Adoption FAQ

The process for adopting a dog from SOLR includes both an application fee and adoption fee. The application fee is a one-time $15 payment. If your application is not approved, we will refund this fee. You can view our full schedule of adoption fees at (link).

Before completing the application, please carefully review the Adoption Process (link) Application fees can be paid via PayPal or check. Adoption fees are preferred to be paid by check to keep our administrative costs down.

Many Labs who come to SOLR need a helping hand when it comes to their health and wellbeing. Many are strays or come from situations where vet care was not consistent or prioritized. Often, the strays are quite malnourished, so careful refeeding is important. As a result, they require comprehensive vetting and often require treatment for pre-existing diseases and conditions.

One of the key aspects of SOLR’s mission is coordinating and ensuring full veterinary services for all dogs who enter our care. This includes a comprehensive physical exam, necessary vaccinations, blood tests for heartworm and tick-borne disease, spay/neuter procedures, microchipping, and treatment of conditions such as heartworm disease, tickborne diseases, orthopedic injuries, and other health concerns related to neglect. SOLR works with trusted & experienced veterinary partners, all of whom graciously reduce service costs to support our mission.

However, the average cost of care for a SOLR dog is still about $700. The adoption fee covers only a fraction of this cost, and donations from supporters make it possible to fully provide the remainder needed for each Lab’s care.

SOLR only adopts to those who reside in Arizona. We assess seasonal residents on a case-by-case basis. As part of our approval process, we require a home check. We can do these virtually, often with the understanding that the foster will visit the adopter’s home before finalizing the adoption. With out-of-state adopters, it would be difficult or impossible for any of our volunteers to view the adopter’s home in person. Transitioning to a new home is stressful enough for a dog without extensive transportation. An out-of-state adopter would mean that our dogs are traveling long distances, which adds unnecessary stress on the dog. Finally, should the dog need to come back to SOLR, it is quite difficult to coordinate long transports across state lines.

The minimum fence height is dependent on whether there is a dog door. If there is no dog door, the minimum fence height required is 4 feet. If there is not a dog door, then the minimum fence height required is 5 feet. SOLR wants to ensure each dog will succeed in their adoptive home. Short fences make it rather easy for athletic dogs like Labs to escape. It also allows wildlife such as coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions to enter the yard. The reason for the difference based on the dog door is that with a dog door, the dog will likely have unsupervised access to the yard. The added height provides additional protection.

Heartworm is a parasite that is spread through the bite of a mosquito. Many dogs do not display any symptoms, especially in the early stages of the parasite entering their body. Untreated, heartworm can kill your dog, which is why prevention is so important. Preventing heartworm is as easy as giving your dog a tasty heartworm prevention tablet, prescribed by your veterinarian, at regular intervals. Annual heartworm tests should also be run when your Lab has his/her annual checkup.

SOLR gives every Lab in our care a heartworm test commonly known as a 4DX. If they are heartworm positive, SOLR will complete treatment. Heartworm treatment is very effective, but your dog will need to be kept calm and cannot have exercise for 1-2 months after the treatment.

In Arizona, there is no such thing as flea and tick season; it is a year-round endeavor. Fleas and ticks can transmit several different diseases to your dog. Fleas can even cause anemia. Prevention is the key to keeping your dog healthy. Monthly topical prevention is easy, and it is a low-cost way to keep your Lab free of discomfort and disease. There are also several oral options. Controlling fleas on your dog also makes it easier to avoid fleas within your home.

Please call the Lab Line (520-554-0911) and share all the information you have about that dog. A Lab Line volunteer may return your call and then a member of our intake team will reach out to the shelter.

All dogs who come to SOLR are spayed or neutered. As we are busy with the Labs that need homes each year, we don’t want to see that number grow. In addition, spaying and neutering can reduce some health and behavioral problems.

Below are some questions you should ask yourself before adopting a dog:

• Do I have the time, right now, to commit to a dog?
  Most Labs, especially young Labs, need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. That translates to two nice long walks each day, play time, and ideally lots of interaction with other dogs and people. If you are out of the house for 9-10 hours a day and enjoy after-work social events, ask yourself how that lifestyle will be impacted once an active Lab enters your home? Are you ready for that type of change in your life? If you travel a lot, for business or pleasure, adding a dog to your home will require extra logistics and costs.
• Am I committed long-term to caring for a dog?
  Remember that this is a lifelong commitment. You are going to be committing your life to being responsible for feeding, watering, and caring for this animal. If you have never owned a dog before, you’re in for a treat. With a lot of love, and a great relationship, you’re going to find that this dog will give back to you everything you give, and so much more!
• Can I afford a dog?
  The adoption fee is just the starting point. Adding a dog to your home includes a fair amount of upfront investment for supplies, such as a crate, beds, toys, leashes, and food. Veterinary costs, including routine care and flea and tick/heartworm medication, also need to be considered. As a Lab gets older, additional trips to the vet and medications may be required.
• How will my other pets feel about a new friend?
  Sometimes, the resident dog may prefer to be a solo pet. You may want to consider how your dog does with canine visitors.
• Will I be able to balance caring for a dog with caring for my children?
  If you feel “your hands are a little full” right now due to caring for other family members, adding a Lab to your household may be too much. Remember that they still need walks even when the kids are sick or participating in numerous after-school activities.

Sometimes, things get off to a bit of a rocky start. SOLR is pleased to lend our support to help you with the adjustment process. You can always reach out to us, through your foster, and we will try to offer advice and assistance of our resources. Contractually, your Lab must come back to SOLR if the relationship just doesn’t work out.

Once you’ve submitted your application, our Application Review Team will determine whether your application meets SOLR’s initial requirements. There may be some unanswered questions or additional information that is needed, so always check your email, including your junk folder, for any emails from solr.appreview@gmail.com. Once the Application Review Team is satisfied with the application, it is assigned to our Home Visit Team. A home visit volunteer will then reach out to schedule your virtual or in-person home visit.

You can expect to hear from your assigned Home Visit Team member within two weeks after you submit your application. It probably feels like a long time to wait, but please remember that our Home Visit Team members are all volunteers who dedicate a portion of their week to helping create happy endings for our Labs.

All SOLR’s Labs are checked for microchip on intake. If not microchipped, the dogs are immediately microchipped. On adoption, SOLR will transfer the microchip registration to the adopter.

Some dogs come to us with traumatic pasts that make it difficult for them to function as a happy, confident dog. Since dogs are social creatures, dogs often look to other dogs for guidance and leadership. With dogs lacking confidence, another dog often helps bring out the best in that dog. Our fosters do not require a multi-dog home without reason; it is to maximize the dog’s success.

Absolutely! Many of our dogs are adopted to working families. However, please keep in mind that it is not appropriate to crate a dog all day while the family is working, and a dog should have access to potty outside while you are working. This could mean the installation of a dog door, a friend or dog walker to stop by, or work schedules that overlap to limit the dog’s alone time. SOLR does not adopt to homes where the dog will be home alone 10+ hours.

Yes, SOLR has implemented several requirements for those interested in adopting puppies. SOLR will not adopt a puppy into a home with a dog door and unfenced pool. Curiosity often gets the best of puppies, so easy access to the yard with an unfenced pool poses a significant danger.

While crate training a puppy is important, adopters must limit the puppy’s time in a crate based on its age. For example, a 3-month-old puppy should only be crated 3 hours per day, excluding nighttime. No dog should be crated for more than 5 hours per day.