What to Expect
At Ratbone Rat Terrier Rescue, we take great care in matching our Rat Terriers with their perfect forever homes. Our thorough adoption process ensures the best outcome for both families and pets. While the process may take some time, your patience helps us make successful matches.
How we do things at
Ratbone Rat Terrier Rescue
Adopting a Rat Terrier from Ratbone Rat Terrier Rescue is a journey that transforms lives - both yours and your future furry family member's. We've designed our adoption process to ensure successful matches between our beloved Ratties and their forever homes, taking care to understand both your needs and the unique personality of each dog in our care.
What to expect when adopting a Rattie
When you choose to adopt through Ratbone Rat Terrier Rescue, you're not just getting a pet - you're gaining a dedicated support system. Our process begins with your application and blossoms into a personal connection with your potential pet's foster family. These experienced caregivers will share detailed insights about your chosen Rattie's personality, habits, and needs, helping you make an informed decision about adding them to your family.
We understand that waiting to welcome your new family member can feel overwhelming, but each step in our process serves an important purpose. From the initial application to the final transport arrangements, we're here to guide you through every stage. Our thorough approach, including home visits and reference checks, helps ensure that each of our Rat Terriers finds not just any home, but the right home where they can thrive and share their boundless love and energy.
Take the first step toward bringing home your perfect companion by exploring our adoption process below. Whether you're a first-time Rattie parent or an experienced dog owner, we're here to support you every step of the way.
Worth the Wait
At Ratbone Rat Terrier Rescue, we believe in making adoption a transparent and supportive experience. Our unique approach puts you in direct contact with foster families who know each Rattie's personality, quirks, and needs firsthand. Throughout your journey, you'll receive personalized guidance from our dedicated team, detailed insights about your potential pet, and comprehensive support that extends well beyond adoption day.
We offer flexible transportation options to help bring your new family member home, and our commitment to you doesn't end there - we're here to support you and your Rattie as you build your new life together. This thorough, caring approach ensures both you and your new companion are set up for a lifetime of happiness.
Direct communication with foster families
Comprehensive evaluation process
Detailed pet information before adoption
Support throughout the journey
Choice of transport options
Ongoing post-adoption support
How It Works
Our adoption process is designed to create successful matches between our Rat Terriers and their new families. From your first application to the day you welcome your new companion home, we guide you through three simple stages. You'll start by connecting with your potential pet's foster family to learn about their unique personality. Then, we'll complete our evaluation process to ensure a perfect match. Finally, we'll help coordinate transportation to bring your new Rattie home safely. Each step is crafted to give both you and your future companion the best possible start to your journey together.
Stage 1:
Initial Contact
Begin your journey by submitting your application, after which you'll connect directly with your potential pet's foster family. This personal connection allows you to learn everything about your future Rattie's personality, habits, and needs before making your decision.
- Submit your application
- Receive confirmation email
- Connect with your potential pet's foster parent
- Learn detailed information about the Rat Terrier's personality and needs
Stage 2:
Evaluation & Approval
Our thorough evaluation process includes a phone interview with an Adoption Coordinator, a home visit and reference checks to ensure the perfect match. Once approved, you'll complete the adoption contract and fee, bringing you one step closer to welcoming your new family member.
- Complete reference and vet checks
- Schedule a Home Visit with our representative
- Receive final approval decision
- Sign adoption contract and submit fee
Stage 3:
Welcome Home
The final stage focuses on bringing your Rattie home safely. Whether through air travel or our network of volunteer transporters, we'll work with you to coordinate the best transportation option for your situation.
- Plan transportation
- Choose pickup options : picking up in person, volunteer ground transport up to 500 miles or air travel (typically $250-300 and up)
- Coordinate pickup details
- Welcome your new family member
FAQs
We rely on volunteers for all our application processing. All volunteers in our rescue have full time jobs we do all our work for the rescue in off hours. It could take up to 10 days to hear back once your application is submitted. After that it is approximately 2-3 weeks depending on how fast we have volunteers to do home visits etc and assist with transport planning.
Our volunteer will call you to set up a time convenient for you and your family. They will be looking to make sure the dog will have a safe place to live and has ample room to stretch their legs and walk around. We also look around outside especially in the backyard to check the fence if any and any plants that are poisonous to dogs.
After you are approved to adopt your new family member you can either drive or fly to pick up your dog or have it transported to you. Transports are supported 100% by volunteers. Dogs can be transported up to 500 miles. Further than that may require you to fly to the dog to take him or her home or arrange paid ground transportation from a trusted transport person or company.
Volunteer transport up to 500 miles is done at no charge to you.
Volunteers work on their own costs to pay for gas and use of the vehicles. You can always donate money to the rescue and we will use that money towards gas cards etc. If you are required to fly to get the dog that will be done at your expense.
Yes, depending on your location. Most of our dogs are located in the state of Florida so you will have to drive close to where they are being fostered to meet the dog. We do not transport dogs unless the adoption is approved.
The dog will come to you spayed or neutered, all shots up to date and microchipped. You will need to convert the microchip to your name once the dog is adopted. That information is included in your file for the dog which comes when the dog is adopted.
All dogs are matched with families based on their personalities, activity level and age. The fosters interview the applicants to try and do their best to match these traits.
If you live over 500 miles you have a few options. You can meet volunteer transport at the 500 mile mark ,or will have to have the dog flown to you or pay for private ground transportation. This would be done at your own cost. We will assist you with the arrangement and give recommendations.
Any dogs that fly will need a current certificate of health from a vet. This will be done at our local veterinarian, at your cost.
Preparing for your new rattie is basically getting a new family member. You should have purchased things like dog bed, toys, food bowls, etc. to make the dog feel welcome. Keep in mind the 3-3-3 rule: The rule is a guideline for adopting rescue dogs, suggesting a three-day decompression period, followed by three weeks of settling in and learning routines, and then three months for building trust and bonding.
Still have questions?
Adopt a Rattie
