Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue is a non-profit 501(c)(3), all volunteer organization established in 1999 to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome Shelties and Sheltie look-alikes.. Most of these Shelties have been relinquished to NVSR by owners unable to keep them. Others are found in shelters, because they are strays or have been abandoned. All our Shelties are fostered lovingly in NVSR volunteers' homes (we do not have a shelter), and medical needs are addressed promptly and fully, including spay or neuter. They are then eligible to be adopted to carefully chosen homes, where they will be loved, well cared for and protected. For the remainder of the adopted dogs' lives, NVSR stays in touch with the adoptive families.
A. Potential adopter fills out application completely and e-mails it to [email protected]. B. The application is reviewed by NVSR’s Adoption Coordinator, who will contact applicant if there are any questions. C. A volunteer schedules a home visit with the applicant if we have a dog that might match. At this visit, all family members and household pets must be present. The volunteer answers questions, shares information about Shelties, evaluates security of fencing, if any, looks for any dog hazards, checks number and steepness of stairs, and discusses Sheltie size, color, age, and temperament preferences the applicant may have. D. Home visit volunteer calls all the applicant’s references and files a home visit report with the Adoption Coordinator. This becomes part of the application. The Adoption Coordinator will reply to the applicant with information about acceptance and next steps. E. Adoption Coordinator compiles a list of all approved adopters and sends it to all Foster Care Providers on a regular basis. F. Each Foster Provider reviews applications and home visit reports and will contact an applicant who looks like a good match for that foster dog. G. If an applicant is interested in the dog described by the foster provider, a meeting is arranged so the entire family can meet the dog - either at the foster home or the applicant’s home. We are careful to show the dog where he/she is most comfortable. H. If all parties agree that the match is a good one, an adoption contract is signed and the adoption fee is paid to NVSR. I. Applicants may contact the Adoption Coordinator if they see a dog on our website that they are interested in meeting. That interest will then be communicated to the dog’s Foster Provider.