Frequently Asked Questions

general FAQ

  • We’re currently in the process of gaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. In the meantime, we operate with a full nonprofit mindset—every donation goes directly toward the care and placement of our dogs.

  • A rescue, like Valley Dog Rescue (VDR), is typically a smaller, volunteer-run organization that pulls dogs from shelters or takes in owner surrenders. Unlike shelters, which house animals on-site, VDR is foster-based, meaning all our dogs live in private homes while they wait to be adopted. This allows us to give each dog personalized care and helps us match them with the right forever family.

  • Our dogs come from a variety of situations, including overcrowded shelters in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, owner surrenders, and sometimes from unsafe or neglectful environments.

  • Right now, we are still setting up our accounts and working toward our 501(c)(3) status, so while we would love your donation, we just need you to wait a little longer! Thank you in advance.

    Once set up, there will be a few ways you can donate. You can donate directly through our site here, and do a one-time payment or a monthly installment.

    All proceeds from our merchandise purchases will go towards the rescue, and we hope to have fundraising events in the near future.

    We also have an Amazon Wishlist, and every purchase helps! This is currently live and we are accepting gifts purchased from this.

  • Every dollar you donate to Valley Dog Rescue goes directly toward supporting our rescue dogs in the following ways:

    Medical Care: Veterinary expenses including spay/neuter procedures, dental care, surgeries, routine check-ups, medications, and necessary supplements.

    Basic Needs and Supplies: Food, treats, beds, collars, leashes, toys, and other essentials that ensure our dogs are healthy, happy, and comfortable.

    Training: Specialized training sessions to address behavioral issues and increase each dog's chance of successful adoption.

    Boarding/Care: Temporary boarding/babysitting for dogs when immediate foster placement isn't available.

    Shelter Fees: Fees required to pull dogs from local shelters and get them safely into our foster program.

    Grooming: Professional grooming services to ensure dogs look and feel their best for adoption.

    Administrative and Emergency Expenses: Necessary costs such as insurance, marketing materials, adoption events, and maintaining an emergency fund for urgent care needs.

    Your generosity allows us to provide comprehensive, compassionate care for all our dogs!

  • Valley Dog Rescue focuses on small to medium-sized dogs, especially those who are of “senior” age. While we don’t restrict rescue efforts to specific breeds, we typically do not take in large or strong breeds that are commonly considered high-risk by housing providers or insurance companies—such as pit bulls, Rottweilers, Cane Corsos, or similar breeds.

    This is not a reflection on individual dogs, but a decision based on our foster network, community adoption potential, and our mission to prioritize dogs we can safely and successfully place in homes. Our goal is to help where we can be most effective, and for us, that means focusing on dogs that often fall through the cracks due to size, age, or circumstance.

  • Yes! 100% of the profit from our online store (or in-person purchases of VDR products) goes towards rescuing and helping dogs.

  • No—we are a foster-based rescue, which means all of our dogs live in home environments while they wait for adoption. This allows us to understand each dog’s personality and needs better, and helps them transition more easily into forever homes. It also keeps dogs out of shelters, which can be a very stressful environment.

  • Any gesture, big or small, is appreciated! Following us on our social media and interacting with us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok helps spread the word and brings attention to our rescue. Word of mouth and keeping us (and our dogs) in mind are always appreciated!

    We do have an Amazon wishlist if a monetary donation is not an option. We appreciate you helping fulfill our wishlist!

    We also have volunteer opportunities! We need volunteers to help with transport, assist at events, or lend skills in areas like photography, fundraising, or social media. We’ll have more information on volunteering soon, but if you already know you’d like to volunteer or donate your time/skills, please email us at hello@valleydogrescue.com.

  • Thank you for rescuing a stray! The first step would be to take the dog to a local humane society, veterinarian, or shelter so we can see if the pet is microchipped. This resource provides information about the steps to take after finding a stray animal in California.

    VDR also has a microchip checker, so if you’re unable to take it to a shelter or local vet, please reach out to hello@valleydogrescue.com. We’ll communicate next steps, but the most important thing is to take the dog off the street!

  • First of all, this is a judgement-free zone. We’re sorry to hear that you can no longer take care of your dog. We’re glad that you would consider a rescue before handing your dog to a shelter, and we know how hard it can be to give up your dog. We do take owner surrenders. Please reach out to hello@valleydogrescue.com for more information.

  • We understand that not every match is perfect. If an adoption or foster situation isn’t working out, we ask that you contact us right away. We’ll work with you to find a solution that’s best for you and the dog, including taking the dog back if needed.

  • Yes! We welcome partnerships or sponsorships with local or non-local businesses and organizations that want to support our mission. Whether it’s through event sponsorships, donation drives, hosting an adoption event, selling some of our merch, or cross-promotion, we’d love to collaborate. Reach out to hello@valleydogrescue.com to connect further.

  • We are fully volunteer-run! We fully rely on volunteers to help with the behind-the-scenes operations, as well as those who help with events or the dogs. We are always looking for more volunteers, especially for help with foster placement and management, adoption coordinators, and shelter liaisons, among other roles. Please reach out if you’re interested in getting involved!

Foster FAQ

  • We’d love to have you as part of our foster network! To become a foster, please fill out our foster application here. Please fill it out as best you can to help us match you with the best foster dog for your household.

  • While we would love everyone to foster with us, not everyone may be a good fit. Some experience with dogs is preferred, but not required. We ask that you be at least 18 years of age, and all household members must agree to allow the foster dog. We do ask that fosters live in either Ventura or Los Angeles counties.

    Although you fill out the foster application, that is not a guarantee that we’ll ask you to be a foster.

  • Yes, you can! However, not every situation may be ideal for fostering. Please fill out our fostering application and answer it to the best of your ability. This will help us determine if your household and lifestyle can accommodate a foster dog.

  • While each foster situation may involve slightly different items, VDR supplies fosters with a bed, crate (when applicable), leash, collar, dog tag, toys, treats, medical supplies (when applicable), potty training pads (when applicable), food & water bowls, poop bags, and food for the first 6 months of fostering. Again, there may be some differences from foster dog to foster dog.

    After the first 6 months of fostering, we ask the fosters to cover the cost of food. We can help arrange and coordinate this process. Fosters will not be compensated for additional expenses incurred in the regular daily care of foster dogs, such as additional treats and toys (once initial toys and treats have been eaten and/or destroyed).

    We also fully cover all medical expenses, but require our fosters to go to one of our VDR vet partners.

    Please keep in mind we are a new nonprofit run solely on donations and volunteers! As we continue to grow, this policy may change.

  • We are deeply committed to actively networking and finding permanent, loving homes for our foster dogs. Unfortunately, some rescues leave fosters unsupported or fail to follow through on rehoming efforts. We are not one of those rescues.

    We cannot give an exact timeframe on how long we will need you to foster. Some dogs will get adopted sooner than others, but we ask that you are prepared and willing to foster until the dog finds its forever home.

    Please let us know if you can no longer care for your foster. We need at least 72 hours to find a foster replacement.

  • When you sign up to be a foster, you’re signing up to be part of our network and help save dogs we are pulling from shelters, surrendered, or found as strays. Unfortunately, you cannot choose a specific dog to foster, as we match foster dogs to homes based on the information you provide in your application.

    Usually, our information on the dog is limited, and we rely on our fosters to help us learn more about each dog.

  • We'd like to avoid moving foster dogs from home to home whenever possible. Please let us know in advance if you anticipate prior commitments or obligations (e.g., planned travel). Should you unexpectedly need a replacement foster, please let us know at least 72 hours beforehand so we have enough time to make alternative arrangements. You will remain responsible for the dog until another foster or alternate arrangements have been made.

  • Contact our team ASAP.

  • The main way we find homes for our foster dogs is through social media! We hope you share your foster on social media and tag Valley Dog Rescue on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok so we can share the posts. We are actively promoting the dogs in our care, but your social media posts as a foster parent help to find the right adopter!

  • Please reach out to the VDR team as soon as possible. The VDR team will work to find alternate arrangements, but we ask to give us at least 72 hours to find another place for the dog. While we search for alternate arrangements, you will still be responsible for the foster.

Adoption FAQ

  • The 3-3-3 rule is a general guideline for what to expect when bringing a rescue dog into your home:

    • 3 days to decompress and adjust to the new environment

    • 3 weeks to start settling in and learning your routine

    • 3 months to fully feel at home and build trust

    Every dog is different, but this rule helps set realistic expectations as your new pup transitions into their forever home.

  • We’d love for you to adopt a VDR dog! The next step would be to fill out the adoption application here and include the name of the dog you’re interested in adopting. If you’re a good match, and depending on the number of applications a dog has received, we’ll reach out with next steps!

    Next steps would include a virtual home check and an optional trial period. If you have other pets or children in the home, we recommend a trial to ensure there must be no issues before the adoption is finalized. However, this is optional.

  • You can find all of our dogs available for adoption here. We also share our adoptable dogs on our social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok).

  • Our non-refundable adoption fees range from $300 to $550. In general, the adoption fee for dogs 1 and under will be $550, $450 for adult (2-7 years) dogs, and $300 for senior dogs (8+ years).

    Our adoption fees help support the rescue of other dogs and do not always directly cover the expenses associated with the dog you’re adopting. Valley Dog Rescue is a nonprofit relying solely on donations.

    VDR holds the right to adjust the adoption fee per dog based on additional factors.

  • At VDR, we want to match the right dogs with the right families. One way we do this is through a virtual home check. We just want to ensure the dog has a safe living environment. Once you have applied to adopt a dog, and if your application is approved, we will coordinate a short video call (such as FaceTime or Zoom) with a VDR member and yourself just so you can give us a look at the home where the dog will live!

    If we host an in-person adoption event, we ask that you bring photos of your home (inside and out) to show us where the dog will be living.

  • Yes! We recognize that some dogs’ perfect homes may not necessarily be local. However, we still want to ensure our dogs enter the right, loving home. Adopters will be responsible for traveling (making arrangements and paying for travel) to the Los Angeles area to get and transport the dog home.

    If you want to adopt and don’t live locally, you will need to complete an adoption application. We’re happy to share video calls with the dog before you make your decision. Due to distance, we will be unable to do an optional adoption trial, however, should there be any issues in the household, per our adoption contract we ask that the dog returns to VDR. We will conduct a short, virtual home check as part of the adoption process. The adopter will be responsible for the transport of the dog back to Los Angeles, and responsible for paying for the transport.

  • For those who are local: If you have applied to adopt a dog, and your application has been chosen, we offer the chance to do a one-week trial period with the dog in your home. We want to ensure the dog fits into your home and lifestyle, and that your lifestyle suits the dog. This is a two-way decision, we want the dog to love you as much as you love the dog! If you choose the one-week trial adoption, you'll still need to pay the adoption fee and sign the adoption contract before the trial begins.

    For those who are out-of-state: While a trial may not be possible, we ask to do a virtual home check just to see the environment in which the dog will live. Travel arrangements will be your responsibility, and if the adoption doesn’t work out, we require you to bring the dog back. However, adoption fees and travel arrangements to bring the dog back to Los Angeles will be non-refundable.

  • That’s ok! We want to make good matches for both dogs and humans! That’s why we do a trial, to make sure it’s a good fit all around. That doesn’t mean your perfect pup isn’t out there, and we’d hope you’d consider another VDR dog when the time was right.

  • Depending on the age of the dog, yes, the dogs will be vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped before adoption. Some may receive vaccinations during their foster care, or will need spay/neuter surgery, so the timeline is on a case-by-case basis.

  • Yes! However, keep in mind the dog may have other adoption applications. It may be better to apply, and then we can arrange a meet and greet with the potential dog. We are happy to coordinate as many meet and greets as you’d like, and the adoption isn’t final until the contract is signed (even if you’ve applied). We want the match to be successful, for you and the dog, so we encourage meeting the dogs.

  • The next step would be to hear from us about setting up the virtual home check! This will be a short video call with a VDR member just to see the home in which the dog will be loving. Then, we can set up the optional trial period, if you are local and wish to do so. We will coordinate with the fosters and arrange a pickup/dropoff for you to spend some time with the dog. All members of the household (including other pets) must spend time with the dog so we can be sure it’s a good match!

    If you are not local, we are happy to coordinate video calls to ensure you see the dog in “real-time,” in addition to scheduling the virtual home check. You (the adopter) will be responsible for coming to Los Angeles and transporting the dog home. If there is any issue with the dog, such as with other members of the household, you (the adopter) would be responsible for transporting the dog back to LA and back to VDR, per our adoption contract.

  • A foster fail is a VDR success! We’re thrilled you’d like to adopt your foster pup. We will still require you to fill out the adoption application to comply with our processes, but we will note that you are the dog’s current foster. We ask that all fosters foster their dog for at least 1 week before deciding to apply to adopt.