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ARPO Dog & Puppy Adoption FAQAlliance for Responsible Pet Ownership (ARPO)
Thinking about bringing a dog or puppy into your home? We're here to help guide you through the process and ensure a great match for your family and your future furry friend.
Why adopt a dog from ARPO?When you adopt through ARPO, you're giving a rescued dog a second chance at life. Every dog in our care:
Your adoption also supports our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome dogs in need.
What should I consider before adopting a dog or puppy?Adopting a dog is a long-term commitment. Ask yourself:
Dogs thrive on consistency, love, and being part of the family.
Should I adopt a puppy or an adult dog?Puppies are adorable but require constant attention, potty training, socialization, and patience.
Adult dogs often come with some training, are more predictable in size and personality, and are often less work for first-time pet owners or busy families.
Our team can help match you with the right fit for your lifestyle.
What is included in the adoption fee?Your adoption fee helps cover:
This ensures your new pup gets off to a healthy, happy start.
Can I adopt more than one dog?Yes! While not for everyone, some homes are a great fit for dog siblings or bonded pairs. Let us know your interest, and we'll help you determine if it's the right choice.
Are dogs a lot of work?Dogs are loyal, loving companions-but they need care and attention to thrive:
In return, you get unconditional love and a devoted companion.
What if the adoption doesn't work out?Sometimes things don't go as planned, and that's okay. If the dog isn't the right fit, ARPO will work with you to find a solution-or bring the dog back into our care. Please contact us first before rehoming.
Can I adopt if I have kids or other pets?Yes! Many of our dogs are fostered in homes with children, cats, and other dogs. We'll help you find a dog with the right temperament for your household and provide guidance for safe introductions.
What about training?We encourage all adopters to commit to basic training, especially for puppies. It builds trust, improves behavior, and strengthens your bond. We can recommend local trainers or online resources.
Still have questions?We're happy to help! Contact us at [email protected] with any questions, or follow us on social media for events, adoption updates, and helpful pet tips.
All dogs are descended from their wild cousin, the wolf, and share many traits seen in wolves. Dogs, and puppies in particular, are denning creatures and feel more secure in small, snug areas with low roofs, thus the success of the training crate.
Dogs are pack animals and do not enjoy being alone. Puppies who stay with their litters until eight weeks old easily will become members of human packs/families. Each pack needs a leader. Ideally all human family members should be ahead of the dog in the pack order. Your dog should not be the leader, as this can result in aggression or other dominance displays.
You will need food, water and food bowls, leash, collar, training crate, brush, comb and canine chew toys.
Keep your dog on a leash when you are outside, unless in a secured (fenced-in) area. If your dog defecates on a neighbor's lawn, the sidewalk or any other public place, please clean it up.
Puppies 8 to 12 weeks old need four meals a day. Puppies three to six months old need three meals a day. Puppies six months to one year need two meals a day. When your dog is one year old, one meal a day is usually enough. For some dogs (such as larger ones or those prone to bloat), it's better to continue to feed two smaller meals. Premium-quality dry food provides a well-balanced diet and may be mixed with water, broth or some canned food. Your dog may enjoy cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these additions should not total more than 10 percent of your dog's daily food intake.
Puppies should be fed a high-quality brand-name puppy food (avoid generic brands) two to four times a day. Please limit "people food," however, because it can cause puppies to suffer vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth problems and may cause very picky eating habits, as well as obesity. Have clean, fresh water available at all times. Wash food and water dishes frequently.
Every dog needs daily exercise for mental and physical stimulation. The proper amount depends on the breed type, age and health status of your dog. Providing enough exercise will improve your dog's health and prevent household destruction and other behavior problems common in underexercised dogs.
You can help keep your dog clean and reduce shedding by brushing her frequently. Check for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. Most dogs don't need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Before bathing, comb or cut out all mats from the coat. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to soap residue.
Small dogs, sometimes referred to as "lap dogs," are the easiest to handle. The larger breeds, such as German Shepherd dogs, are usually too large to lift. If you want to carry a puppy or small dog, place one hand under the dog's chest, with either your forearm or other hand supporting the hind legs and rump. Never attempt to lift or grab your puppy or small dog by the forelegs, tail or back of the neck. If you do have to lift a large dog, lift from the under-side, supporting his chest with one arm and his rear end with the other.
You will need to provide your pet with a warm, quiet place to rest away from all drafts and off of the floor. A training crate is ideal. You may wish to buy a dog bed, or make one out of a wooden box. Place a clean blanket or pillow inside the bed. Wash the dog's bedding often. If your dog will be spending a great deal of time outdoors, you will need to provide her with shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather and a warm, dry, covered shelter when it's cold.
Follow your community's licensing regulations. When you buy your license, be sure to attach it to your dog's collar. A dog license, ID tag, implanted microchip or tattoo can help secure your dog's return if he becomes lost. Training A well-behaved companion animal is a joy. But left untrained, your dog can cause nothing but trouble. Teaching your dog the basics"sit," "stay," "come," "down," "heel," "off" and "leave it"will improve your relationship with both your dog and your neighbors. Start teaching puppies basic sit and stay commands. Use little bits of food as a lure and reward. Puppies can be enrolled in obedience courses when your veterinarian believes they are adequately vaccinated. Contact your local humane society or SPCA for training class recommendations. Start teaching your puppy manners NOW!
See a veterinarian if your dog is sick or injured. Take him for a full check-up, shots and a heartworm blood test every year.
Puppies replace their baby teeth with permanent teeth between four and seven months of age. Clean their teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste once or twice a week. Use a child's soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Some dogs develop periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This painful condition can result in tooth loss and is a source of infection for the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a regular part of your dog's health program.
Daily inspections of your dog for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are important. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are several new methods of flea and tick control. Speak to your veterinarian about these and other options.
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from dog to dog by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be fatal. Your dog should have a blood test for heartworm every spring, because it is important to detect infections from the previous year. A once-a-month pill given during mosquito season (which varies in different areas of the country) will protect your dog. If you travel south with your pet during the winter, your dog should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some warmer regions, veterinarians recommend preventive heartworm medication throughout the year.
It is common for dogs, even in urban areas, to be exposed to worms and possible infestation. Microscopic eggs produced by intestinal worms in infected dogs and passed in their feces provide a source of infection for other dogs. There are several types of worms and a few microscopic parasites that commonly affect dogs. Because most of these cannot be seen in feces, a microscopic fecal evaluation is the only satisfactory way to have your puppy or dog checked for intestinal worms and other parasites. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry roundworms or hookworms. All puppies should be dewormed by a veterinarian regardless of fecal evaluation.
Females should be spayed (ovaries and uterus removed) and males neutered (testicles removed) by six months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer, a common and frequently fatal disease of older female dogs. Spaying also eliminates the risk of pyometra (an infected uterus), a very serious problem in older females that requires surgery and intensive medical care. Spaying also protects your female pet from having unwanted litters.
Neutering males prevents testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression (which differ from protectiveness, which this surgery won't affect).
For more information, search the dog care section on ASPCA's website or visit the resources below:
