Tara’s House is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and an “all-breed” dog rescue. Our mission is to rescue and provide care and compassion for our pets while working to place them in permanent loving homes. The pets we rescue arrive at Tara’s House from high kill shelters, many with little to no funding for their own adoption programs. These shelters rely on Tara’s House to save these adoptable pets from certain euthanasia.
1) Submit Online Adoption Application. Complete your adoption application online via our website. Be sure to fill in all required information, including your veterinarian information, landlord, etc. If you do not currently have a vet, please indicate the vet you intend to use for your new dog. When all questions are answered, click ‘submit’ to send to our Adoption Committee. 2) Initial Telephone Interview. Within 3 - 5 days after online submittal of your application a Tara’s House representative will conduct your telephone interview if our Adoption Committee decides to pursue your application. While we try to contact every applicant - sometimes a pet that enters our adoption program is so popular that our limited volunteer resources are simply unable to contact each and every one. We apologize in advance that this has happened. 3) Reference Check. A Tara’s House representative will call all references, including your vet and landlord (if applicable), if we determine to proceed with your application after the initial review. 4) The Home Visit. If Tara’s House finds all references give positive feedback and every other requirement has been met, one of our Adoption Committee members may contact you to arrange a brief home visit. We will ask you to demonstrate a day in the life of your potential adopted dog and evaluate the environment and conditions for the dog. If you have a glowing vet reference or otherwise demonstrate in the phone interview to be very dog experienced, we may waive the home visit. 5) Adoption Approval. Our Adoption Committee convenes - usually virtually - to discuss your application as we worked through each phase of our process. From this collaborative review, our Adoption Committee will make the final decision on your application. If approved, you will receive an ‘approval email’ from our Executive or Deputy Director. The approval email will provide you will the foster parent’s contact information or invite you to an approved adopter meet and greet, which are generally held weekly. We do not release any information collected from references, the home visit, or any other source used to make our decision on applicants. If you are approved to adopt a Tara’s House dog, you must sign and submit to Tara’s House our legally binding adoption contract along with that dog’s adoption fee (payable by check made to Tara’s House). 6) Multiple Applications For the Same Dog. If we have multiple applications submitted for the same dog, our adoption committee will make a decision based on the best home for the particular dog. We do not process applications or adopt our pets out on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. Tara’s House conducts a thorough adopter/dog matching process to be certain the dog you indicate on your application is the best fit for your household. If we determine your desired dog is not the best fit, we will suggest another dog or dogs that would be more appropriate. 7) Adoption Donation Fee. The adoption donation fee we ask adopters to pay is listed in the “bio” of each dog in our pet list. It helps us offset the cost of each dog’s spay/neuter, vaccines, deworming, other routine vetting, food, microchip and transport costs.
Columbia MD | 1.3 miles away
The Howard County Cat Club is dedicated to keeping cats out of shelters because we believe that no cat deserves to live in a cage, or to be put to death because it is no longer wanted or in the way. We operate a behavior hotline to help cats and their human companions resolve their differences. We advise people who need to place their no-longer-wanted cats in new homes; we have a no-kill, cage-fre
Columbia MD 21045 | 1.5 miles away
Cat & Dog Hospital of Columbia invites you to visit our animal hospital and look at the dogs and cats we have available for adoption. Pet adoptions benefit the animal as well as your family, so bring home a new family member and watch as they add so much more love and joy to your life! Our dogs and cats available for adoption are up-to-date on their vaccines and some of them are spayed or neut
Highland MD 20777 | 2.8 miles away
Established in 2016, Canine Humane Network is a non-profit dog rescue, shelter, adoption and training organization here in Highland, Howard County, Maryland. We are substantially operated by volunteer staff and many big-hearted volunteer foster families. Here at Canine Humane Network, we are dedicated to saving the lives of homeless dogs and providing a safe haven, humane care, and adoption progr
Columbia MD 21045 | 2.9 miles away
Howard County Animal Control investigates animal cruelty cases, rescues endangered animals, accepts unwanted pets, administers a pet adoption program, conducts humane education programs and operates the county’s animal shelter. Volunteers assist with operations by taking the animals for walks, giving the animals personal attention and assisting with the adoption process. Howard County Animal Con
Columbia MD 21045 | 3 miles away
Our eventual mission is to rescue adoptable animals from certain euthanasia and to provide any immediate care required, then to place these animals into loving homes. Until then, our mission is to rebuild this rescue from its recent history so we can achieve our end goal mission, saving lives.
Elkridge MD 21075 | 5.3 miles away
We Rescue Love (formed in 2014 as Love on a Leash Dog Rescue) is a non-profit, foster-based, no-kill rescue committed to saving homeless dogs who would otherwise face certain euthanasia, and is committed to educating new dog owners in the practices and considerations for transforming newly adopted rescue dogs to lifelong companions.
Ellicott City MD 21042 | 5.3 miles away
Small Miracles Cat & Dog Rescue is a private, nonprofit, no-kill shelter dedicated to providing the best possible care and finding forever homes for as many homeless cats and dogs as we are able. We have found homes for more than 12,000 cats since our founding in 2006 and more than 7,000 dogs since we expanded to serve dogs in late 2011. More than 40 volunteers keep operations going, with a ro
Ellicott City MD 21041 | 5.6 miles away
Animal Advocates of Howard County is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preventing the suffering of animals in our area. Although we focus primarily on the plight of homeless pets, we are also interested in animal health, safety, and environmental issues, and promote activities which strengthen the human-animal bond. We are actively involved in legislative issues regar
Ellicott City MD 21041 | 5.6 miles away
Kitties & Pitties, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a Maryland based non-kill animal rescue dedicated to saving the lives of animals. We are all-breed inclusive, but recognize the special needs of cats and pit bulls. We strive to better the lives of animals by offering a variety of services.
Jessup MD 20794 | 5.9 miles away
Sunshine’s Friends’ mission (the 5 R's) is: To RESCUE abandoned community cats and dogs in desperate situations; To REHABILITATE the sick, the injured, and the abused; To REHOME cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies ready for permanent placement with a suitable guardian; To provide a loving REFUGE for cats and dogs that are not adopted; and To REDUCE local shelter intake by promoting spaying a
Glenelg MD | 7.9 miles away
We are a non-profit Canine Rescue, that also caters to the special needs of homeless or abandoned puppies. We have many types of dogs, mixed breed as well as pure breeds. They are all carefully evaluated and given the neccesary care and medical treatment. We are always in need of volunteers and good foster homes. Donations are also greatly appreciated!
Highland MD 20777 | 14.7 miles away
The Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the responsible herpetoculture of turtles and tortoises, promoting and supporting the study of chelonian natural history and conserving Mid-Atlantic chelonian species and habitat.