Dogs without Borders

+ Can I adopt outside of Los Angeles?

We will adopt adult dogs, who are already spayed or neutered, to applicants outside of the Los Angeles area on a case-by-case basis. Puppies who are underage or medical dogs who cannot be fixed before adoption are not eligible for out of area placement.

All adopters must come to Los Angeles to pick up, we will not put them on a transport nor give them to a third party to transport.

You can find adoptable pets in your area by going to Petfinder.com and putting in your zip code.

+ How do I prepare my home for a new dog?

We recommend that you start with the basics:

A collar or harness, leash and a tag with a legible phone number. Be sure that the collar fits snugly, not allowing more than a 2 finger width to fit between the neck and the collar.

You will also need at least one dog bed that can be moved around from room to room. Your new dog will most likely prefer to hang out in the same room as you. A crate; not all dogs need a crate, but many dogs thrive while having a place to “nest” – especially at night or when you are gone for short periods of time.

Dog bowls for food during mealtimes and clean water available at ALL TIMES, some chews such as dog-specific bones or bully sticks, good quality dog-treats, a couple of toys to start (most dogs prefer plush toys that squeak and can fit in their mouths) and high quality dog food (we prefer grain-fee).

Not all dogs have the need to chew, but many do – especially puppies! Always scan the floor for items such as pencils, paperclips, coins, etc. and make sure your dog has zero access to them!

If you have children, ask them to keep their special items such as plush toys, crayons, etc. in a location away from the dog’s reach. Your new dog may not be able to distinguish between its squeaky toy and your child’s favorite teddy bear.

Taping or tucking electrical, phone and computer cords up and away from reach is especially important.

If you have an open trash can in your kitchen, you may want to move it behind a cabinet door, such as under the sink. If this is not possible, replacing an open trash can with a secure lid is highly advised.

Keep cleaning supplies and poisons locked away! Rat poison, roach hotels and other chemicals should not be used when having a dog or puppy in the house. If these must be used, make sure they are picked up before a dog can find it and start chewing/eating it like a toy (we speak from experience).

Our adoption fair locations are equipped with knowledgeable staff and wonderful supplies to get you started.

+ Can I take a dog home on a trial basis?

Yes! All adult dogs are allowed to go home for a free, week-long Trial Adoption (aka Foster to Adopt). This is based on an approved ADOPTION application.

This is a great way to see how your other pets get along with a potentially new member of the pack. If you suffer from allergies, please let us know so we can recommend a suitable breed for your condition.

If at the end of the week you do not feel the dog is a good match, we can either re-home the dog to a new foster or, hopefully, you will continue fostering until a permanent home is found.

In general, very young puppies are not up for trial periods as we prefer not to disturb their environments until a firm commitment is made. Since they are puppies, their true personality has not yet developed and it is the new owner’s duty to form and shape the puppy’s behavior as it matures.

+ What if the dog doesn’t work out in my home?

If, for any reason, your adopted dog does not work out in your home after a basic adjustment period, Dogs Without Borders will accept the dog back to re-home. However, we ask for your patience in finding a suitable foster before you can relinquish it. If the dog must be returned immediately, it is up to the owner to keep it at a boarding facility until a proper foster home is found. Since we do not have our own kennels, we cannot take returned dogs on an immediate basis. We are also here to guide you through any complications that may arise in terms of behavior or health issues. We are not certified trainers or veterinarians, but we do know a thing or two about dogs and hope that our guidance will help prevent the unnecessary re-homing of a dog.

Please consider hiring a trainer, behaviorist, or attending a class. You can see a list of recommended professionals here.

+ What should I expect during a home inspection?

We look for a safe and positive environment for a dog; though each dog has their own specific needs. In general, we make sure there are no ways a dog can escape, such as gaps in a fence or an open balcony. We also look for evidence of harmful chemicals such as rat poison, roach hotels, automotive supplies (e.g. antifreeze, which tastes sweet to animals) or loose wires which could pose a threat (especially if adopting a puppy!).

Keeping your trash behind closed cabinet doors or in a trash can with a secure lid are highly recommended. If we find a potential hazard, depending on the danger level, we may wait until the hazard is fixed prior to allowing the dog to move to its new home.

+ What does the adoption process include?

The first step is an Adoption Application, followed by a quick interview with a Dogs Without Borders representative. After a match is made you will take a dog home for a week-long Adoption Trial*. Upon adoption you will be asked to sign an Adoption Agreement, pay a fee, and we will schedule a home visit.

We guarantee each adult dog is current on DHPP or DHLPP and Rabies vaccines, microchipped, and spayed/neutered. You will be provided with your new dogs vaccination and health records, spay/neuter certificate, and microchip number when the adoption is completed. If you are adopting a puppy that is too young to spay or neuter, Dogs Without Borders is responsible for sending you to a clinic (of our choice) for the procedure to be completed (at our cost) once the puppy is of age.

Puppies under 6 months may not have received all vaccines due to their age at adoption. In that case you will be responsible for continuing them on the appropriate vaccines schedule. We will guide you through this process,

*Puppies under 6 months do not qualify for a week-long Trial Adoption.

+ Why can I foster a dog but still be denied to adopt the same dog?

This is a great question and we understand that it’s confusing.

In many cases, dogs and fosters are a perfect match, and have a routine and boundaries that make sure everyone is happy and thriving. This is most often the case with experienced dog owners, and dogs who have been in the rescue more than 2 weeks.

In other cases, the dog is new to rescue, and the foster is the person helping us get to know more about the new dog, and helping us learn what their long term needs may be.

If we determine that a dog’s LONG TERM needs are different than what the foster can provide we may not approve that adoption. It doesn’t mean the foster is a bad home, it doesn’t mean the foster would be denied for all dogs across the board. We place dogs in homes on a CASE BY CASE basis, evaluating their individual needs and striving to ensure a dog that will be happy in that home for its entire life.

Let’s say we get a dog from the shelter who is noted as aggressive toward other dogs — we will likely place that dog in a foster home WITHOUT other dogs.

A week or so later, after the dog has decompressed, we find that it was just the stress of the shelter causing them to act out, and in fact they LOVE other dogs and would be HAPPIEST in a home with a playmate. Well, we have a dilemma because we don’t want to move the dog to a new foster home if we don’t have to, but we also think the dog would do best in a home with another dog LONG TERM. This foster would not be an ideal candidate to adopt this particular dog.

We believe that people can be incredible short term guardians for a dog but not necessarily be equipped to give THAT dog its best life.

Our MISSION is to match dogs to their perfect home, not just any home.

+ I’ve applied to be a foster but haven’t heard back. Was I rejected?

We contact every foster and every adoption applicant, regardless of whether or not you are approved.

Please allow our staff 2 business days to get in touch with you – noting that they are at fairs on the weekend and may not review applications until Monday.

If you still haven’t heard from us, please check your spam folder and voicemail!

If it’s been more than 2 business days (not counting the weekend) and you don’t have an email or voicemail, please contact: foster@dogswithoutborders.org

We try our best to be as prompt as possible, but sometimes emergencies arise which take priority.

+ What happens if I am fostering a dog and it is too good a fit and I would like to adopt?

We understand that this is a probable scenario and would like to support our foster parents if they choose to adopt provided that they qualify to adopt (standard application process) and that there are no pending applications for the dog. The standard adoption fee applies. As much as we’d love to supply our volunteers with an adoption discount, our vet bills don’t feel the same way. If you think you would like to adopt your foster dog, please notify us immediately and you will be expected to finalize your adoption, pending approval, within 7 days.

+ What, if any, are the training requirements for dogs I care for?

Every dog is special and will have unique needs. Some will be housebroken and some will not. It may take a day or two for your fostered dog to get acclimated with you and its new environment. Please be patient and consistent.

You will be assigned a “foster mentor” and they will always be available to answer questions and provide guidance. We will support you throughout this process by sharing efficient and effective tips as well as supplying you with any special gear to make your fostering period successful.

+ What am I supplied with while fostering?

We will supply all food, flea meds, leashes, collars, tags and any vet needs throughout the fostering process. If you are fostering puppies, you will be supplied with crates/pens and puppy pads. Food and care items are typically delivered with the dog and resupplied at Adoption Fairs. If you notice that you are low on any supplies, please give us heads up before the next event so we can make sure you are well stocked. In case of a medical emergency, contact us immediately and take the dog to a sanctioned hospital.

+ May I try to secure an adopter for my fostered dog?

Certainly, and all efforts to aid in finding a permanent home for the dogs are warmly welcomed. However, all potential adopters must go through the adoption review process to obtain approval by the organization. Please give us heads up if you believe you have a good candidate for your foster dog. We value our fosters’ opinion as they usually know their foster dog best. Any input by the foster parent regarding its new home will be considered in the outcome of the adoption.

+ I have some questions very specific to my situation, can I call you first to discuss before filling out an application?

Although every family is unique, we find that most questions and concerns are actually very common and consistent across new fosters. Regardless of your specific situation,there’s some basic information we will still need before adequately answering your questions. Please fill out an application first and our Foster Coordinator will reach out to conduct an interview and address any specific questions or concerns.

Our office staff are extremely busy – our Rescue & Foster coordinators in particular – and it can be challenging to field incoming calls. We always appreciate your patience!

+ Can you help me with some training resources?

Sure we can! Please remember that PRONG and SHOCK collars are NEVER permitted on DWB dogs, EVEN AFTER THEY ARE ADOPTED. No behaviourist will recommend these tools. In addition they re not allowed when training dog for therapy or service work — they are torture devices. Punishment is the least effective way to correct unwanted behaviour.

Here’s some great videos and blogs to help you learn new tricks, correct nuissance behaviours, and form a closer bond with your canine friends.

Susan Garrett

Kiko Pup

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-qnqaajTk6bfs3UZuue6IQ

Muttineer

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFt4sAiMx5WdFfU6V2tFnXg

Patricia McConnell

https://www.patriciamcconnell.com

+ What is a Dog License? Is it included? How do I get one?

A dog license is required for all dogs and horses in Los Angeles. Cats are not required to be licensed. License tags identify guardians of lost animals. Each tag has a unique number assigned to your animal. If a licensed animal is lost or taken to a shelter, LA Department of Animal Services can identify the guardian by the tag number and contact the registered animal guardian. Animals with licensing information will be held in shelters while the guardians are contacted.

If you do not license your dog, you may be issued a ticket by the “doggie police” when you are walking, or hiking in areas such as Runyon Canyon, Baldwin Park Hills, Griffith Park, etc.

We do not include a dog license in your adoption fee because only the dog’s owner can register.

You can now register a new dog license, as well as renew online.

+ Why do you bring in dogs from other areas when there’s so many dogs in shelters here?

Our mission is to help dogs in need. We value our international rescue partners and their efforts, and believe that we can find good homes for all kinds of dogs. Many families from abroad never considered adopting until they learned that they could help animals from their mother-countries. Others feel powerless to help dogs in international communities and after they adopt they become stronger advocates for international humane laws.

There’s no shortage of Southern California rescue organizations finding homes for pets from our local shelters. DWB is one of the highest placement rescues in the county, with the majority of our rescue dogs coming from Los Angeles County shelters. We believe that we are doing the absolute best that we can. In 2019 we re-homed over 700 dogs. **Applause*

+ Can my group volunteer? (Corporate, greek system, etc)

No, sorry! We do not have the space to welcome a large group to our fairs and we do not have a facility where you can visit.

In addition, one-time fair visits are more of a hassle than helpful when it comes to animals – we strive to make our Adoption Fairs & events as low stress as possible, and that means familiar faces.

If you’d like to engage us for an educational session at your location, we can teach you about our rescue mission, fostering and adopting. We will be happy to share our knowledge as well as bring a dog or two along!

FAQ

Adoption FAQ

Fostering FAQ

General Questions

Volunteering FAQ