The adoption donations for pets adopted from Florida Little Dog Rescue range from $150 to $500 depending upon age and medical issues. These donations are non-negotiable, as they are how we cover the veterinary expenses on our pups.

The adoption process for Florida Little Dog Rescue is as follows:

First, you will fill out an adoption application, which can be completed on the adoption application tab on our website.  ALL questions must be complete on the adoption application before it will be reviewed. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. ALL fields MUST be completed.  If you have questions about the application, please contact us via email, littledogrescue@gmail.com.

Your application will be reviewed as soon as possible. This process usually takes a few days and sometimes up to a week or more depending on the availability of our volunteers. 

The dog's individual needs will be taken into consideration when we review your application to see if they will fit your lifestyle and home. We DO NOT accept applications or adoption inquiries for dogs that are not currently available for adoption (the ONLY dogs we accept applications for are those on our adoptable dogs page) and we do not keep applications on file or any "wait lists". If the dog is not on the ADOPTABLE DOGS PAGE we will NOT answer any questions or adoption inquiries about that pup.  We ask that you please only apply when there is a dog you are specifically interested in on the Adoptable Dogs page, as we do not "pre-approve" applications, since we consider each application against the individual needs of each dog:)  So, if the dog you are looking for is not available for adoption on our website now, you should check back frequently, as new dogs are added all the time, as our website is updated daily as dogs are cleared for adoption.

After your applictaion is submitted, we will be checking your references, so please make sure they are the vet/groomer that has seen your current and previous pets. After reviewing your application, if a match seems good on paper, we will contact you for an initial interview.  The adoption team will discuss your application with you, as well as possible matches for your family.  If after the initial interview the pup still appears to be a match, you will then be contacted by the foster parents of that dog for a second interview.  If they feel that you are, in fact a match, they will set up a meet and greet for you with the pup.  This meet and greet will require you to drive to the Orlando area. Please do not apply if you are unable to travel to Orlando within 24-48 hours of applying to adopt. If you have other pets or children, especially, we will want to see how our foster dog interacts with your other pets and/or children. All household members MUST be present at the time of the visit.  We do not adopt dogs out as gift, surprises, etc.  Our foster parents are all volunteers, please be respectful of that when arranging the meet and greet.  (Note: If you are travelling from out of town, please allow time for traffic, etc. Please be on time.  We have had applicants attempt to show up as much as three hours late.  This is not fair to our foster parents, and we will not ask them to wait.)   Please know that while a dog may be listed on the "Adoptable Dogs" page, it may have received applications, and the adoption team may be in the process of arranging a meet and greet for that pup.  Dogs are moved off the "Adoptable Dogs" page once they have left foster care and are in their new home.

If you are approved to adopt a dog from us, an adoption contract must be filled out and signed in order for the dog to leave for its new home. While adoption applications may be sent through e-mail, contracts must signed in person. We do not ship dogs and we do not adopt dogs outside of the state of Florida.

That's it! If any problems should arise, Florida Little Dog Rescue is always here to offer advice or aid whenever and wherever possible. Please consider us a lifelong resource for any questions or concerns you may have with your adopted dog.

If at any point in the future you cannot keep the dog you have adopted, you MUST return it to Florida Little Dog Rescue unless you have discussed an alternative plan with us. This allows us to find another loving home and to keep track of the dogs we have placed.

To apply to adopt one of our dogs, please complete the application form and click "save"!

Please note we generally do not permit adoptions December 20-28 due to the holidays.  Thank you in advance for your understanding.

A FEW CAVEATS about the adoption process . . .

Please note, we are not a shelter. We do not have a kennel or facility that you can visit and see all the dogs. Each dog is fostered in an individual home. We do rescue out of our private homes and in our spare time. So, you cannot come visit our dogs until you have gone through the application and interview process and we have contacted you about scheduling a visit.  We do not have set "hours" and we answer all calls and emails as quickly as we can!

Please understand that we often receive several applications for one dog. Our goal is to place our dogs in the best, most appropriate homes. You may be convinced that your home is the best and most appropriate, but the decision is still ours to make. Since we live with these dogs in our homes, we have a good understanding of their needs and personalities and what type of home would work best for them. If you are not selected to adopt a dog, it likely has nothing to do with whether or not we think you could provide a good home for a dog. It may simply be that we did not believe that you were the best fit for the particular dog that you applied for. If you are a match, we do ask that you be prepared to have a meet and greet with the pupper within a few days. We are unable to "hold" dogs to accomodate travel plans, or vacation schedules.  If you are applying and are not local to the Orlando area (i.e. South Florida resident), not all of our foster parents have schedules that can accomodate weekend meetings, and you may need to be able to travel to Orlando on a weekday or evening, as all of our foster moms are volunteers.  Our foster homes are not "boarding facilities" and once a dog is adopted, that opens a space for another pupper to be saved from animal control.  Please do not apply for a dog if you are unprepared or unable to take that dog home at the time of the meet and greet if the foster parent approves the adoption.

Please be patient. We have full-time jobs and lives outside of rescue: We are all unpaid volunteers. The adoption process can often take several days to a week, depending on what else is going on in our lives at the time. Please know we WANT to place the dogs quickly, and work as fast as life allows!  You are welcome to contact us to find out the status of your application, but it won't necessarily make the process go faster.

Why should I go through all this trouble for a dog?

This is an excellent question! Adding a new dog to your life should be a well thought out, educated decision. Not an impulse purchase! When you adopt an animal, you should be willing to commit to that animal for its entire life. All of the dogs we rescue have been through at least one home. We place these dogs into homes that we feel will care for them for the rest of their lives. Our screening process has yours and the dogs best interest at heart. We want to match you and the dog perfectly. Our adoption process is in-depth and can take time, depending on your preferences and the dogs needs. This is an organization staffed completely by volunteers, so please be patient. Remember, anything worth having is worth waiting for!