BullMastiff Rescuers

Adoption Policy

Adoption Policy
We take in dogs from a variety of situations - and many of them come into our hands in desperate need of vet care. At the very least, the vast majority require vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery prior to placement. A large percentage require corrective eye surgery, many are heartworm positive, and some are in need of orthopedic surgery. Accordingly, we require a monetary donation when a dog is placed with an adoptive family. The fees range from $500 for a dog under a year to a token charge for an elderly or infirm dog, one with training issues, or one with ongoing, expensive medical issues; the fees are established by the organization when the foster dog is ready for placement, and are non-negotiable.

We do not place dogs outside the US, nor do we ship dogs to their new homes. Dogs are not placed for the purpose of guarding, fighting, or breeding, and all dogs are spayed or neutered prior to placement.

Applicants must be 21 years of age, and previous large breed experience is preferred.

While some dogs are suited to urban or apartment dwelling, not all are, and the decision as to what sort of environment is best suited to each dog lies with the foster family. We prefer a fenced yard, but understand that this is not always feasible. Invisible fencing is usually not effective at containing a Bullmastiff, nor does it offer any protection to the dog confined within it, so we do not recommend it. Renters must provide us with written permission from the landlord specifically allowing the renter to have a Bullmastiff in residence.

Applicants with previous breed experience, who can demonstrate responsible dog ownership and have outstanding vet references, are preferred. Participation in positive-based, formal training classes is strongly recommended as a means to establish a stronger bond with your newly adopted pet and is, in some instances, required as a condition of the adoption. Despite internet "PR" to the contrary, not all Bullmastiffs are good with children, so if you have infants or toddlers, please understand that the wait may be a bit longer; we endeavor to place dogs into home with small children only if they have a history of living in harmony with little ones previously, or if they have been fostered in a home with small children. We review all of our applications carefully, and check references; a home visit by a volunteer will be performed prior to placement.

The foster dogs have all obvious veterinary issues addressed prior to placement, and are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, checked for heartworm and various tick-borne diseases (and treated if necessary), and microchipped. Most are crate trained and reliably house-broken unless otherwise noted. To the extent possible each foster dog is evaluated for any temperament issues while in foster care and dogs who exhibit any human aggression are not placed. The dogs in our care are NOT, however, warranted for health or temperament/behavior. When we place a dog, all of its vet records accompany him/her to the new home, an adoption contract is signed by both parties, and the required donation is expected at the time of placement. Dog licenses, pet insurance, homeowners insurance etc. are the responsibility of the adopter(s).

Bullmastiff Rescuers, Inc. reserves the right to refuse adoption to any applicant or individual.

Please be aware that we are all volunteers, so response time may vary. Dogs in need and emergency calls will take precedence over processing applications, so please bear with us.