Additional adoption info
The Adoption Process
Thank you for your interest in a rescued Border Collie! Please review the application process below before submitting your application. Please remember that every person working with ARM-BCR is a volunteer, doing rescue in his or her “spare” time, so our adoption process (from application to adoption) can take 2-3 weeks. If you’re unwilling to wait that long, we hope that you’ll consider adopting a shelter dog in need.
Step 1: Do your homework!
If you’re considering adopting or looking for your first Border Collie, please do your homework FIRST! While we think Border Collies are the greatest dogs on the planet (no breed snobbery here!), we equally believe that they’re not the dog for everyone.
Step 2: Complete & Submit an Application
Please answer all questions completely. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Once we receive a completed application, it’s assigned to a volunteer for review and reference checks – we will call the references listed on your application, so you’re welcome to let them know that we’ll be contacting them. This initial step typically takes 1-2 weeks, so please be patient!
Step 3: Home Visit
Once the reference checks are complete and approved, an ARM-BCR representative will contact you to schedule a home visit (HV). This is an informal chance for us to get to know you, your lifestyle, home environment and determine which dog(s) in our program might be a great fit. The HV volunteer will discuss what personality traits you’re looking for as well as general breed traits and what to expect when bringing a Border Collie home. He/she will also do a short walk-through of your home and yard to ensure its safety and to advise on any areas of concern. All household members must be present for the home visit.
We strongly encourage applicants to write down questions they may have about Border Collies before the home visit, and discuss these questions with the volunteer. Please understand that the HV volunteer may not personally know any/many of the dogs in our program so may be unable to answer questions about specific dogs. Once the HV report is received by ARM-BCR, it may take a few days for us to collate & review all of the information and get back in touch with you.
Step 4: Matching and Meeting
Once an application is processed and approved, now comes the fun part! While it’s easy to fall in love with a picture, experience and common sense tells us that it is the dog's personality and temperament that determine whether it may make a great match for you. During the matching process an ARM-BCR representative will contact you to discuss specific dogs within our rescue. We work hard to match your desires with the traits and personalities of our dogs. Please understand that we only want what is best for our dogs, so if we don't think a specific dog is a good fit for you, we’re not passing judgment on you/your family but are drawing on years of experience with Border Collies, and more importantly, experience with the dogs in our program. “First Come First Served” doesn’t apply here as we match each dog in our program with the most appropriate home for him/her, whether that home comes next week or next year!
Once we’ve talked with you on which dog(s) might be a suitable fit, it is time to set up a meet! An ARM-BCR representative will contact you to arrange a meet with your household members, your current dog(s) and the rescued dog. We have experience introducing new dogs, so will help with the introductions of your dog to the rescued dog if applicable. During the meet, keep in mind that rescued Border Collies may be rather aloof or timid at first meeting. While we have seen meets where there is an “insta-bond” between the new dog and the adopter(s), many times that kind of bonding takes time. Please note that you will be required to travel to either the foster home or a mutually agreed on place to meet a foster dog.
The meet is a great time to get any/all questions answered on the dog’s temperament, likes/dislikes, and what will be helpful in establishing a wonderful relationship with your new dog!
Step 5: The Adoption
If both you and the ARM-BCR representative feel the dog is a great match for you, the adoption may be completed after the meet. An adoption contract must be completed, signed and the adoption fee paid to complete the adoption. Please review our contract before your meet; it is available on our website or we can e-mail you a copy of it to review before the meet. Please note that if at any time during your rescued dog’s life you cannot/no longer wish to keep it, it must be returned to ARM-BCR.
Step 6: Follow-up
To ensure a successful adoption, we have a network of volunteers happy to answer any questions or help you work through issues that may arise while your new dog is transitioning into your home, or ten years down the road! We are committed to each and every dog we rescue for the rest of his/her life, so please stay in touch with us as we love getting updates!
Remember that when you adopt a dog, you’re saving two lives: the life of the dog you adopt, and a shelter dog that needed his/her now empty spot in our program!
