Adopt a Rescued Pug

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Thank you for your interest in adopting a pug from Pug Rescue of Florida & Georgia!

We appreciate your desire to adopt a rescued pug/mix, however there are several things to consider before adopting –

· Are you ready for a lot of dog hair in your home? Pugs are cute, compact and cuddly. But they are also stubborn, needy, prone to health issues as they age and they shed…a lot!

· What is your current schedule? Pugs are truly companion animals which means they need be close to their people and they do not like to be ignored or left alone for long periods of time.

· Can you keep your pug cool? Because of their short muzzles, pugs do not tolerate the heat very well. It is especially important to understand that your pug is not going to be a great exercise companion; except for short walks and potty breaks, your pug must not be kept outdoors.

· Can you afford $1,000+ in pug expenses per year? Pugs are prone to health issues with eyes, ears, skin, breathing and more. Most of the pugs/mixes that find their way to our rescue have serious health issues when they come into our care. We will get the pug/mix the medical care they need, but ongoing vet care, monthly preventative medications and high quality food will be required to keep them as healthy as possible. Many pugs/mixes will need additional (often expensive) medical care as they age.

· Rescued pugs are not perfect. Pugs/mixes come into rescue for a variety of reasons such as medical conditions, behavioral issues, changes in the family’s home/financial situation, etc. We will do our best to share what information we have about each pug/mix’s background; however, adopters must understand that each pug/mix in our care has been through many changes and will require time, patience, and a lot of love and support to be able to have his/her true personality shine through and settle in as a permanent member of your family.

**BEFORE APPLYING**

Please read this important information about the Application Process:

Everyone at Pug Rescue of Florida & Georgia is a volunteer; we do not have any paid employees.  We all wear many hats: We foster pugs, travel to vet appointments, attend fundraising events, process a lot of paperwork - and we do all of this outside our normal busy, daily lives. We make every effort to respond to inquiries in a timely manner but often the days get away from us -- for this reason most of our communication will be via email. 

 
Not everyone who completes an adoption application will be contacted to continue with the adoption review process.  We receive hundreds of applications annually - usually multiple applications for each adoptable pug/mix - we read and review each application received and compare them to the needs of the pug being applied for. We do not have the resources to contact applicants that don't provide complete information or do not meet the requirements for the pug/mix they are applying for.

Read the information on each pug's biography page carefully. If you are interested in applying to adopt a pug/mix, please ensure you meet the stated requirements. All of these dogs live with our foster families and that means we know their story -- we understand what they have been through and what they need in a forever home. All decisions are made with the dogs' best interests in mind. Please do NOT email us and ask us to make an exception for you based on a basic inquiry -- if you believe you are genuinely the best home for one of our pugs, please complete the adoption application form and share your own story in detail.  

**Once you have completed an adoption application please CONTACT YOUR VET immediately and ask them for your pets' health records.**                                                                                   To ensure we receive the records, you should have the records emailed to you and then you can forward them to PugRescueFLGA@gmail.com  or fax to 1-888-255-4971. 

(If the vet prefers to send them to us directly they may, but it could extend the application process.) 

We would like to see detailed records for the past 3 years of care for current dogs/cats and any who have passed in the last 3 years. 

PLEASE NOTE: We will not move forward with processing any application until adequate vet records have been received. 

If your vet(s) cannot verify care history, spay/neuter, heartworm and vaccination status of your pet(s) then the processing of your application will be stopped. 

To move forward in the application review process your current pets MUST at a minimum be:

- Spayed/neutered (unless your vet confirms this cannot be done for health reasons)

- Up to date on Rabies and DHPP (if under age 8) vaccines

- Given annual heartworm exams AND administered consistent heartworm preventative medication (proof of purchase of preventative medication is required)

- Well cared for on a consistent basis including but not limited to: annual wellness exams, bloodwork for senior pets and appropriate care for health concerns.

After the vet check is found to be good, the additional steps in the application review process will include:

- Landlord check/verification of home ownership

- Telephone interview

- Home check by one of our volunteers

Once your application review has been completed, you will then be able to talk with the pug’s foster parent and meet the pug in an agreed upon location.  If our volunteers determine the pug is a good match for your family, you will be able to adopt that pug.  We do not transport our pugs; you must be willing to go meet and adopt the pug at or near the foster home. 

All decisions on placing dogs in adoptive homes are based solely on the judgment of the volunteers and coordinators of Pug Rescue of Florida & Georgia. We do not guarantee any pug to any adopter nor do we operate on a first come, first serve basis.  

Adoption fees for specific dogs will be discussed with approved adopters (please do not email us and ask for fees for specific dogs). Adoption fees go toward paying for the medical treatment of ALL of our rescued pugs including medications, surgeries, food and other supplies while they are in foster care. Since many of the pugs that find their way to us need extensive medical care including life-saving surgeries, our medical expenses are over $200,000 annually. We are a non-profit, all-volunteer run organization therefore all adoption fees and donations go directly to caring for rescued pugs/mixes. 

These are guidelines and each pug's adoption fee is based on that specific pug:

- Active Youngsters (approximately 0-4 yrs) = $850 - $1,500 

- Adult Dogs (approximately 5 to 9 yrs) = $550 - $950 

- Senior Dogs (over 10 yrs) = $250 - $550  

Adoptions Outside of Florida & Georgia: We are willing to adopt outside of Florida and Georgia to experienced pug homes with excellent vet references, but please note that the application process will take longer than normal to complete.  We must be able to find a volunteer in your area to complete our required home check AND you must be willing to drive to meet and adopt a pug in Florida/Georgia once approved.  We do not transport our pugs or work with transport companies; we also do not allow our pugs to fly in the cargo section of a plane.

Adoptable Pugs: You will find our available pugs here. This section of the website is a guide to help you in finding a possible match for your family. Please take the time to read each dog’s profile as this is the best way to learn about any medical/behavior issues, special needs, etc. If a dog is listed as “Medical Hold” this means that they are currently NOT available for adoption but will be once their medical care is complete. Please note: Not all dogs in foster care are on the webpage and not all dogs listed on the webpage are still available. We try to keep things as updated as possible but please understand that we take in over 150 dogs a year and are run solely by volunteers. 

Pug Youngsters (3 years or younger):  We rarely have surrendered young pugs. If young pugs become available, all applications will be reviewed and the youngster will go to the home that we believe is best suited to take on such a handful. These policies are based on years of experience in pug rescue and all decisions are always in the best interest of the pugs. 

The youngsters in our rescue have high adoption fees (a minimum of $850 - $1,500).  Adoption fees help pay medical expenses for the all dogs, including older dogs.  The average cost of vetting our rescued pugs and pug mixes is over $1,000 each and many are over $5,000.  We take ALL pugs regardless of age and/or medical condition and we don’t shy away from providing needed expensive treatments or surgeries that are in the best interest of the pug.  Thank you for understanding.

YOUNGSTER REQUIREMENTS

All Pug Rescue of Florida & Georgia’s young pugs/mixes must go to a home with all of the following:

1. No only-dog homes.  Another small dog playmate that can put up with a youngster is needed since puppies are very playful and energetic.

2. Homes with large dogs will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

3. Your home must have a fenced-in yard for play & exercise and no busy intersections nearby.

4. No children under the age of 4 yrs.

5. The forever family must not be gone long hours (not more than 4 at a time) as a youngster does need to be monitored, nurtured and potty trained.  

1. Submit a $20.00 non-refundable application processing donation using the button below.  This is processed via Paypal -- you do not need to have a Paypal account to pay; you will be given the option to pay by credit card using the blue button below.
2.  Once payment is made, you MUST select "RETURN TO MERCHANT" and you will be directed to our online adoption application.
3. Complete online adoption application and click submit at the bottom of the form.

If you are unable to complete our online application form or aren't redirected to the form, please contact us.