Adoption Process

There are two paths to adoption through Georgia Peach Pug Rescue (GPPR): 

» Foster-to-Adoption

» Public Adoption

Rationale

In 2025, 90% of our rescue pugs were owner surrenders (43/48), 6% were rescue transfers (3/48), and 4% were shelter transfers (2/48). Because the majority of pugs we receive are owner surrenders, we have shaped our methodology around that mode of receipt. 

Background

We are a foster-based rescue, meaning that we do not have a facility and instead rely on the public to voluntarily house, or “foster,” one or more of our rescue pugs. While in foster, GPPR pays for all veterinary care, medications, prescription foods, and supplies. Foster homes are only financially responsible for non-prescription food. Foster homes also provide emotional support, routine daily care and training, schedule veterinary appointments, and provide transport to/from appointments. 

Methodology

Owners interested in surrendering their pug to GPPR must fill out a surrender application that includes key information about the pug. GPPR is intentional in using the information provided by the owner to match pugs with a foster family and environment suited to their needs. Our goal is to transition the pug as little as possible, due to the stress of the adaptation period (See link: 3-3-3 Rescue Rule). Because of this, if a bond is formed between the pug and the foster family, and both the foster family and GPPR deem the pug to be a good fit, the foster home is given the first option to adopt the pug in their care. If a foster home does not want to proceed with Foster-to-Adoption, then we will have them fill out a biography that tells everything they have observed about the pug, and the pug will be posted on our website and social media for Public Adoption. 

Steps in the Foster-to-Adoption Path: 

1) Interested parties must submit a complete foster application. Interested parties are hereinafter referred to as ‘applicant’.

2) GPPR will conduct applicant’s personal reference checks. 

3) GPPR will conduct applicant’s veterinary reference checks.

4) GPPR tentatively matches incoming pug with foster home.

5) GPPR initiates foster coordinator/applicant communication to discuss placement and next steps.

6) GPPR conducts applicant’s home inspection.

7) GPPR initiates applicant signing of state-mandated paperwork. Applicant is hereinafter referred to as ‘foster’.

8) Foster welcomes pug into their home. Foster gives emotional support, conducts routine daily care and training, schedules veterinary appointments, and provides transport to/from appointments. The duration of time a pug spends in a foster home varies, as it is based on a pug’s individual veterinary and training needs until the pug is medically and behaviorally cleared and deemed adoptable. 

9) Once the pug is medically and behaviorally cleared and deemed adoptable, GPPR first inquires with the foster to see if they would like to adopt the pug in their care.

10A.) Fosters that DO intend to adopt the pug in their care must:

10A.1.) Submit a complete adoption application. Although reference checks and the home inspection have already been completed, and you are approved to adopt the pug, we require an adoption application on file for every pug adopted from our organization.

10A.2.) Sign the adoption contract, sent by the adoption coordinator through DocuSign. Please note these occasionally go to email junk folders so monitor all folders for receipt.

10A.3.) Pay the adoption fee (fosters receive $100 off). In 2025 we spent $68,419 on veterinary expenses and medications, averaging $1,160 per pug. We would be unable to continue pug rescue if we did not recoup some of these expenses through adoption fees. The adoption fee paid today saves the life of another pug tomorrow.

10.A.4.) Sign the pug out of foster on the appropriate date on your Georgia Department of Agriculture Foster Home/Animal Shelter Agent Pet Inventory Form.
10A.5.) Await receipt of your pug’s gifted GPPR bandana and adoption sign.

10A.6.) With your pug in its GPPR bandana, the adoption sign visible, and family or pets gathered around, snap a Forever Family adoption photo

10A.7.) Email or text the Forever Family adoption photo to your foster coordinator to be placed into a celebratory template and shared on social media. The reason for this is three-fold: 

  • A team of individuals’ blood, sweat, and tears are behind this adoption, including teams doing intake, transport, veterinary care, fundraising, foster home selection, efforts by the foster home, and adopter selection. It is worth sharing with the world that this pug has been adopted and taking a moment to appreciate that, no matter how cliché, teamwork does, indeed, make the dream work.
  • Sometimes, thousands of dollars have been spent to rehabilitate a pug, the majority of which is donated by our generous supporters and the general public. Our donors deserve to see the positive outcomes from the donation of their hard-earned dollars. Rescue is a team effort, and they played a major role by allowing us to have available funds and made it possible for us to say YES to taking the pug into rescue.
  • We need to showcase the amazing individuals who were intentional about adopting and giving a rescue pug a second chance at life and love. By adopting from us today, they made space available so we can say YES to the next pug in need.

10B.) Fosters who DO NOT intend to adopt the pug in their care must:

10B.1.) Complete the GPPR pug biography form 

10B.2.) Email quality pictures of the pug

GPPR will use the biography and pictures to list the pug on our website’s Adoptable Pugs page and share on social media. This makes the pug available for Public Adoption.

10B.3.) As requested, provide input to the adoption coordinator on which adoption applicant is the best match to the needs of the pug. 

10B.4.) Assist adoption coordinator in facilitating meet-and-greet. 

10B.5.) With the input of adoption coordinator (following signing of adoption contract and payment of adoption fee), work with the adopter to schedule the date and time the pug can be picked up.

10.B.6.) Sign the pug out of foster on the appropriate date on your Georgia Department of Agriculture Foster Home/Animal Shelter Agent Pet Inventory Form.

Steps in the Public Adoption Path:

1) Pugs available for Public Adoption can be viewed at Adoptable Pugs.

2) Interested parties must submit a complete adoption application. Interested parties are hereinafter referred to as ‘applicant’.

3) Adoption applications for individual pugs are accepted online for an unspecified duration while an adequate applicant pool is developed.

4) The adoption coordinator will review submissions to identify top applicants that most closely match the family and home environment needs of the pug. Please note that if none of the existing applicants are considered a match, we will continue to solicit for applicants. 

5) The ultimate goal is permanent placement of the pug; we value the input of the foster home because they have spent the most time with the pug and are best suited to determine nuances that make one applicant a better fit over another. The adoption coordinator will seek the input of the foster home to determine which one of the top applicants is the best match to the needs of the pug. The selected applicant will hereinafter be referred to as ‘adoption candidate’. 

6) GPPR will conduct adoption candidate’s personal reference checks. 

7) GPPR will conduct adoption candidate’s veterinary reference checks.

8) GPPR initiates foster coordinator/adoption candidate communication to discuss next steps.

9) GPPR conducts adoption candidate’s home inspection and meet-and-greet.

 

Adoption candidates approved to adopt must: 

10) Sign the adoption contract, sent by the adoption coordinator through DocuSign. Please note these occasionally go to email junk folders so monitor all folders for receipt.

11) Pay the adoption fee. In 2025 we spent $68,419 on veterinary expenses and medications, averaging $1,160 per pug. We would be unable to continue pug rescue if we did not recoup some of these expenses through adoption fees. The adoption fee paid today saves the life of another pug tomorrow.
12) Await receipt of your pug’s gifted GPPR bandana and adoption sign.

13) With your pug in its GPPR bandana, the adoption sign visible, and family or pets gathered around, snap a Forever Family adoption photo

14) Email or text the Forever Family adoption photo to your adoption coordinator to be placed into a celebratory template and shared on social media. The reason for this is three-fold: 

  • A team of individuals’ blood, sweat, and tears are behind this adoption, including teams doing intake, transport, veterinary care, fundraising, foster home selection, efforts by the foster home, and adopter selection. It is worth sharing with the world that this pug has been adopted and taking a moment to appreciate that, no matter how cliché, teamwork does, indeed, make the dream work.
  • Sometimes, thousands of dollars have been spent to rehabilitate a pug, the majority of which is donated by our generous supporters and the general public. Our donors deserve to see the positive outcomes from the donation of their hard-earned dollars. Rescue is a team effort, and they played a major role by allowing us to have available funds and made it possible for us to say YES to taking the pug into rescue.
  • We need to showcase the amazing individuals who were intentional about adopting and giving a rescue pug a second chance at life and love. By adopting from us today, they made space available so we can say YES to the next pug in need.