Victorian Dog Rescue adoption procedures

Dog Adoption Form
Cat Adoption Form

Victorian Dog Rescue and Resource Group Inc is a community fostercare network. All our dogs and cats are in foster care at various locations usually in Melbourne, sometimes in the Victorian country, or in commercial kennels waiting for a foster carer. We do not operate a shelter.

Each of our dogs and cats is special to us, and their welfare is of the utmost importance. Our adoption procedures are intensive because we aim to match our dogs and cats with the right adopter and place them in their forever home. Different pets have different requirements, and we carefully assess the nature, temperament and requirements of each individual pet. We do not simply rehome our pets to the first person that applies. Rather, we place our pets in the home that is most suitable for them. Our pets remain in foster care until this suitable home is found, however long it takes.

The application must be returned to us online. If you are an appropriate applicant for the pet you have nominated, we will telephone you to talk further about your requirements. We also contact the foster carer for their comments, and if the pet appears a good match for you, we will arrange a no obligation ‘meet and greet’. We also complete a property check to make sure all is safe and secure. We will only rehome dogs where fencing is secure or there is a contained area for the dog.

If we do not believe you will provide the most appropriate home for the pet we will not rehome that pet to you. Our decision is final and we will not discuss further. When applying for a pet please consider the pet’s requirements, not just your own. Above all our priority is to place our pets in the most appropriate home for them.

We understand that it can be upsetting when you do not get a pet that you have set your heart on, but do trust that we know the pet’s requirements best. This is why we believe in the foster care system, rather than the outdated shelter system, as we are seeing our pets in a home environment. If you are looking for a young or small dog we encourage you to keep applying for dogs from different groups to increase your chances as we get hundreds of applications for these dogs.

We believe that each of our dogs, whether a puppy, a senior, a troubled teenager, or like most, a completely lovable normal dog, has the same value but we do vary our fee from $590 for our seniors to $850 for other dogs. Our kittens are $400 each and our cats are $300. Our senior dogs, in particular, nearly always cost us thousands of dollars to bring them back to good health. Many have health issues and require specialist operations. Our greatest expense is veterinary work.

The adoption fee as set out for each dog is not negotiable, and only occasionally covers the vetwork actually carried out, much less the additional costs of external trainers, equipment and specialist food. All monies received by us, whether in donations or fees, are used for the benefit of our pets.

We offer the services of a behaviouralist/trainer free of charge for the first six-week period. We also offer a take back or assist to rehome policy for the lifetime of the animal which includes a full refund of the adoption fee. This is because we always want our dogs and cats back if they do not settle or circumstances change.

Adopters are welcome to contact us for advice at any time. Our purpose is to ensure the pet you have adopted has a safe and happy home for the remainder of their life. Shouldn’t this be how it is for every dog and every cat in a compassionate society.

Please note we do not rehome to any person interstate or under 25 years of age.

Note that we are not in a position to hold dogs for you. Please do not apply for a dog until you are in a position to adopt that dog. We expect the dog to go to their new home within 7 days of the successful meet and greet.

For further information on adopting a dog or cat from us, please view our Adoption FAQs.

Adoption Fees

Adoption fees must be paid to the below account.

Bank: Westpac
Account name: Victorian Dog Rescue & Resource Group Inc
BSB: 033047
Account number: 543361

Please remember… that we are a volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation. The best way to contact us is via email adoptions@victoriandogrescue.org.au. If we have not acknowledged your application within seven days, please send us a reminder.

Thank you for your understanding and for supporting our beautiful rescue dogs and cats.