Frequently Asked Questions

1. Application: Interested adopters complete an application for the cat(s) or dog(s) they’re interested in. You only need to submit one application, and it applies to all cats or dogs listed on it. If you’re interested in adopting both a cat and a dog, you must complete a separate application for each type of animal. If the animal you applied for is no longer available, our team will work with you to find your best match!
   • Important Note Regarding Timing:  We review every application to find what we believe to be the best environment for each cat or dog. If we identify a potential match, we typically respond within one week. If you do not hear from us within two weeks, please assume we were unable to find a good match at this time. Please know that a lack of response does not reflect our belief in your ability to provide a loving home for a cat or dog. Please consider applying for a different pet!
2. Applications Counselor: After you pass the initial screening, we will assign you a volunteer applications counselor. They will work with you throughout the adoption process and serve as a resource before and after adoption.
3. Vet Checks: If applicable, CDCK contacts the applicant’s veterinarian to confirm that previous pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and well cared for.
4. Renters/Condo Owners: For renters, CDCK checks with the applicant’s landlord to confirm that cats and/or dogs are permitted and that the cat or dog of interest complies with any size or breed restrictions. We will also review condo association pet policies.
5. Home Visit: CDCK virtually visits each applicant’s home to see the environment where the cat or dog will live and to answer any questions the applicant may have. These home visits are low pressure and simply ensure you have all the knowledge and best environment to welcome a new pet.
6. Adoption Contract: If we approve an applicant and they decide to adopt a cat or dog, CDCK and the prospective adopter will enter into an adoption contract. The adopter pays an adoption fee, prior to taking their pet home. This helps cover the costs of spay/neutering (if age appropriate), microchipping, vaccinations, and any other veterinary care the animal received while in our care.

For dogs, this includes deworming, microchipping, rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella vaccines. All dogs are tested for HW, Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis. An adopter will need to agree to cover the costs of puppy vaccines (including rabies at 4 months) if needed and necessary age-appropriate boosters as he/she grow older.

For cats, this includes deworming, microchipping, FVRCP vaccine, and rabies vaccine, as well as testing for FIV/FELV (unless born in foster care to a negative mother), provided they are age-appropriate. An adopter has to cover the costs of kitten vaccines (including rabies at 4 months) if needed and necessary age-appropriate boosters as he/she grow older.

All cats and dogs over the age of 12 weeks are spayed/neutered prior to adoption. If you are adopting a kitten/puppy under the age of 12 weeks, you will need to cover the cost of spaying/neutering when age appropriate.

We adopt puppies once they reach 8 weeks of age.

We adopt kittens once they reach 8 weeks of age, and we require adopters to take kittens under 12 weeks old in pairs or place them in homes with another cat.

View all available dogs on our Adoptable Dogs page and all available cats on our Adoptable Cats page. To meet any of our cats or dogs, complete our Online Adoption Application. Because our pets live in foster homes, we do not allow meet-and-greets without an approved application, except at Adoption Events. Please do not visit our administrative offices or City Dogs Daycare to see a pet, as they reside in foster care.

No. CDCK carefully screens applicants by calling veterinarians, landlords, and conducting vritual visits of potential adopters’ homes. CDCK has no obligation to approve any applicant and will refuse adoption if we determine that an applicant or their home would not provide a suitable environment for a dog or cat. CDCK disqualifies anyone with a history of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or surrendering pets without a valid reason.

Our goal is to prevent pets from returning to shelters by placing them in forever homes with adopters who can provide the care pets need throughout their lives. We often receive multiple applications for each dog and cat and carefully select the adopter who best meets the needs of the animal.

Please tell your assigned Adoption Counselor your preference. You do not need to complete another application.

Dogs: CDCK charges an adoption fee of $475 ($225 for seniors). This fee covers the transportation and health care we provide when we rescue a dog from a shelter. That care includes an initial limited veterinary exam and any pre-adoption health care needed for dogs over 1 year of age. We require all adopters to schedule their own veterinary appointment within three weeks of adoption.

Puppies: The adoption fee is $475, but it does not cover the cost of spaying or neutering. Contractually, all puppy adopters must have their dog spayed or neutered when the dog reaches the appropriate age, typically around 5 months. Because puppies have weak immune systems, they must be vetted for a longer period of time and kept away from other animals to ensure their health. Puppies require vaccines starting at approximately 6 weeks of age and must continue with boosters at intervals of no less than 2 weeks, but no more than 4 weeks apart until they are 16 weeks old. The adoption fee covers pre-adoption vaccinations and an initial veterinary checkup, but adopters are required to schedule a veterinary appointment within three weeks of adoption.

Cats and Kittens: CDCK charges an adoption fee of $250. This fee covers the transportation and health care we provide when we rescue a dog from a shelter. That care includes an initial limited veterinary exam, all age-appropriate rabies, distemper, and bordetella vaccinations, flea and heartworm prevention, spay/neuter (if age-appropriate), microchipping when available, SNAP testing for FIV/FeLV, and any pre-adoption health care needed for cats over 1 year of age. We require all adopters to schedule their own veterinary appointment within three weeks of adoption.

In order to rescue dogs and cats, CDCK pays for all related costs to resuce a dog. We also need to support our staff so they can continue to rescue pets in need. We usually spend far more per dog or cat than we collect through adoption fees. Many of our rescues arrive at CDCK without adequate care and require significant veterinary attention once rescued. CDCK relies primarily on volunteers and depends on donations and adoption fees to cover all operating expenses.

For reference, here is the list of post-shelter veterinary care we provide for dogs. We give all dogs this care before transporting them to DC.

Limited Initial Exam
Spay/Neuter
*Thoroughly check any adult female dogs for mammary tumors and remove and biopsy if required.
Rabies vaccination
DHPP vaccination
Bordetella vaccination
Snap 4DX test for Heartworm, Lyme, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia and provide a 30 day supply of Doxycycline for any dogs testing positive for anything on the Snap test.
​Microchip
Fecal flotation
Deworm – Deworm at vet even if fecal is negative. If positive, deworm at vet and second deworming meds and instructions with dog.
Administer Flea/Tick preventative (e.g. Frontline) and Heartworm preventative (e.g. Heartgard) at vet. If flea infestation is evident, Capstar is given.
Treatment of any urgent medical conditions identified by the shelter vet or while in foster care.
All cats receive this care upon leaving the shelter and prior to transport to DC:

Limited Initial Exam
Spay/Neuter (if age appropriate)
Test for BOTH FeLV and FIV; Heartworm test if available
Rabies vaccination
FVRCP vaccination
FeLV vaccination
Microchip
Fecal flotation​
Deworm – Deworm at vet even if fecal is negative. If positive, deworm at vet and provide second deworming meds and instructions with cat.
Administer Flea/Tick and Heartworm preventative (e.g. Revolution) at vet. If flea infestation is evident, Capstar is given.
Treatment of any urgent medical conditions identified by the shelter vet or while in foster care.

CDCK carefully screens applicants to find permanent homes for every dog and cat. In the hopefully unlikely event that an adopter can no longer care for their pet, CDCK contractually requires that you return the dog or cat to us. Please email alumni@citydogsrescuedc.org, and a team member will follow up with you. Be sure to check your junk folder for our reply.

If you have other pets, or children in the home we offer a trial adoption period of 7 days. Please be sure to indicate you have resident animals on your application.

We sometimes learn about a dog or cat’s tolerance for cats from shelter records before we receive them. If we do not know, we can sometimes “cat test” the dog or cat to observe how they interact with cats or dogs in a household. Many of our dogs get along well with other dogs; some even live in cageless daycare environments with many dogs around them. If a dog does not interact well with other dogs, we determine whether they are dog-selective or need to be the only dog in a home. We update their profiles with this information and notify any pending applicants.