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Healthy pitbull mix wearing a pink bandana outdoors, ready for adoption day
Foster-Adoption Application

Adopt or Foster a Blue Waters Dog

Thank you for your interest in a Blue Waters Dog Rescue dog! One application covers both fostering and adopting.

Apply TodaySee pets available for adoption

Browse our adoptable pets on this site — the list updates from Petfinder.

Meet Our Pets

Our Adoptable Pets

See who is looking for a home right now, then apply here when you find a match. Visits are by appointment.

Brindle pitbull mix sitting in a sunny park Bully-breed puppy resting on a living room couch Black-and-white bully-breed dog resting in a foster home Two bully-breed puppies in sunny grass
See Our Adoptable Pets

Our sanctuary dogs live with us for life and aren't available for adoption. Meet them on our Sanctuary page.

Requirements

Before You Apply

In order to foster or adopt from Blue Waters Dog Rescue, you must:

  1. Be 21 years of age or older.
  2. If you rent, have your landlord's consent to have a dog.
  3. Have all dogs and cats in the home spayed or neutered if they are 6 months or older, unless there are medical reasons not to.
  4. Have all dogs in the home up to date on vaccinations.
  5. Agree to a home visit by one of our volunteers. The volunteer will need to see the areas of the home where the dog will be allowed, and meet your family members and current pets.
  6. Let us know before bringing in another foster dog from outside our organization while you are fostering our dog.
  7. Contact us right away if you run into situations where you need help (housebreaking, chewing, behavior, issues with people, etc.).
  8. Contact us right away if you can no longer provide a home for a foster or adopted dog.
Please fill out the application completely and honestly. If a question does not apply, type "N/A". An incomplete application will delay your application. Our screening process includes a home visit, so if you will not permit a home visit, please do not submit the application.
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Step by Step

How the Process Works

Apply

Submit the Foster-Adoption Application online.

Review & references

Our application coordinator reviews your application and speaks with your references. Please allow several days.

Home visit

Once your application is approved, we schedule a home visit.

Two-week home trial

Your new dog comes home for a two-week trial to make sure it's a good fit.

Welcome home

The adoption is finalized after a successful trial.

Want to meet our dogs first? Visits are by appointment only because our dogs live at multiple locations. Call or text 833-BWR-DOGS (833-297-3647) to set up a time.

Our dogs are cared for 24/7 by dedicated staff and volunteers — thank you for your patience.

Finding the Right Match

What Is the Two-Week In-Home Trial?

Our adoption process is centered on finding quality matches for the dogs in our program. Along with your application and an interview with a member of our team, we use a two-week home trial to make sure your lifestyle and the dog are a good fit.

Why two weeks? Two weeks is roughly the time it takes for a dog to adjust to a new environment. A two-week home trial is completed before any adoption is finalized.

Ready for Their Forever Home

How We Care for Our Dogs

Every dog in our program has passed behavioral assessments and temperament evaluations. We spend a lot of time with our dogs before making them available for adoption. When a dog is surrendered by an owner, we gather as much history as we can, down to food allergies and past behavior issues.

Our dogs are cared for 24/7 by a mix of dedicated staffing and volunteers. Each dog has a dedicated handler — often a resident of our partner, Blue Waters Recovery Foundation — who they live with in that partner's recovery homes. Veterinary care is provided through our partnership with Coral Ridge Animal Hospital (954-958-9582), under the oversight of founder Tiffany Skuraton.

Every dog receives:

  • A safe space and time to decompress
  • Routine veterinary care
  • Monthly heartworm prevention
  • Basic obedience training, plus behavior modification when needed
  • At least 14 days of observation in a home-like setting, with lots of love
  • Spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and a microchip
Black-and-white bully-breed rescue dog resting in a foster home
Questions

Adoption FAQ

How much are adoption fees?

Adoption fees are typically between $200 and $400.

Can I stop by anytime to meet the dogs?

No. Visits are by appointment because our dogs live at multiple locations. Please call or text 833-BWR-DOGS (833-297-3647) first.

Where do your dogs come from?

We rescue and rehabilitate abandoned and surrendered dogs from South Florida, where the need for rescue far outweighs the area's current capacity.

Why adopt from a rescue instead of a shelter?

Our dogs live with foster caregivers, so we know a lot about each dog's personality and needs. What you see is what you get. Rescue dogs are usually spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and they come with their medical records. The process takes a bit longer than at a shelter, and that helps make sure you go home with the right companion. After adoption, you'll have people to turn to with questions (and to send photos to!).

Do you offer training after adoption?

Not at this time. We hope to offer a training session at adoption again soon. Our volunteers can still advise on common behavior questions, and we can refer you to trainers we trust.

Why is heartworm prevention so important?

Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes and live in a dog's heart and the large blood vessels of the lungs. Left untreated, they can be fatal, and treatment is expensive. The good news: heartworm disease is almost 100% preventable with a monthly preventative.

How else can I help?

Adopt. If you can't adopt, foster. If you can't foster, volunteer. If you can't volunteer, donate. If you can't donate, spread the word. To volunteer, email info@bwrdogs.org.

Application

Apply to adopt or foster

One application covers both fostering and adopting. Please answer completely and honestly. If a question does not apply, type “N/A”.

Your application is sent securely to Blue Waters Dog Rescue.

* Required  ·  If a question does not apply, type “N/A”.

I have read and understand all the information above. *

Please review the requirements on this page (Before You Apply) before continuing.

Applicant Information
Co-Applicant Information
Your Household
Is everyone in your home agreeable to having a pet? *
Is anyone in your home allergic to pets? *
Is your home a: *
If you rent, is your landlord agreeable to your having a pet? *
Are there any covenants or restrictions on pets where you live? *
Do you have a secure fenced yard or fenced area where a dog can safely run? *
If so, does your fence have secured gates? (optional)
Do you have a doggie door? *
If you have a pool, is it fenced so that there is no danger of the pet gaining access to it without supervision? *
Miscellaneous
Have you ever: * (select all that apply)
Will you be able to transport dog to vet appointments, meet & greets, etc.? *
Your Pets
Do you currently have any pets? *
If you have pets, are they on regular heartworm preventative? *
Are they on regular flea preventative? *
If other dog(s) living with you, how does it react to other dogs? *
Have you ever given up a pet? *
Has a pet ever disappeared, been killed or injured, or mistreated while in your care? *
New Pet Preferences
Please indicate any gender preference you may have: *
Please indicate any age preference you may have: *
Preferred activity level: *
Pet Care and Responsibilities
If you have children, are you willing to teach them the proper treatment and handling of a pet? *
If adopting, are you financially prepared to give your pet the routine medical care it requires? *
Will you ensure that your pet ALWAYS wears a collar with its identification? *
Will you ensure your pet is ALWAYS leashed unless in a secured area? (You should be aware and follow leash laws where you live) *
Behavior
If the dog does not get along with your pets, do you have a way of separating them when you are not home? *
Some rescue pets have been abused and/or neglected and need extra attention or training. Are you willing to provide this extra attention and/or training should there be any behavior issues? *
There can be disagreements with new pets in new environments. NOTE: Small disagreements are expected and typical behavior when a new dog is brought into a home where a dog or cat is already living. There can be fear and anxiety and you must be willing to work with your new dog during the transition time (which can be anywhere from days, to weeks or months) until the dog is comfortable in your home. Will you strive to ease the transition and provide care and guidance as needed? *
References
Closing
I have answered all questions and provided all needed references truthfully and honestly to the best of my knowledge. I will comply with Blue Waters Dog Rescue requirements, which include providing adequate food, water, shelter, a loving, safe environment. The dog will reside in my home as a pet and not placed outdoors or isolated. The dog must be kept on heart worm preventative and up-to-date on ALL vaccines. You understand about the temperament, habits and physical condition of the dog. Blue Waters Dog Rescue will not be held liable financially or legally for any damage, accident or injury to any person or animal in your home or in public from the placement of a dog into your household *

Not Ready to Adopt?

You can still make a difference today. Donate, volunteer, or share our dogs with your friends and family.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Give $19/monthVolunteer
Joyful bully-breed dog running through a sunny yard