** We are currently experiencing technical problems with our on-line application. If you submitted an on-line application between March 15 and April 22 and DID NOT receive an e-mail from one of our members (even if you received the automatic application acknowledgement form), please contact us at njsrn@comcast.net so that we can ensure that your application was received. We are working to correct the problem, and apologize for any inconvenience. **

To Adopt a Dog

So ...

... you have thought about adopting a dog and discussed it with your family.

... you realize that you will have to make some changes, but know that having a dog is worth any sacrifice.

... you have researched different breeds, talked with other Miniature Schnauzer owners, and decided that this is the right breed for you.

... you refuse to buy a dog from a pet store because you know that no reputable breeder places his/her dogs through brokers or allows his/her dogs to be sold in pet stores. (Good for you!!)

... you found NJSRN (or another reputable breed rescue group).

You're almost there. NJSRN has many Miniature Schnauzers available for adoption. Don't wait! Fill out our adoption application now. You may download a text file that you can paste into an e-mail or download the application in Word format. The text and Word files each include both an e-mail address and a snail mail address -- you may return your completed application to either one.

When we receive your application, we check to make sure that it is complete and will contact you to request any missing information. We then share your completed application with our members. This application is the first step in our adoption process. Please understand that there are no "right" or "wrong" answers to the questions we ask. We encourage you to be honest and thorough with your responses -- an accurate and complete application helps us with the matching process.

How do we match a dog to a permanent home?

Our dogs come from a variety of sources. Whether we take in a dog from its original owner or we rescue it from a shelter, we attempt to find out as much as possible about that dog. We want to know its likes and its dislikes. What is its routine? Has it lived with kids, cats, or other dogs? Does it show signs of separation or other anxiety? What is its medical history? Does it have any existing medical conditions? Does it "play well with others?" Is it overly-protective of its toys, its food, or its people? NJSRN's foster families play a critical role in helping us to create a "profile" for each dog in our care. Using that profile, we review our waiting list to find a family that matches the dog's needs. Our number one priority is to find a permanent, loving home for each dog in our care -- not a dog for each home on our list.

Once NJSRN has identified a dog that would be a good match for your home, one of our members will contact you. Most often, the call will come from the dog's "champion" -- an NJSRN member who is serving as the chief advocate for that dog. He or she will tell you about the dog and ask questions that help to determine whether the match appears to be as good as it looks on paper. If you are not interested in the dog we call about, or if you are not able to adopt when you get the call, just tell us. We understand that things may have changed since you submitted your application. We would not want you to agree to adopt a dog that you could not care for, or a dog that would not become a member of your family.

After we identify a dog for your home, have checked your references, have talked with you about the dog, and have your agreement on adopting, the group votes on the adoption. After it is approved, we will set up the adoption date, time, and location. You will be asked to sign an adoption contract and to pay an adoption fee.

Answers to some of the more frequently asked questions concerning adoption can be found here. If you have any other questions, please see Contact NJSRN for the appropriate contact person.

 Revised 04/22/2008