younger and/or living with parents, have written parental approval and provide phone to verify.

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I rent my home. Can I still adopt?

That depends on a few factors. The volunteer who is processing your application will need written confirmation from your landlord, association, or housing development. We also reserve the right to ask to see a copy of your lease. 

 

I’m not quite ready to adopt, but I’d like to be approved for the future.
What should I do?

Great question. If you think you want to adopt your new best friend in the near future, please get your application in – you can be pre-approved up to 6 months in advance. Keep checking our website, social media events, and feel free to join us at any of our events. 

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What is your adoption process? 

Please fill out our adoption application on our website. Once submitted, you will receive a confirmation message once we have received your application. 

• When you apply, please let your references know that one of our team members will be contacting them via email/phone. Also, please contact your vet's office and authorize them to discuss your pets' health records with the ECCR representative who will be reaching out.

• We will reach out to you for a personal interview, we will also be checking your references: personal and veterinarian - if you currently have or have had a pet in the last 2 years.

• Once we conclude the initial process, we forward your application to the home visit team. They will get in touch with you to schedule a home visit at your earliest convenience. This process usually takes 1-2 weeks.

• Once your home visit report is reviewed and approved, a member of our team will get in touch with you to discuss the breed/mix, size, temperament traits and characteristics exhibited by your new dog; or offer to match you with a different dog that better fits your/your family's needs.

• Once a dog is selected, you will be in touch with the dog's foster to learn more about your new best friend. If the dog is coming on transport, you will then be given the information to go pick up your dog once adoption fee is paid and documents are signed.

 

This process may feel invasive, but we have a lifetime commitment to our dogs. We need to be sure they are going to a home where they will be loved and cared for their entire lives. Therefore, we screen our homes very carefully and we thank you in advance for your understanding. 

 

I have a pet in my home. Is that okay?

Yes, of course! Our rescue does have a policy when it comes to placing our dogs in a home with current pets. All current pets in the home must be spayed/neutered – we do not adopt to homes with unaltered pets. All pets must be up to date on vaccinations or have medical exception

 

Can I meet the puppies before I adopt?

Unfortunately, we do not do meet-and-greets with potential adopters. Our rescue is foster based and to protect our volunteers and their families, we do not allow potential adopters to visit their homes. Thank you for understanding. 

 

For dogs over 6 months, we do allow meet and greets for approved adopters. Approved adopters are adopters who have had completed our application process — including a home visit.  If this applies to you, approved adopters must be willing to travel to the foster’s home at a time that is convent for our volunteers. Thank you for understanding. 

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I live in a different state. Can I still adopt?

We place dogs with adopters in NY, NJ, MA and CT. Adopters from other states will be picking up their dogs in one of these three states and are responsible to abide by their home state's animal importation laws. ECCR will not cross state lines into NH or RI for a dog to be adopted.

 

What exactly is a home visit? Why do I need one?

You must agree to a home visit by one of our team members. During the home visit, our volunteer will go through your home, he/she will visit every single area of the house, no exceptions. The volunteer will also be visiting any other building on your property, as well as the grounds all the way to the property line. Denying access to any area of the house or property will lead to an immediate denial. For the safety of all parties involved, all home visits will be done during daylight hours.

*** Due to Covid 19, we are doing Virtual Home Visits via Facetime or Skype for everyone's safety.

 

What if I adopt a dog at your event? 

If you adopt an ECCR dog at an event, one of our volunteers will be in touch with you to schedule a home visit within 30 days of the adoption. Event adoptions are subject to the same policies listed above. Also, for all event adoptions, the adopted dog must be present during the home visit. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made.

 

What forms of payment do you accept for adoption fees?

You must pay your dog's adoption fee prior to placement of the dog in your home. Accepted forms of payment are: credit/debit cards, bank checks, and cash. Personal checks and money orders are not an accepted form of payment.

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Is my donation refundable if the adoption doesn’t work out?

Your adoption donation to East Coast Canine Rescue is non-refundable. Each adoption donation goes towards saving more dogs, vetting, alterations, and emergency medical care. Thank you for understanding. 

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What happens if I need to return the dog I adopted?

Please refer to your signed contract for more information. 

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What if I move to a new house and I had a home visit at my previous home; do I need to re-apply?

Congratulations on your new home! No, you do not need to re-apply, but we do ask that you allow a volunteer to conduct another home visit. Thank you! 

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Adoption Fees

Puppies 8 weeks to 6 months old: $517.16 + tax = $550

Puppies 6 months to 12 months old: $470.15 + tax = $500

Dogs 13 months to 5 years old: $423.14 + tax = $450

Dogs 5 to 9 years old: $352.61 + tax = $375

Seniors 9+ years old: $324.40 + tax = $345

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Disclaimers:

ECCR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DENY AN ADOPTION/FOSTER APPLICATION AT ANY STAGE. 

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Our dogs are temperament tested, they are all dog and people friendly. We will cat test upon request if we are able to. We will not place a dog/human aggressive dog in a home. Our dogs are fully vetted (and on flea/tick/heartworm preventatives) according to their age. We try to microchip and alter (age determinate) all dogs prior to adoption. In the case where that may not be possible, we have an alteration contract that is required to be signed acknowledging this will be done by the dog's adopter. ECCR will reimburse $125.oo of the alteration cost, at the time of surgery, to a licensed veterinarian ONLY. 

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