Our process

We review the application: Each dog that ABR considers taking into care will first have their surrender application reviewed by the Intake Committee. They will determine if we have the resources (money, fosters, adopters) to take on a dog with their needs as reported by the surrendering family.

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We get a professional behavioral assessment: Assuming we have room and resources we then ask the surrendering family to take the dog to be assess by one of our trusted trainers. Every dog is assessed by a trainer prior to intake. The trainer provides ABR with a more in-depth report of the dog's behaviors and needs. They make recommendations about housing, family type, adoptability and what the dog's ideal family would look like.

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We get the medical history and prognosis: If the dog is being surrendered for medical reasons our medical coordinator will get in touch with the dog's current vet for a full medical history and possibly a quick chat. We use this information to help give our vets the whole picture and ensure we are addressing any medical issues promptly upon intake. We do provide all records, with personal info redacted, to the adopter's vet.

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We screen potential fosters and adopters: Anyone who applies to foster or adopt one of ABR's dogs goes through a lengthy screening process. After completing a questionnaire we conduct a interview and a homecheck. In order to pass they must present as a home that we would feel comfortable leaving our personal pets with.... after all, if they're not good enough for our babies, they're not good enough for yours. The minimum trial sleepover is one week and we will pull a dog if we aren't happy with how things are going. It always comes back to doing what's best for the dog.

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Transparency is key: When we start advertising that one of our dogs is ready to be adopted we are totally transparent about any behaviour or medical issues that we know of, both past and present. If our blunt approach scares people off, so be it - think of what their reaction would be if they were faced with these situations without knowing they were a possibility.

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We will gladly take our dog back: Our adoption contracts are drafted to clearly state that the dog will be returned to us if the adopters can't keep them. This rarely happens, but we have seen adopters experience sudden life changes and we are always happy to welcome our dogs back. When possible we will even place them with their original foster home.

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Updates are plentiful: We do our best to post about each dog in our care at least once a week and include as many pictures as the fosters give us. We will also post updates about surgeries, trial adoptions and any other "news". We do keep in touch with our adopters and often get updates for years after the dog was in our care.