Before You Adopt

Adding a dog to your family is a big responsibility and should not be taken lightly. Before you decide to adopt a pit bull, please make sure you have considered the following:

Commitment

One of the biggest contributors to the plight of the pit bull is a lack of commitment by owners. Pit bulls live about 12-14 years. Much can change in your life in that amount of time, so it is important to be sure you are considering your new dog as a member of the family who will be with you through thick and thin.

Financial Responsibility

Dogs are expensive. Vet bills can be very expensive. Of course we do not want to think about anything bad happening to our dog, but be sure you are financially prepared to handle vet costs if your dog was to get sick or hurt.

Dog Aggression

If you have another dog in your home, be sure you are prepared to handle the situation if aggression issues arise between the two. Dog aggression can technically develop at any point in their lives and occasionally as multi-dog “owners” we are forced to keep two dogs separated. It is never an ideal situation, however it is something to consider. Please also note that when adding a second dog to your home, you should always adopt a dog of the opposite sex and the dogs should have a significant age gap between them. Both of these things can reduce the likelihood of dog aggression among housemates. Human aggression is NOT a trait in this “breed”.

Training

Be sure you are able to do some formal training with your new addition. It is important for bonding, socialization and behavioral skills. Our contract does require formal training.

BSL

Make sure your city/town does not have breed specific legislation in place. If they do, be sure you are prepared to handle their particular regulations. We are happy to discuss this more case by case.

Puppy vs Adult?

This is a BIG question that many do not put enough thought into. So many people are so quick to jump right into adopting a puppy. Sure, puppies are adorable- but have you really put thought into everything else that comes along with a puppy? Puppies are a lot of work, much more than you often think about prior to bringing one home. You must also realize that puppies need a lot of training; you are starting from the beginning. Pit bulls and other large breed dogs grow very quickly. This means by 6-7 months you have a nearly full grown dog, with puppy mentality and puppy tendencies. They then enter adolescence, which can be a challenging period both physically and mentally. People often have the misconception that in order to have a good dog, you must raise one from puppyhood. This is false. A “good dog” also has much to do with genes. Each dog is an individual being and should be judged that way. When you adopt an adult dog, that dog has passed our thorough temperament test (and often times a test at the shelter or facility they came from). Adult dogs have a more developed temperament and you are able to “know what you are getting,” whereas a pup will change as they go through maturity. Especially in homes where there are children or other pets (dog, cat, etc) it is always advisable and wise to consider an adult pit bull.

See Breed Overview for more information.

Adoption Policies

• Our Adoption Donation includes spay/neuter, microchip and all vaccinations. All of our pit bulls will be spayed/neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccines and heartworm prevention prior to adoption.
• All of our pit bulls will be placed as only dogs or with a compatible dog of the opposite sex.
• All adopters must be at least 21 years of age.
• All adopters must own their home.
• A home visit is required.
• Personal and veterinary references are required.
• Proof of training will be required for all puppies adopted under the age of 6 months.

**Please note that exceptions to some adoption policies may be made on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for more information.
If you are considering adopting a pit bull, please read through our Before You Adopt section.