How To Adopt
Our process includes the completion of an application and application fee. Once that information is received, the steps are:
1) We will contact your vet for information on current and previous animals. You must have authorized your vet to release any information to us.
2) We will contact your personal references. It is critical that they return our calls in a timely matter or we will not be able to proceed with your application.
3) If you are a renter, we will require written confirmation from your landlord for verification of animal acceptance.
4) We will complete a home visit which requires all household members to be present.
5) Once the application is fully approved, you will be free to meet our dogs.
PLEASE NOTE: We primarily service the Metro Detroit area, Bay City/Saginaw, Clare and the Grand Rapids area. If you are outside of this area, please email adopt@3clr.org to confirm BEFORE sending in an application.
Adoption Requirements
All adopters agree to the following:
- All other pets are spayed or neutered. If an applicant has other pets, we require that they are spayed/neutered. The only exceptions would be due to a medical reason or if the pet is involved in "showing" (proof required).
- Applicant provides adequate veterinary care. When we contact veterinary references, we want to ensure that all current dogs are up-to-date on rabies and distemper vaccines, yearly heartworm tests and monthly heartworm preventative. If an applicant has indoor cats, we require that they are current on at least the rabies vaccine and for outdoor cats, we suggest that they are also kept up-to-date on flea/tick medicine and additional vaccines. We also take into account the applicant's veterinary history for current & previous animals.
- Secure yard. We do not require that every adopter have a physical fence. We do, however, require that all adopters have a plan for pottying and exercising the dog in the event that the yard is not securely fenced.
- Members of the family. We require that all of our dogs be "indoor dogs," meaning they are not left outside unattended, whether loose in a yard or in an outdoor kennel. We want our dogs to be members of the family and be able to spend time with their people, not left outside.
- Obedience Training. We strongly suggest that all adopters take their dogs through formal obedience classes or work with a private trainer. We will require enrollment in training for first time dog owners and/or certain dogs.
- Vet visit within 10 days. All adopters must take their newly adopted dog to see their veterinarian of choice within 10 days of adoption.
- We want our dogs back! If the adopter cannot or does not want to care for the dog any longer, the dog must be returned to 3rd Coast Labrador Rescue. There are no refunds of adoption fees after 10 days and we require that the adopter provides us with all veterinary care records if the dog is returned.
Adoption Fees
All of our dogs are spayed or neutered prior to adoption and up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccinations, heartworm preventative and microchipped. All dogs over 6 months also have a negative heartworm test.
Puppies (Less than 6 months of age): $350
Adults (6 months to 5 years): $300
Seniors (6 years and older): $250
Disclaimer: 3rd Coast Labrador Retriever Rescue reserves the right to decline any applicant for any reason. The final decision for any adoption is up to the vote of the rescue's board of directors.
Adoption Application & Application Fee
Step 1: Using a PC or desktop (not mobile or tablet), please download the Adoption Application as either a Word document or PDF to the right. Ensure that all questions are answered and that the file is not blank before emailing it to adopt@3CLR.org.
Click here to download the Microsoft Word version OR click here to download the PDF version.
Step 2: Our application fee is $25 and is non-refundable. This $25 will be subtracted from the total adoption fee at the time of adoption. The application fee must be paid via the PayPal button below. (PayPal account is not required).
We will not process your application until we have both the completed application and application fee.