Our Adoption Process
At PAWS, every adoption is thoughtful and intentional. Our process helps ensure the best possible match for both dogs and adopters.
Questions about our process?
Read our Adoption FAQs →
PAWS is a foster-based rescue, and all of our dogs live in homes — not shelters. Because of this, our adoption process may look a bit different from other rescues.
Each step is designed to ensure that every dog is placed safely, responsibly, and into a home where they can thrive — so that this move is their last.
Adoption Steps
- Browse Available Dogs
- Submit an Adoption Application
- Once you’ve found a dog you’re interested in, complete our online adoption application. All required questions must be answered for the application to submit successfully.
Still have questions? View our Adoption FAQs →
What to expect after your application is submitted
- Immediately upon successfully submitting your adoption application, you will receive a copy of your application responses to your inbox
- Within 24-48 hours, you will receive an email from the Communication Director confirming receipt of your application and possibly requesting additional information or clarification of your responses to fully review your application.
- Application Review
- A PAWS volunteer carefully reviews each application to ensure a safe and appropriate placement. This may include:
- Verifying veterinary records
- Confirming spay/neuter and vaccination status for all current pets
- Verifying rental community pet policies when applicable
- 🔑 Contacting your veterinarian and/or landlord in advance can help speed up the review process.
- A PAWS volunteer carefully reviews each application to ensure a safe and appropriate placement. This may include:
- Meet and Greet
- Once your application is approved, the dog’s foster parent will contact you to schedule a meet and greet in a neutral location, such as a pet store or park.
- Home Visit
- A home visit is conducted with the dog, foster parent, and another PAWS volunteer.
- All household members and pets must be present.
- This helps ensure a safe and comfortable transition for everyone.
- Adoption Finalization
- If everyone agrees it’s a great match, then the adoption can be finalized. We request that you wait at least 24-hours after the home visit before making the final commitment to adopt. We want the decision to feel right — both in your head and your heart!
- The adoption contract is completed and signed
- The $300 adoption fee is paid
- Ownership officially transfers
- Welcome home! 🐶
- If everyone agrees it’s a great match, then the adoption can be finalized. We request that you wait at least 24-hours after the home visit before making the final commitment to adopt. We want the decision to feel right — both in your head and your heart!
A Few Important Things to Know
- PAWS does not operate a physical shelter
- All dogs live in foster homes in and around the central Ohio area
- Adoption timelines vary depending on the dog and foster availability
- Submitting an application does not guarantee adoption
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, it can take 2-4 business days for an application to be reviewed and approved. Calling your veterinary office and providing consent to release information to us, having all current pets up to date on vaccinations and preventatives and/or understanding your rental community’s pet policy and restrictions are all ways to assist in speeding up this process.
Yes! You can list up to three (3) dogs that you are interested in meeting on the adoption application.
Rental community pet policies can vary widely. It is important for us to understand and verify the policy for your specific community to ensure that the dog that you have an interest in would not violate their documented community policy. Please be sure to list the contact information for your landlord or rental office on your application.
We typically only adopt dogs to adults residing within the central Ohio area; however special consideration my be given for dogs with special needs or dogs who have been in our care for a longer period of time.
You need to be at least 21 years old to adopt a dog from PAWS.
Yes, our $300 adoption fee helps to offset veterinary expenses incurred while your dog was in foster care. Before adoption, every PAWS dog receives:
- A veterinary exam
- Spay or neutering surgery
- Vaccinations according to our veterinarian’s recommendations
- Heartworm and fecal parasite testing (and treatment when necessary)
- Monthly heartworm and flea and tick preventatives
- Microchipping
- County dog license if the dog has been in our rescue for an extended period of time
- The average cost of these services is over $600. We rely on donations to keep our adoption fees low.