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DAR&E provides Doberman adoption to loving and responsible people. All potential adoptive families must read the Adoption Information below, then download our Adoption Application and send it to our Application Coordinator. We will review your application and contact you.
To submit an application, follow these simple steps:
 Download our Adoption Application by clicking on this link. In the "File Download" pop-up box, select "Save." This will save the application to your computer.
Using your word processing software, complete the application by filling in the blanks.
You can either email us your application or send it "snail mail" through the regular mail.
By Email: Either attach your document to your email or cut and paste it within the
body of the email and send it to our Adoption Coordinator at
NOTE: You cannot email directly from this site.
By Snail Mail: Mail it to the address on the form.
We do not adopt dogs outside of the tri-state area which includes Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and DC. If you live outside this region, please go to Petfinder.com for a Doberman Rescue group or a homeless Doberman in a shelter near you.
All adopters must sign an Adoption Contract, please review our contract prior to adoption.
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If you are interested in adopting a Doberman from our program, please complete the above adoption application. Once your application has been sent, it goes to our Applications Coordinator. Every other day or so, a list of received applications is put out to our volunteers with the location so that a volunteer close to you can "take" the application.
The volunteer receives the application from the coordinator and calls or emails you to schedule a home visit. The volunteer will also check the references you supplied, so please give all appropriate phone numbers; that will speed the process.
Please have all family members present for the home visit. Once your home visit has been conducted (which usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half), the volunteer submits a report back to the Board of Directors. If you are approved, you will receive a weekly email list of the dogs available for adoption with contact information for the foster parents. You are free to contact the fosters and go see dogs--the foster parent handles the paperwork and adoption fee.
Our adoption fees, as of 4/1/2009, are:
Under 2 years of age: $350
2-6 years (includes 6 year olds): $250
Over 6 years of age: $150
Adoption fees should not be viewed as payments, but as contributions to the rehabilitation and care of the dogs. These fees are applied to vet care, spay/neutering, microchipping, etc.
So when you go to see a dog, be prepared! Take a leash and collar just in case you meet the dog of your dreams !
We don't take applications on specific dogs - adoption is first come, first serve. So if you would like to adopt but don't see a dog right now that you think you'd like, fill out an application anyway. That way, you'll be approved and ready to go when a dog that interests you appears on the list.
Question: Where can I go to see the dogs before I apply?
Answer: We are not a shelter; we foster these dogs in our homes. We also screen our applicants before showing them dogs. Consequently, you cannot see dogs until you have been approved. You can, however, go to our Available Dogs section and see the dogs we are currently listing.
Question: Why do we have to go through a home visit?
Answer: Just as responsible breeders care about where their dogs go, so do we. We want our dogs adopted by people who share a love of the breed, a commitment to the dog they adopt, and appropriate expectations. A home visit allows us to meet all members of the family, see your home environment (how high is the fence, is it secure, what sorts of activity there is in your neighborhood, are there hazards in the home that would endanger a Doberman, etc), and gauge what sort of Dobe would best suit your family.
Question: Is a fenced yard required?
Answer: At the present time, we do not require a fenced yard for a dog over a year of age. One of the most frequent reasons, though, given for a young Doberman to be turned in is "he needs room to run" so we do require a commitment to exercise. Please think about how much exercise you can provide on a daily basis and be realistic in those expectations. Many of our adopters put in a fence shortly after adopting because they realize that it is safer for the dog and comes in handy for them as owners.
Question: Why do you require an obedience class for adopted dogs?
Answer: One of the biggest risk factors for dogs relinquished is not ever having been to an obedience class. We frequently hear that the dog knows how to sit and lie down, etc. The reasons to require a class are many: it helps build that bond between you and your new dog, the dog learns to obey in the face of many distractions in a class, it's good socialization, it reinforces the leader/follower relationship, and both you and your dog learn more about each other and how to work together.
Question: Why is your adoption fee more than what the shelters charge?
Answer: Many of the dogs in the shelters have not been spayed and neutered, or have not seen a vet for shots, etc. Our dogs are all current on their shots, have been spayed or neutered, have been tested for heartworm and been placed on heartworm preventive and have been microchipped. All of the adoption fees goes toward our veterinary costs - many of the dogs we get in have also required veterinary care above and beyond the basics - heartworm treatment, broken bones, infections, parasitic infestations, etc.
