All of the dogs in the care of HVGSR are housed with generous, caring people who are willing to open their homes to them until a forever home is found. Dogs who are fostered in home/family environments tend to make the transition to their new forever homes much more easily than dogs in shelters or kennel environments.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a temporary foster home for one of HVGSR's dogs, please contact us! If you would like to fill out an application to become a foster home, click Foster Home Application to pull it up. You may fill it out on your computer, scan, and e-mail it to us, or print it out and mail it. Once we receive it, we will call you to go over your answers to determine what sort of dog is best suited for you and your household, so it's okay to keep your answers short and sweet on the app.
NOTE: We provide a crate, bowls, food, and vet care for all dogs in foster homes. Fostering is a wonderful opportunity for people to have a dog who might not be able to afford one of their own.
If you cannot foster a dog for whatever reason, but would like to help out by walking the dogs, taking them to appointments, etc., please contact us!
HVGSR's adoption process is fairly simple. First, we require an adoption application be filled out, and then we arrange for you to come and meet the dog(s) that you are interested in and/or the dog(s) that we feel would be the best match for you. If this meeting goes well and you would like to adopt the dog, then we will schedule a time that we can bring the dog to your home. If you would prefer to be able to take the dog home with you that day, then a home check will need to be done prior to your visit with the dog.
Because of our limited capacity to bring new dogs in based on available foster homes, we might not have a suitable dog for you when you submit your application. However, we are contacted daily by owners and shelters. If we feel that one of these dogs would be a good match for you, based on the information you give us on your application, then we can commit to that particular dog just for you, where otherwise we might have to turn it down for lack of available space.
Our adoption fees are as follows:
Dogs that appear to be mixes - $150
Dogs that appear to be (or are, based on paperwork) purebred - $200
The adoption fees pay for the dog's initial wellness exam, fecal, heartworm test, microchip, spay/neuter surgery, all necessary vaccinations, deworming, flea/tick/heartworm prevention while the dog is under our care, and a bath & nail trim before going home with you. Purebred dogs may or may not come with papers, depending on whether their owners give them to us when they surrender the dog.
If you'd like to submit an adoption application, even if we do not currently have a dog listed that you think will fit your needs (dogs that we take in are put on 'hold' status for at least a week after we place them into foster care, to allow them to settle in and/or recover from any illness they may have, and for us to evaluate them and get a better idea of what to put in their bio), please click Adoption Application to pull it up. You may fill it out on your computer, scan, and e-mail it to us, or print it out and mail it in. We keep applications for up to 90 days. Once we receive it, we will call you within a few days to go over your answers with you, so it's okay to keep your answers short and sweet on the app.
We are always willing to take in dogs that might be suitable for training as service/assistance dogs for the handicapped, search & rescue, detection (narcotics or explosives, for example), or law enforcement apprehension dogs. Please contact us if you believe your dog might be suitable for such a job.
All of our dogs come with a 30-day gift of ShelterCare insurance. Once the gift expires, you can alleviate the financial stress associated with unexpected medical expenses and generate funds for HVGSR at the same time by applying for a ShelterCare Pet Insurance Program by using the ShelterCare banner-link above, or you can do nothing and the coverage will automatically expire.
Here’s how it works: ShelterCare Pet Insurance Programs cover you when your pet needs essential veterinary care from an illness or injury. Also, every time a completed application for a ShelterCare program is generated through the specific banner-link on this page, we automatically receive a $25 donation to help cover common needs like medications, blankets, and food. This donation is of no cost to you and provides us with essential funds. Make the right move and enroll today!
Vaccines
We follow a minimal-vaccination protocol. The vaccines we use are individual shots, meaning the parvo shot contains nothing but parvo, & the distemper shot contains nothing but distemper. These are the only two vaccines that we will administer to puppies, and they must be done at least 2 weeks apart from one another. This reduces the chances of reactions and side effects, and does not over-stress the immune system by bombarding it with several diseases all at once, like combo shots (such as 5-way or 7-way shots) do. For dogs older than 12 months, we offer a combination DA2 (distemper & adenovirus) shot for those interested, in addition to the parvo-only shot.
The vaccines we use are known as 'high titer' vaccines, which means that they are designed to overcome maternal antibodies in puppies younger than 16 weeks. What that means is that just one shot should provide immunity for at least 7 years, if not for life. Visit http://www.aahanet.org to learn more about duration of immunity from vaccines. So far, the studies have only proven them effective for 7 years, but those studies are ongoing. This eliminates the need for giving a series of shots to young puppies, and for annual re-vaccination as well.
Microchips
Even if you did not adopt your dog from us, we are still happy to microchip him or her for you. We use 24PetWatch microchips.
Please contact us for more information and pricing.
Following is a list of the things we use on a daily basis & can always use. If you have something you'd like to donate but are not sure if we can use, please contact us and ask! We greatly appreciate your generosity.
* Dog Food (dry) - Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice or Beef & Rice
* Dog Food (canned) - Any kind
* Stainless Steel Dishes
* Cedar Shavings for Outdoor Dog Houses
* Collars & Leashes - no choke chains or chain leashes, please
* Crates - no smaller than 32"L x 22.5"W x 24"H - & crate pads/bedding
* Fold-away Exercise Pens
* Toys - balls, tugs, long-lasting chews, etc. (no rawhide or latex/vinyl toys, please)
* Pooper scoopers
* Training Treats
* Nail Trimmers - we like the 'scissors' style best
* Cleaning Supplies - bleach, Nature's Miracle, etc.
* Grooming Supplies - brushes, waterless bath products, shampoo (no flea/tick shampoos, please)
