ADOPTION FAQS

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Interested in Adopting? Please Start with an Application. 

If you see a dog on our website or social media that you're interested in, the first step is to complete an adoption application. We know it's exciting to find a potential match, but we’re a volunteer-run organization—and time spent answering questions via social media or email is time taken away from caring for the pugs who need us most.

To begin the adoption review process you must:

• 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.
•  Once payment is made, you MUST select "RETURN TO MERCHANT" and you will be directed to our online adoption application.
• Complete online adoption application and click SUBMIT at the bottom of the form.

CLICK HERE to submit $20 Application Processing Donation.

1. Submit Adoption Application – There is a $20 non-refundable application donation (see link at the bottom of this page). This is paid via credit card (you do not need a PayPal account).

2. Vet Records - We want to see detailed records for AT LEAST THE PAST 3 YEARS for current dogs/cats and any who have passed in the last 3 years. Please CONTACT YOUR VET immediately and ask them for your pets' health records. To ensure we receive the records, have the records emailed to YOU and then you forward them to PugRescueFLGA@gmail.com  We will NOT move forward with processing any application until adequate vet records have been received. SEE NEXT FAQ for what vet records are required. 

3. Submission of home photos and Landlord check (for renters): If you rent, please check with your landlord before applying to ensure you can have a pet or additional pet and any fees associated. As part of the adoption application process, we will ask that you send us pictures of the inside and outside of your home. This helps our volunteer to prepare for the home visit and identify anything that may need to be addressed.

4. Telephone Interview – A volunteer will contact you to discuss your application in detail.

5. Home Visit – A volunteer will visit you and your family to ensure your home is pug safe/friendly and to answer any questions you have about the process. Please note that we do not have volunteers in every city, so scheduling a home visit may take some time. We appreciate your patience as we work to coordinate this step.

6. Finding the best pug match – We will work with our foster families to review your information in relation to our available pugs. When a possible match is found, we will give you the opportunity to talk with the pug’s foster family and, if it is a good match, schedule a meet and greet with the foster pug prior to adoption. 

Our adoption application is thorough because matching each pug with the right home is incredibly important to us. Many of our pugs come from challenging circumstances or have special medical or behavioral needs, and we want to ensure every adoption is a lifelong fit—for both the dog and their new family.

Here's what the application covers:

• Basic contact info 
• Household details - Names and ages of everyone in your home, including children or other pets
• Housing situation – Whether you own or rent, HOA pet restrictions, yard details
• Employment & lifestyle – Occupation, work schedule, and daily routine to help us understand how a pug will fit into your life
• Pet experience – Your history with dogs/pugs, how you handle training, and your understanding of pug quirks (yes, they shed, snore, and snort!).
• Preferences – Your preferred age, health, and behavior traits in a pug
• Current and/or past pets – Information on any animals you currently have or have had recently, including vet contact info 
• References – We ask for two non-family references who can speak to your suitability as a pet parent
• Acknowledgements – Review and agree to our adoption fee structure, home visit requirement, and lifelong return policy if you're ever unable to keep the pug

While the application takes time to complete, it gives our team the full picture we need to make the best possible match. We appreciate your effort and commitment—it helps us place every pug in a loving, secure forever home.

TO MOVE FORWARD in the application review process, pets MUST at a minimum be:

• Spayed/neutered (unless your vet confirms this cannot be done for health reasons)
• Given consistent vaccines and currently up to date on Rabies and DHPP (if under age 8) 
• Given annual heartworm exams AND administered consistent vet-prescribed 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.

Before submitting your vet records, please take a moment to review them to ensure they meet our adoption requirements. This helps us process applications more efficiently and focus our time on finding the best matches for our rescue pugs. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation!

We help pugs of all ages and those with a wide range of medical issues. Our adoption fee ranges are as follows: Puppies & Young dogs (0-3 yrs) = $850 - $1,050 - Adult dogs (4 to 9 yrs) = $350 - $750 - Senior dogs (over 10 yrs) = $250 and are based on the age and health issues of the specific pug.  

Adoption fees go toward paying for the medical treatment of ALL of our rescued pugs including vet exams, surgeries, medications, food and other supplies while they are in foster care. We average $1,700 in medical bills per dog and many dogs have bills over $5,000. Since many of the pugs that find their way to us need extensive medical care - including life-saving surgeries - our medical expenses are over $285,000 annually and our adoption fees don't cover even half of that. The adoption fee for each dog will be discussed with approved adopters only (please do not email us and ask for fees for specific dogs).

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 TRAVEL 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.

When you adopt a pug/mix from us, the dog has been fully vetted by our rescue vets which includes: Full comprehensive exam including bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal, heartworm test & preventative, vaccines, spay/neuter, microchip, plus any other medical needs such as dental,  ultrasound, x-rays, life-saving surgeries, etc. Adopter will receive a copy of all medical records for their new pug.

Please understand that we receive multiple applications for young and healthy pugs, but ultimately, only one adopter can be chosen. If you are not selected for the pug you applied for, please do not take it personally or view it as a reflection on you as a person. We know it can be disappointing, but if you are approved to adopt, we would be happy to work with you to find another wonderful match.  

Additionally, if you have room in your heart and home for a senior or special needs pug, please consider adopting one. These deserving dogs receive far fewer applications, yet they have so much love to give.

Please visit our Current Dogs page here. 

Please note that we do not list every dog that is available as we try to match incoming dogs with pre-approved homes. If you are ready to adopt, we suggest submitting an application to get the process started.