Adoption Process

Please take the time to read through our applications process and FAQs BEFORE sending us an email.  If you cannot find the answer to your question here, you can email us at adoptions@pacificpugrescue.org. Please do not call our phone number with application related questions. All correspondence regarding your application will be done by email. If your email filter is set to exclusive you will need to check your junk and spam folders frequently so you do not miss updates on the status of your application. Please note that although a pug may appear on our website there may be approved applicants on our waitlist that will get first consideration. We recommend you not wait until you see a pug that you would like to adopt before you begin the adoption process. Applicants on the waitlist are always given first priority as long as they are a good match for the pug.

Step 1 – Complete Adoption Application

There is a $15 non refundable application processing donation, please make sure you understand and read all our policies before you submit the application, refunds will not be given if your application is denied. We prefer that applications are submitted online for quicker processing times, but if you cannot do so, feel free to print and mail it to us (Doc and PDF applications can be found at the bottom of this page). You will be notified within 48 hours that we have received your application. 

Step 2 – Application Preliminary Review

Our Adoption Coordinator will screen your application to determine if the necessary information was provided. If not, you will be emailed to provide additional information. All of our communication is done via e-mail. It is very important you take the time to fill out the application completely.  Some common mistakes are: providing family as references, not providing email addresses and incorrect vet information. If there are any major concerns about adopting a dog to you based on information provided in your application, your application will be denied.

Step 3 – Landlord Approval Verified

If you rent your home, your landlord will be contacted to make sure you have permission to have a dog in your home. If your landlord does not allow for a dog in your home, your application will be denied.

Step 4 – Veterinary References Contacted

A volunteer will contact the veterinary reference(s) you provided to determine if your current pets are spayed/neutered, kept up-to-date on vaccinations, and generally well cared for on a consistent basis. If you do not currently have pets, we may ask about the veterinary care that your previous pets received. If you have never owned a pet, this step is skipped. If your veterinary reference(s) cannot verify care history, spay/neuter, and vaccination status of your pet(s), processing of your application will be held until you can provide this information. Exemptions to our spay/neuter policy are granted if your vet has recommended not doing this because of age and/or health issues.  If your pet(s) is overdue for vaccinations, you will be required to bring them up-to-date before proceeding with the screening process. However, if your pet(s) is more than 6 months overdue, your application may be denied.

Step 5 – Personal References Contacted

A volunteer will contact your 2 personal references by email and ask them questions in regards to whether they consider you a responsible pet owner. This step in the process can take the most amount of time. It is helpful if you contact your references and ask them to return our emails in a timely manner. One of the major delays in processing applications is references not responding and incorrect emails on the application Please DO NOT use family members as references.  Please take the time to contact your references and let them know to expect an email from us. If we have any major concerns about adopting a dog to you based on communication with your references, your application will be denied.

Step 6 – Approval/Denial

Our Adoption Coordinator (and other Board members as necessary) use the information provided on the application and vet/reference checks to determine an applicant’s suitability for adopting a dog. Our Adoption Coordinator will notify you of your status. We reserve the right to refuse any applicant for any reason if we feel the needs of the dog will not be properly met or the adoption is not in the best interest of the dog.

Step 7 – Adopting a Pug

Upon approval of your adoption application, you will be placed on PPR’s pre approved waiting list.  This list is in chronological order by date you applied.  We do not do adoptions on a first come first serve basis, however the amount of time you have been waiting to adopt will factor into our decision-making.  Our primary obligation is to the pugs, and not all pugs will be a good match for your home. It is important you are patient and respectful of our process, even though at times you may be frustrated by the time waiting to adopt your new friend.  

Step 8 – Finalizing the Adoption

Once you have been matched with a pug, the foster parent will bring the pug to your home for a meet and greet.  All family members including pets, must be in attendance.  At this time you will also get a home check to make sure your home is safe for a pet.  If you are from outside the Portland/Vancouver metro area, you will be required to travel to Portland to meet the pug.  At times we may request that you bring your resident dogs along for the meet up.  A home visit will be done by a volunteer in your area or by Skype.  If all parties agree that the Pug is a good match, there is a 24 hour waiting period before the adoption is complete, this is waived if you have traveled from out of town.  This gives everyone an opportunity to reflect and make sure the decision to adopt is the right decision for everyone involved. Our goal is to find a "forever" home for each Pug in our rescue program; therefore we want this decision to be well thought.

Most of our adoptions are in OR, WA, ID, CA & B.C. However, as long as we are able to arrange a home visit in your area and you are able to travel to Portland for the meet and greet, you can be considered for adoption.  If you travel by airplane the pug must be transported either under the seat or a ticket must be purchased for the pug to ride in the passenger compartment.  Pugs cannot be flown in a cargo area. WE DO NOT TRANSPORT OUR PUGS!
If you require a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI), you will be required to pay the $75 fee to obtain the certificate.  

Step 9 – Sign the contract and pay the adoption donation

The last step in the adoption process is the signing of the adoption contract. The PPR adoption contract states, among other things, that if for any reason you cannot keep the Pug at  any time during the dog's life, he/she must be returned to PPR at the adopter's expense. You will be required to pay the entire donation amount at the time you pick up your new family member.

Email is the most effective and preferred way to communicate with PPR volunteers. It's a small group of volunteers that handle all of the tasks related with rescuing Pugs. Our volunteers also have families, jobs, and pets of their own. We thank you for your patience and understanding. We reserve the right to refuse service and adoption without explanation.