FAQ

• Submit an adoption application and don't call us
• After approval: Adoption Appointment Scheduled for first available Saturday
• Everyone (humans and pets) comes to the Big Love Animal Rescue facility to meet candidates that fit your needs
• Big Love Animal Rescue Adoption Team works one-on-one with you to introduce and observe compatibility of candidates to find best match.
• Adoption donation is $300 (cash or credit card)
• dogs are sterilized, vaccinated and have microchip
• dogs are ready to go home with you on adoption day with all paperwork and

When you arrive at Big Love Animal Rescue, our adoption team has been briefed on your lifestyle and everyone in it.  Our team knows all of the Big Love Animal Rescue candidates and will work with you one-on-one to find the best fit. Come prepared to take "test drive walks" with candidates. Our team will carefully introduce candidates to your children and other pets to observe interaction to find the responsible lifetime match.  Big Love Animal Rescue has multiple off leash play areas to fully test all candidates to help you find the next love of your life.

dogs are clever and they are fantastic athletes. Make sure all gates, doors and fencing are in good working order. Repair and secure all before you bring your new dog home.

dogs have been known to open gate latches. Secure with clip locks. dogs can let themselves out of yards if a fence is in disrepair or has low or weak spots. You do not want your new dog lost or injured before they become accustomed to your home.  Do a thorough once over to make sure your Boxer will be safe and secure in your home & yard.

Every dog adopted from Big Love Animal Rescue will come with records of sterility, vaccinations, microchip registration form and a martingale collar with Big Love Animal Rescue ID tag.  Here are the basics you will need to have on hand for your newly adopted dog.

• 6-foot sturdy leash
• ID tag with your contact info
• Food bowl
• Water bowl
• dog bed
• Wire crate (optional but the best tool for housebreaking and preventing anxiety)
• dog Food: the best food you can afford to feed your dog is the best investment in their health
• Commitment: above all you need to commit to helping your newly adopted dog adjust their new life which can take time. Big Love Animal Rescue is there to help you every step of the way.

Only buy quality dog food from a pet food store (or Costco) never from a grocery store. With so many great pet stores offering a wide variety of top quality food, it's really your choice, and what you new dog will eat. Sometimes in the beginning it might be trial and error so perhaps small bags to start with until your find the right one.  Some good brands include Zignature, Merrick, Wellness, Royal Canine, Taste of The Wild and Kirkland brand from Costco.

We may not be able to narrow down what quality food is best for your new dog but we can certainly tell you what foods NOT TO FEED a dog.  Do not feed any brands available in a grocery store (Purina, Pedigree, Beniful etc.) These low-grade foods are over processed, filled with fillers like corn, preservatives and toxins which are very problematic for dogs. Also, no products at all from CHINA.

Big Love Animal Rescue will help select the best candidate to fit your life and all in it. If your home includes other dogs, cats or kids of any age it is best to be prepared to follow integration guidelines to ensure the best chance for full integration and a happy life together.  It can sometimes take time and effort, but the end results are unconditional love for a lifetime. GO SLOW, TAKE TIME. Knowing what steps to follow and more importantly what NOT to do will help everyone.  Click appropriate links for successful integration tips that apply to you. Be prepared by educating yourself on what will work.

If you have another dog at home If you have a cat at home If you have kids at home

dogs LOVE their human family. Your new dog should sleep inside the house preferably in the same room as a family member, especially at first.  Do not expect your dog to sleep in a remote room such as kitchen or laundry room which makes your new dog feel isolated rather than included. A crate in your bedroom is a great integration tool helping your dog feel safe, avoid accidents, and prevent anxiety.

The simple answer to this question is to integrate your dog by following Big Love Animal Rescue take home instruction and taking things in baby steps. Your new dog has a lot to learn and get used to. Every home is different; every dog is different. The most important thing to remember is that Big Love Animal Rescue is here to help you after adoption with advice and to answer questions to help your new dog fully integrate.

Here are links of the most common questions people have when bringing home a new dog.

Housebreaking Leash Aggression Separation Anxiety

Big Love Animal Rescue treats health issues that are apparent when dogs arrive or conditions that develop during their time at our facility. Owner surrenders to Big Love Animal Rescue often come with their medical history and records. dogs that we pull from city shelters often come without much history and we must evaluate visually from experience.  Big Love Animal Rescue will always divulge any conditions that are known and treatment protocols.  We partner with quality vets for the very best for dogs in our care. 

Please be aware that there can be a very common temporary condition that affects many dogs in communal living environments: kennels, boarding facilities, etc.  Kennel Cough and Diarrhea/Giardia are easily spread but also easily treated. Your new dog may or may not have been exposed so please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these common and very treatable temporary conditions.

Make sure your resident dog is current with shots, especially bortatella before visiting Big Love Animal Rescue.

Common Heath Issues

Kennel Cough

We are fortunate to have adopters come from all corners of California and surrounding states to work with our team to adopt the perfect dog for them.  No matter where you live, our policy is that all parties (human and pets) must come to meet adoption candidates in person. This is the only way to observe the interaction and ensure a responsible lifetime match. If you, and all in your home are up for a trip to Big Love Animal Rescue we welcome your application.  Should the adoption not be for life, the dog must be returned to our facility. Out of town adoptions are fine as long as you travel to us to adopt and commit to return if need be.