Adoption Information & Application
Before acquiring a Labrador Retriever (or any pet), do your homework about the breed. It is very important you understand what your family expects from a dog and know the quality of care, time and attention you can provide.
Labs are not trained by LILRR to be used as therapy or assist dogs. If you are seeking a Labrador trained to assist someone with special needs, please contact an assist, therapy or guide dog organization.
If your children are not accustomed to living with Labrador size dogs, and/or are shy or frightened in the presence of a large furry friendly tail wagging face kissing ball chasing dog, please socialize them in advance so that their first experience living with the family dog is pleasurable rather than traumatic. Ideas of socializing could be supervised visits with (or dog sitting for) friends and relatives that have a large active dog, acquiring the help of a professional trainer, or attending organized functions such as agility and obedience shows and dog walkathons.
If you suspect a different purebred is better suited to your family life, contact the American Kennel Club Breed Rescue Program for information to contact that Breed Rescue representative. Your local ASPCA, HSUS, SPCA, animal shelter and websites such as Your Purebred Puppy, Kyler Laird's Animal Rescue Resources and PetFinder.org are also excellent resources of information and adoption.
Breed Rescue organizations do not operate the same as public animal shelters. Labradors rescued by LILRR are cared for by breed knowledgeable foster volunteers within their own homes. Due to the high volume of inquiries, we provide thorough information and ask for your application before a lot of time is spent by phone and e-mails repeating information, addressing questions, scheduling appointments, and delivering Labs across the region. If hours were spent every day on the phone or computer with each window shopper, there would be no time for serious adopters.
We ask what Labrador you prefer but cannot predict when we will have any specific age, sex, color, height or look. Even if your specific preference is immediately available, that Lab may not be a wise adoption match for other reasons.
LILRR advocates responsible dog stewardship (ownership) to include providing a safe living environment for the four legged family members. Of course there are risks in life -- but we do not go through the great effort of saving a dog's life just to place it into further jeopardy. Foresight to assure the home and yard is a safe haven for the Labrador is a priority responsibility. Fencing is less expensive than most emergency surgeries to save a maimed pet -- resetting broken bones can cost $1,500.00 and more. Conventional fencing and/or Invisible Fence provide a safer boundary for the pet and much peace of mind for the family.
Labs are not considered a low maintenance breed. In addition to annual inoculations, monthly preventatives and occasional medications, will you provide veterinary care for recurring health problems, emergency surgeries and vet specialists? If you are considering adoption because of the price to buy a purebred, the average purchase price of any Labrador is only a fraction of the lifetime financial responsibility.
Rescued Labs receive a thorough vet exam upon entry. To best determine appropriate placement, the rescued Labrador is assessed for behavior and training over an eight week period before being considered for adoption. Labs leave LILRR having had a thorough veterinary exam, spayed/neutered, up to date on inoculations, tested for heartworm and placed on monthly preventative, implanted with a microchip ID, freshly groomed and licensed. Vet records to include the rabies certificate and tag, neuter certificate, state license and tag, and balance of heartworm preventatives and any current medications are transferred with the Lab upon adoption.
The adoption fee of $250 is set to help LILRR cover basic medical needs and due from Adopter when the Adoption Agreement is signed. This adoption fee does not provide profit for LILRR as the majority of necessary vet and medical bills are much higher. Unlike many other Rescues, we have no application processing fee, but you can help cut office & postage costs by printing the online application.
Donations are seriously needed and encouraged -- the very Lab that may become part of your family was rescued and cared for by LILRR; made possible by donations and fund raising (The Lab Shop). Some rescued Labs require intensive care within an isolation unit, various tests, life saving or reconstructive surgeries, costly medications and lengthy rehabilitation. Donations help to provide such expensive care.
Once your application has been received and reviewed, if a potentially suitable Lab is immediately available an appointment is made for you to meet the Lab. Introductions are usually scheduled for a weekend afternoon and always confirmed in advance. Be prepared to introduce the entire household your adopted Lab will be living with. Should you and the rescued Lab be a potential match and the home & premises determined appropriate and safe, an adoption can be secured the same day.
If you have done your homework, thought this decision through, have established dog safe premises, agreement of all household members, and are ready to pursue an adoption, carefully review the Adoption Agreement and click on Adoption Application to continue. If after reviewing information on the above web pages you still have questions, take a moment before beginning the application to review some of the most frequently asked questions on our FAQ page.
After your application is reviewed, expect to hear back from us within 14 days if a potentially suitable Lab is immediately available.
Your interest in adopting a rescued Labrador is sincerely appreciated. And - whether or not you acquire a Lab from LILRR - best wishes for a long and successful union!
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