ADOPTABLE DOGS
ADOPTABLE CATS

What is Adoption?

Adoption is a heartwarming journey of welcoming a new pet into your family. It involves choosing a dog or cat from our rescue, completing the adoption process, and committing to providing a forever loving home for your new furry friend.

Adoption Process

  1. Application: Interested adopters should fill out an application for the  cat(s) or dog(s) you are interested in. Only one application is required, and it applies for all cats or dogs listed on your application. If you are interested in adopting both a cat and a dog, you must complete an application for each type of animal.
  2. Important Note Regarding Timing:  We screen all applications to find what we believe will be the best environment for each particular cat or dog. If we believe that we currently have a potential match for you, our typical response time is within a week.  If you do not receive a response within two weeks, please assume that we have not been able to find a good match.  Please do not interpret a lack of response as a belief by City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue that you would not be able to provide a loving home for a cat or dog.  
  3. Applications Counselor: Applicants who pass initial screening will be assigned a volunteer applications counselor to work with you throughout the process.
  4. Reference Checks: If applicable, CDCK will call the applicant’s veterinarian to ensure that previous pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and well cared for. CDR&CK will also call personal references listed on the application.
  5. Renters/Condo Owners: For renters, CDCK will check with an applicant’s landlord to ensure that cats and/or dogs are permitted and that the cat or dog of interest wouldn’t violate any size or breed restrictions. We also review condo association rules regarding pets.
  6. Home Visit: CDCK will virtually visit each applicant’s home to see the environment where the cat or dog will live and answer any questions the applicant might have.
  7. Adoption Contract: If the applicant is approved for adoption and decides to adopt the cat or dog, CDCK and the prospective adopter will enter into an adoption contract. The applicant will be required to pay an adoption fee, which helps cover our costs from spay/neutering (if age appropriate), microchipping, vaccinations and any other veterinary attention needed while in our care. 
DOG ADOPTION APPLICATION FORM CAT ADOPTION APPLICATION FORM

Not Interested in Adoption? Sign up to Foster!

FOSTER A DOG
FOSTER A CAT

What is Fostering?

A foster’s purpose is to provide a temporary home for a dog or cat, and help the rescue get animals ready for adoption. This could include acclimating the animal to living in a home, bringing them to adoption events (we have virtual and in-person), do some basic training with the animal, and helping the animal get healthy if they have medical needs. 

Fostering Process

  1. Application: Interested fosters should fill out an application.
  2. Important Note Regarding Timing:  We screen all applications to find what we believe will be the best environment for our foster dogs and kitties. Our typical response time is within a week. Please do not interpret a lack of response as a belief by City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue that you would not be able to provide a loving home for one of our animals.  
  3. Applications Counselor: Applicants who pass initial screening will be assigned a volunteer applications counselor, who will review the application and have a brief conversation with each applicant to determine her/his needs and preferences.
  4. Reference Checks: If applicable, CDCK will call the applicant’s veterinarian to ensure that previous pets have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and well cared for. CDCK  will also call personal references listed on the application.
  5. Renters/Condo Owners: For renters, CDCK  will check with an applicant’s landlord to ensure that cats and/or dogs are permitted and check on any size or breed restrictions. We also review condo association rules regarding pets.
  6. Home Visit: CDCK  will visit each applicant’s home to see the environment where the cat and/or dog will live and answer any questions the applicant might have.
  7. Foster Agreement: If the applicant is approved for fostering, CDCK and the prospective foster will enter into a foster agreement. After receipt of the agreement, the newly approved foster will be assigned a Foster Assistant who will provide support throughout your time as a foster. 

City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue (CDCK) Overview:

  • Founded in 2011 to rescue pets from overcrowded, high-kill shelters.
  • We intervene just in time to save pets close to being euthanized.
  • Instead of a shelter, we rely on foster homes until adoption.
  • Our goal is to find these pets loving homes in the DC area, benefiting both animals and people.
  • Foster parents help us understand the pets better, ensuring a good match with permanent homes.
  • Our work depends heavily on our dedicated foster families.

Fostering with CDCK:

  • Commitment: Minimum of two weeks, though fostering until adoption (typically two months) is preferred.
  • Responsibilities: Provide home, food, bed, and care. Attend at least two adoption events monthly. Occasionally, there are cat adoption events.
  • Support from CDCK: We cover all pre-approved vet costs and provide essential supplies like collars, leashes, and crates for dogs.
  • Benefits: Experience love, joy, and companionship from your foster pet!

Interested? Remember, if you’ve adopted from us before, you’re already approved to foster. Contact us if you want to foster a pet!

If you are looking for a resource to rehome your pet and you did not adopt them from City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue, visit rehome.adoptapet.com to learn more and create their profile.

*If you need to return your CDCK cat or dog, please contact info@citydogsrescuedc.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Adoption FAQs

All available dogs can be viewed on our Adoptable Dogs or Adoptable Cats pages on our website. If individuals would like an appointment to see any dogs and cats, the first step is to fill out our online adoption application. Aside from CDCK Adoption Events, we do not show dogs to applicants until their adoption application is fully approved. Most of our animals are in foster homes throughout the DC area, so please do not stop by our administrative offices or by City Dogs Daycare.

No. CDCK carefully screens its applicants by calling references, veterinarians, and landlords. CDCK also conducts home visits of potential adoption homes. CDCK has no obligation to adopt to any particular applicant and will refuse adoption if it believes that a particular applicant or their home would not be a suitable environment for a dog or cat. Anyone with any history of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or surrendering of pets without a valid reason is disqualified from adopting from  CDCK. Our goal is to avoid the return of pets to shelters by finding forever homes for them with adopters who are capable of providing the level of care necessary to support the dogs and cats through their entire natural lives. We typically have multiple applications on each dog and cat and must determine the best choice for each of the individual needs of our dogs an cats. Unfortunately, there may be multiple suitable adopters for a dog or cat, and some will be declined if another applicant had a stronger application and background.

Please let your assigned Adoption Counselor know about your preference. You do not have to fill out another application.

Dogs:  CDCK charges an adoption fee of $450 ($225 for seniors). This fee typically includes health care provided when the dog leaves the municipal shelter to join City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue and before adoption: initial limited veterinarian exam and pre-adoption health care for dogs over the age of 1 year as needed. We require all adopters to make their own vet appointment within 3 weeks of adoption. 
​
For reference, here is the list of our post-shelter veterinary requirements for dogs. All dogs receive this care upon leaving the shelter and prior to transport to DC:

  1. Limited Initial Exam
  2. Spay/Neuter
    *Thoroughly check any adult female dogs for mammary tumors and remove and biopsy if required.
  3. Rabies vaccination
  4. DHPP vaccination 
  5. Bordetella vaccination
  6. 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.
  1. ​Microchip
  2. Fecal flotation
  3. Deworm – Deworm at vet even if fecal is negative. If positive, deworm at vet and second deworming meds and instructions with dog.
  4. Administer Flea/Tick preventative (e.g. Frontline) and Heartworm preventative (e.g. Heartgard) at vet. If flea infestation is evident, Capstar is given.
  5. Treatment of any urgent medical conditions identified by the shelter vet or while in foster care.

Puppies: The fee is $450, but does not include the cost of spaying and neutering. All adopters of puppies are required by contract to have their adopted dog spayed or neutered when age appropriate (typically at 5 months of age). Because of their weak immune systems, puppies must be vetted for a longer period of time and kept away from other animals to ensure that they are healthy. Puppies require vaccines starting at approximately 6 weeks of age and must continue with boosters no less than 2 weeks apart but not more than every 4 weeks apart until the puppy is 16 weeks of age. This adoption fee covers pre-adoption vaccinations and an initial vet checkup, however, the adopter is required to schedule a vet appointment within 3 weeks of adoption.

Cats and Kittens: CDCK charges an adoption fee of $250. This fee typically includes health care provided when the cat or kitten leaves the municipal shelter to join City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue and before adoption: initial limited veterinarian exam, all age-appropriate rabies, distemper, and bordetella vaccinations, flea and heartworm prevention prior to adoption, spay/neuter (if age appropriate)  procedure, microchip when available, SNAP test for FIV / FeLV Tests, and pre-adoption health care for cats over the age of 1 year as needed. We expect all adopters to make their own vet appointment within 3 weeks of adoption. ​

For reference, here is the list of our post-shelter veterinary requirements for cats. All cats receive this care upon leaving the shelter and prior to transport to DC:

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

In order to rescue dogs and cats, CDCK needs to pay shelter, transport, vet, spay/neuter, and microchip fees; costs of medicine; heartworm and flea preventatives, food costs and any extra urgent medical care. We typically spend much more per dog or cat than the amount we charge as our adoption fee. Many of our rescued dogs and cats were not cared for adequately in their previous lives and are in need of significant vet care when they first arrive at CDCK. CDCK is a predominately volunteer-driven organization that relies on donations and adoption fees to cover all operating expenses.

Through a careful screening process, CDCK strives to find permanent homes for each dog an cat. In the hopefully unlikely event that an adopter is no longer able to care for his/her pet, CDCK requires by contract that the dog  or cat be returned to CDCK. Please reach out to alumni@citydogsrescuedc.org and someone will follow up with you. Please be sure to keep an eye on your junk folder.

Our Dogs and Cats

CDCK dogs and cats typically come from overcrowded and/or high-kill shelters. Sadly, many of them would have been euthanized due to lack of space. CDCK has established relationships with various shelters and rescues, and primarily rescues from rural communities in VA, NC, and WV. Most dogs and cats are in the shelter through no fault of their own. Many are strays with no identification. Others are the result of amateur breeders who can’t sell all the puppies or kittens. Often times, the former owners couldn’t afford to keep their dog or cat, had a change in their living situation, or had other pets that were not compatible.

All of our available dogs and cats are posted on our website. If a potential adopter would like a specific type of dog or cat that is not listed on our website, he or she should complete an adoption application and note that on his/her application. We may know of an available dog that might be of interest.  We are not able to accommodate all requests and your application will be placed on hold until you identify a suitable dog or cat.

Many of our adopters have full-time jobs but typically provide for a mid-day dog walk through a dog walking service or enroll the dog in doggie daycare. Cats are fairly resilient to long hours alone. Kittens under 12 weeks of age need to be adopted in pairs or to a home with another friendly feline.

We sometimes know about a dog or cat’s tolerance for cats before we receive them based upon shelter records. If we do not know, we can sometimes “cat test” the dog or cat to see how he or she interacts with cats or dogs in a household. Many of our dogs are comfortable with other dogs and, in fact, some are fostered in a cageless daycare environment with many other dogs around them. If we find out that a dog does not interact well with other dogs we will determine if they are dog selective or need to be an only dog. Their profiles will be updated to reflect this information and any pending applicant will be notified. 

Adopters should expect that any new dog or cat will need training with respect to house training. Some of our dogs or cats may never have had any formal house training, while others may arrive trained. Even though some of our dogs and cats may be house trained, they will often have accidents in a new environment. All new adopters should be prepared to be patient with respect to any house training issues that may arise.

We disclose all health records and known health conditions to adopters. Upon accepting a new cat or dog into the organization, we provide a basic vet visit that includes necessary vaccinations and health tests, but we do not provide a comprehensive medical exam prior to adoption. As a result, sickness, injury, and disability may exist unbeknownst to CDCK.  City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue is not responsible for payment of any vet care, including known and unknown medical conditions once a cat or dog is adopted from us.

Heartworm can be a serious disease, but can easily be prevented through monthly preventative tablets.  CDCK dogs are usually tested for heartworm, and we will disclose to adopters if they are heartworm positive.  If they are positive, we will discuss the treatment protocol. Thankfully Heartworm is very treatable in dogs.

Foster FAQs

A foster’s purpose is to provide a temporary home for a dog or cat, and help the rescue get animals ready for adoption. This could include acclimating the animal to living in a home, bringing them to adoption events (we have virtual and in-person), do some basic training with the animal, and helping the animal get healthy if they have medical needs. 

Yes. There may be some cases where your home situation won’t be the right match for an animal (for example a dog may need a quieter area, a home without children, etc.) but we will discuss this with you. 

Since we do not have a shelter, many of our animals are transported to the DC area only once we’ve secured a foster to pick them up that day. In those cases, you will not get to meet the animal before deciding whether to foster. However, we often have animals that are already in the DC area that need to be moved to a new foster home, and in those cases it is possible to meet the animal first. 

You do not need to have a yard or a car to foster! We require that City Kitties be indoor-only cats, and most dogs do not need a yard as long as they get enough mental and physical exercise. We will work with you to get you and your animal to any necessary vet appointments or adoption events. 

We ask that our fosters commit to fostering for at least two weeks at a time, with a preference for foster families who can see the animal through adoption. This is to minimize moving animals around which can cause stress and anxiety for them. We occasionally need temporary fosters for shorter lengths of time, but all foster applicants must be willing to foster a dog for at least the two-week period. 

CD&CK will pay for all medical expenses as long as they are approved first, and we provide dog fosters with monthly flea/tick and heartworm preventatives. The rescue also provides dogs with a collar, harness, leash, “Adopt Me” vest, and a crate if requested. As a foster you will be responsible for providing food, toys, and treats. Additionally, the rescue often receives donations that we can pass on to fosters, such as food, toys, and dog beds. 

If your foster and household pet do not get along, we will work with you to find a new foster for the animal. Because we do not have a shelter, it may be a few days before we are able to find a new foster. In the meantime, we ask that you be patient and keep the animals separated. 

It can take anywhere from a week to several months for a dog to be adopted, but this depends on the dog and their specific needs. We have found the average for dogs to be 4-6 weeks and cats to be 4-8 weeks. 

When you foster, you are a stepping stone on that animal’s journey to finding a loving home. In many cases you are saving its life. It can be hard not to grow attached to a foster dog or cat and want to keep it, but once that animal goes to its furever home you’ll feel immense satisfaction and pride in being a part of its journey. Many of our fosters keep in touch with the families that adopt their foster animals and are able to receive updates as the pet settles into their new home. Keeping a spot open in your home for a foster animal allows you to make a difference over and over and help more animals in their most vulnerable time.

Once a dog is in its DC area foster home, if an application comes in for their dog we allow fosters to have 24 hours to think about whether they would like to adopt. If the dog is not yet in DC, we will process applications for that dog without first consulting with the planned foster.

We offer weeklong trial adoptions for adopters who commit to picking up their dog the day that it arrives to DC, to adopters who have young children, and to adopters who have resident animals. We may offer a trial adoption in other instances on a case by case basis. If you are not yet ready to commit to adopting and the dog you’re interested in needs a foster, you are welcome to fill out a foster application instead. However, while your application is being processed, another already-approved foster may sign up to foster that dog, or an adopter may apply for it. We do not reserve dogs for foster applicants that are not yet approved, and if the dog is not yet in DC the foster does not get 24 hours to make a decision about adopting if an application is submitted. 

Help Us Save More Lives

Whether you choose to adopt or foster, you are making a significant difference. Help us save more lives by spreading the word, donating, or volunteering. Together, we can give these dogs the love and care they deserve.

ADOPTable dogs ADOPTable CATs FOSTER A DOG FOSTER A CAT