Our rescue program works hard to match the right dog to the right owner, and we have been very successful for that reason. All of our dogs are vet checked, up to date on all shots, spayed or neutered, housebroken, and crate-trained. When appropriate, they are first placed into a foster home for about two-six weeks in order to be evaluated for temperament, behavior, and physical health. Adult dogs (ages 1 – 6 years old) are available to approved homes for a $400 fee to help defray the many costs of our rescue program. Senior dogs (ages 7 and older) are available for a $150.00 fee. Puppies under one year of age are sometimes available for $600.00 with a $100.00 rebate offered after spay/neuter proof is submitted. If already spayed or neutered, the fee would be $500.00
**Adjustments to all of these fees may be made for "special needs" dogs, to be determined on a case by case basis.**
The average age range of the dogs that come into rescue is usually one to three years. Since Weims are rather slow to mature (behavior-wise, not size!) that age would make them adolescents...still a handful, but on the verge of being ready to calm down, in the right situation. Please do not discount older dogs...it is a misconception that older dogs will not bond to new owners as well as a puppy. Weims are so people oriented, believe me, they will bond. In fact, some people are not ready for how seriously and closely they do bond! They have been bred to be companion animals.
Below is a link to our adoption application. Please complete the application as thoroughly as possible so that we have enough information to match you with the dog most suited to your particular living situation. Our goal is for every placement to be the best and last for each dog and its new family. You will be contacted upon receipt and review of your application. Please be patient! This often takes up to a week or more, as we are all volunteers with jobs, families, and dogs of our own.
Upon submission of your application, the following will take place:
1. Your application will be assigned to one of our Placement Coordinators. Your Placement Coordinator will reach out to you within 1-2 weeks to schedule a time to participate in an interview. The Placement Counselor is responsible for reviewing your application, contacting your references, and performing your interview.
2. Approval of an application does not guarantee the adoption of any particular dog...we just may not currently have the perfect match for you. Our foster homes are also engaged in the interview process as they know their foster dogs the best. Foster parents will help determine if you are the best match for their dog.
3. If a match is not made shortly following your application approval, it is the applicant's responsibility to maintain a monthly follow-up with your Placement Counselor, either by telephone or email. Failure to maintain a monthly contact will result in your application being placed in an "inactive status," meaning your Placement Counselor will no longer be actively reviewing intakes to determine matches for you. We require applicants to maintain this monthly contact to ensure that a match is being sought.
Again, please be patient! Our commitment is to the placement of these dogs into the right home, not the first available home.
If you have never been owned by a Weimaraner before, we suggest you do a good deal of research about the breed before jumping in headfirst. Remember, the dogs who come into our rescue program have already been rejected at least once...they will need a great deal of understanding and time from their new families. We suggest the following:
1. Weimaraner Quiz Reconfigured by Weimathon.org, this is a great quiz to take which will help you decide if this is the breed for you. Also the website is full of other great info pertaining to this special breed.
2. www.weimaranerclubofamerica.org The homepage for the Weimaraner Club of America. Loads of information on the breed plus several links to additional helpful Weimaraner information sites.
3. www.akc.org Home page of the American Kennel Club.
4. Weimaraners A Complete Pet Owner's Manual by Susan Fox (only 96 pages, but covers all the essentials.) You can order it in paperback for around $8.00 from BooksAMillion
5. Second Hand Dog by Carol Lea Benjamin (a paperback, available in most bookstores, detailing behaviors and training of rescued dogs.) Her book uses a common sense approach to making the transition into your home as smooth as possible.
If you have read all this and feel that adopting a Weimaraner is the right choice for you:
Click here to see the Dogs Currently Available.
Click here to use the Online Adoption Application
Click here to download an Adoption Application.
Click here to download a Sample Adoption Placement Contract.
We look forward to hearing from people with wonderful forever homes for these special dogs!