So You Want To Adopt?

Heel! Do You Meet Our Adoption Requirements?

There are various situations to consider before adopting a lifelong friend. If you're like most of us, falling in love with a pet is easy. Sharing your home with a pet friend can be one of life's greatest joys. Dogs and other pets give us unconditional loyalty and acceptance, provide constant companionship, and even help relieve stress after a hard day's work.

Please read through our Adoption Requirements. Tails of Hope Dog Rescue invests a significant amount of time and money into ensuring our dogs are healthy and happy, and we reserve the right to adopt our dogs and puppies to the safest, loving, and most responsible home available.

If you do not meet our requirements, do NOT apply. Your application will not be considered. We encourage you to explore other local and regional rescues and shelters in your area to help you find an appropriate match.

We are volunteers with jobs, families, and our dogs to care for, so please allow a minimum of 5-7 days from receipt of an application for a volunteer to contact you. If you do not hear back after that time frame, please email us at [email protected] to request an update on the status of your application.

Adopting a pet is a big decision. Dogs require lots of time, money, and 10-15 years worth of commitment in many cases. Pet ownership can be rewarding, but please think before you adopt.

Our Adoption Requirements

The fact that you're thinking about adopting from a rescue means you're a caring person. But before you complete our adoption application, take a moment to make sure you meet our requirements.

Minimum Age. The applicant must be 25 years of age to adopt from Tails of Hope Dog Rescue.
Transport. Tails of Hope Dog Rescue will adopt to applicants who live outside of the Memphis, TN, area provided one of our volunteers is available for the transport and completes the required fence check, home visit, and proper introductions. The transport fee is based on mileage from Memphis. 50% of the transport fee is due 48 hours before the home visit and is non-refundable. The remaining balance of the transport fee is due when the adoption contract is finalized. We do NOT ship dogs. DOGS ARE NOT PICKED UP.
Apartment / Townhome / Condo Dwellers. We adopt to apartment, townhouse, and condo residents, but please remember that not all dogs are a good fit for apartments, townhomes, or condos. We will not proceed with the adoption if we do not feel like a dog is a good fit for an apartment, townhome, or condo.
Renters. We adopt to renters. Before applying, check with your property manager/landlord regarding breed and/or size limitations. Please include the name of the property manager/landlord and their contact information in your application. Tails of Hope Dog Rescue will contact them to confirm that they have consented to you adopting the pet you are applying for. All renters must receive consent from their property manager/landlord before we will proceed with the adoption.
Fences. If you live in a single-family home, your yard must be fully fenced, and the fence must be permanently attached to the house, with a door leading from the home directly into the yard. The fence should be in good condition and secure. Any holes, loose boards, weak sections, open areas, etc., should be repaired BEFORE the home visit and fence check. This ensures the dog is contained safely within the yard. Fences are not required for apartment or condo dwellers. Electric and/or invisible fences are not accepted.
Rural Homes and Fences. If you live in a rural area on multiple acres, you must have a portion of your property permanently fenced for a dog. The fence must be permanently attached to the house, with a door leading from the home directly into the completely fenced-in yard. The fence should be in good condition and secure. Any holes, loose boards, weak sections, open areas, etc., should be repaired BEFORE the home visit and fence check. Electric/invisible fences are NOT accepted.
Other Pets in the Home. All other pets in the home must be spayed/neutered, up-to-date on shots, and current on heartworm and flea prevention. Pets must be available during the home visit to be introduced to the pet you hope to adopt.
Veterinarian Check. We will contact your current veterinarian to confirm existing pets are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on shots, and current on heartworm & flea prevention. Please call your veterinarian and give consent to release your existing and/or prior pets' medical information to Tails of Hope Dog Rescue.
Puppy Adoptions. Puppies aged 6 months and younger will only be adopted by applicants with at least one existing adult dog. Puppies get bored, destructive, stressed, and are more prone to separation anxiety when left alone. Puppies also learn from other dogs, making them better adult dogs. Many adult dogs who were once cute puppies end up outside, dumped at shelters, or returned to Tails of Hope Dog Rescue. This requirement is in place to benefit the family and the puppy.

Paws. Why Do We Have All These Adoption Requirements?

Sure, it's a long list of requirements. But a quick stroll through a dog shelter will help you understand why these requirements are so important.

Many shelter's homeless dogs are puppies, victims of irresponsible people who allowed their pets to breed. But there are also many dogs at the shelter who are more than a year old-dogs who were obtained by people who didn't think through the responsibilities of pet ownership before they got the dog.

Think before you adopt. Sharing your life with a companion dog can bring incredible rewards, but only if you're willing to commit time, money, responsibility, and love for the pet's entire life.

If you read the Adoption Requirements and feel confident that you can provide a safe, responsible, and loving home, please click the button to the right, Apply to Adopt a Dog, to complete an application for one of the many wonderful dogs available for adoption at Tails of Hope Dog Rescue.

NOTE: We are volunteers with jobs, families, and our dogs to care for, so please allow a minimum of 5-7 days from receipt of an application for a volunteer to contact you. If you do not hear back after that time frame, please email us at [email protected] to request an update on the status of your application.

Ready to Adopt?

Apply to Adopt a Dog