Shih Tzu Rescue of Minnesota

The first part of the adoption process is to submit an APPLICATION FOR ADOPTION online at www.shihtzurescuemn.org. Once you have completed and submitted the application, it will be reviewed by an application committee who will decide if it is an appropriate application for one of our Shih Tzus or for a particular dog in which you are interested. The application gives us an idea of your living situation, your family, your lifestyle, and what you are really looking for in a companion. As everyone knows, the requirements and expectations for dogs all vary, and like humans, each one has its own character and personality. With regards to dogs, some are mellow and just need a place where they can be a companion to people and relax and live out their lives. Others are more active or like the companionship of another dog. But they all need to be in homes where they are understood and loved unconditionally. After reviewing the adoption application, an adoption coordinator will call for a phone interview to chat further about the dog and you. Upon completion of the phone interview we check your references to make sure that you are, in fact, who you represent yourself to be as both a person and prospective dog parent. The next step is to verify your living situation. Once again, all dogs have different requirements, an example being that some dogs really need to go to homes where a fenced yard is available, whereas others are fine without a fenced yard. We also need to make sure that you are the owner of the home that you reside in, and if you are not, then we need to get consent from your landlord that the dog you are looking to adopt will be allowed in your home. Finally, we will do a visit to your home, where all family members must be present, and you will get to meet the dog you are considering. Hopefully the visit will tell us that this is the match we hope it will be! At that point, if it is true love, then you may welcome your fantastic new Shih Tzu into your home for the beginning of what we are certain will be a wonderful, loving forever relationship. Please understand that it is the decision of the foster parent as to whether the family, home and dog are an appropriate match. We require that you sign our adoption agreement and pay the adoption fee for the dog. All dogs adopted from us are fully vetted (vaccinated, heartworm tested, dewormed (if necessary), and spayed/neutered). The adoption fee is based on the age of the dog and ranges from $100 to $400.