Finding the Perfect Pet Can Be Easy, But There’s Lots to Consider!
You are about to fill out an application for a Homeward Bound dog or puppy. Please take your time in doing this and make sure you fill in as much information as possible. If you leave blanks, it makes it very difficult for us to process your application. Please understand that we cannot process your application if you do not take the time to fill one out properly. Pay particular attention to your references, including phone numbers.
It is important that you include a vet reference and phone number for that vet.
We will get back to you within three days of receiving your application, even if it is only to say that we received it. We will check your references and then schedule a home visit. If you do not hear from us in three days, please email us as we may not have received your application.
We are an all volunteer organization, and we do our very best to respond to every e-mail, application, phone call, fax, letter, and question that we receive. Please keep in mind that we are all working on this for the same end purpose – to find our foster dogs good homes. Be patient with us – we will get to you as soon as we can.
We will make every attempt to answer any questions that you have about our process or a particular dog. However, we will answer questions from people who have filled out applications first.
If you find another dog from another organization, please be courteous and let us know. This way we don’t keep you in our database and bug you at a later date.
Our current fees are $295 for dogs over 24 months old and $395 for puppies/dogs up to 24 months, which covers part of our out-of-pocket expenses. At times due to the nature of rescue work we do not know exact history of each dog, so we use the information we have to make our best determination of age. The adoption fee is based on our understanding of the dog’s age, which you should be comfortable with at the time of adoption. You are welcome to give more as part of a donation, but please do not ask us to take less – every penny goes to help save another dog, and none of us are paid to do this – we do this to help great dogs find loving homes.
As far as we are concerned, our dogs are worth a million dollars each, so you are getting a bargain.
Thank you for helping us to help you make the application a streamlined process.
HB Volunteers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York?
Homeward Bound is a not for profit volunteer organization. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and share one common passion – we love dogs, all kinds of dogs. We were formed because we saw many young, happy, healthy puppies and young dogs being euthanized in shelters because there was no foster space or other rescue groups with room to take them until their forever home could be found. Our focus is finding those family dogs who just need a little more time and exposure, and helping them find their way home.
How Much Does Adopting Cost?
Our current fees are $295 for dogs over 24 months old and $395 for puppies/dogs up to 24 months, which covers part of our out-of-pocket expenses.
What Is the Difference Between Adopting and Fostering?
Fostering and adopting both play a vital role in helping dogs find their forever homes, but they serve different purposes:
Fostering is a temporary commitment. When you foster, you provide a safe, loving home for a dog until they are adopted. Homeward Bound covers most expenses (like food and medical care), and you help prepare the dog for their future family by giving them structure, socialization, and affection. Fostering is ideal if you love dogs but aren’t ready for a long-term commitment or want to help multiple dogs over time.
Adopting is a permanent decision. When you adopt, the dog becomes a full-time member of your family. You take on all responsibilities—love, care, medical needs, and expenses—for the rest of the dog’s life. Adoption is perfect if you’re ready to give a dog a forever home filled with stability and companionship.
Both options save lives and are incredibly rewarding—it’s just a matter of what works best for you!
Homeward Bound dogs are adopted out "fully vetted". What does that mean?
All of our dogs are spayed or neutered. This includes most of our puppies also provided that they are at least 8 weeks of age. They are generally vaccinated for distemper/parvo, rabies, and if from a shelter, bordatella. They are also tested for heartworm and, in some cases, Lyme disease and Ehrlichia. We will provide you with copies of the medical records for your new dog. You will be expected to continue providing them with appropriate medical care. We also recommend that adopters in upstate New York get their dogs Lyme vaccinated and use a flea/tick repellent on their dog.
You are expected to bring your dog to the vet within 2 weeks after adoption.
Do you ever take dogs back?
Yes, we will take a Homeward Bound dog back into the program as long as we have an appropriate foster home open for the dog. We do reassess the dog before taking it back into our program to insure the safety of our volunteers. In fact, our adoption contract states that you are obligated to return the dog to us if you decide, for any reason, that you cannot keep the dog. As we have a thorough adoption approval process, we have never had to enforce the provision which is also in our contracts which allows Homeward Bound to reclaim a dog if the owner fails to comply with the terms of the contract, however if Homeward Bound had reason to believe that one of its dogs was not being properly cared for, this provision would be invoked.
Do you place dogs with renters?
Yes, provided you have landlord approval to have a dog live in the rental property. We will contact your landlord to confirm his or her approval prior to finalizing the application process.
Will you place a dog with an inexperienced dog owner?
Yes, however, we will discuss with you the huge responsibility of having a dog and how you can educate yourself in order to give your dog the care and direction that he/she needs. We may require you to take part in obedience classes to ensure that you obtain that first level of instruction. You will see questions on our application form about your level of dog experience, and we ask that you answer those questions honestly so we can better provide the support you will need as a first time dog owner.
Will you accept a dog into your program who is surrendered to you directly by the owner?
We will accept owner surrenders under the following conditions:
1. The dog has been spayed/neutered and is up to date on all vaccinations.
2. The dog passes our temperament evaluation.
3. The dog is a type of dog that we normally accept into our program.
4. We have a foster space available to accept the dog.
5. There are no other re-homing possibilities for the dog.
6. We will also require the owner to pay a $200.00 surrender fee to help offset any additional costs of bringing a new dog into the group.
Adoption Requirements & Process
We’re thrilled that you’re considering adopting one of our dogs!
Please read through the entire process below before submitting your application to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Step 1: Complete the Online Adoption Application
Start by filling out our [Online Adoption Application] after reading this page carefully.
Please take your time and fill it out completely — applications with missing or incorrect information make it difficult to process.
Your application will go directly to our volunteer team for review.
Tip: Completing your application early helps speed up the process, and you may be pre-approved when dogs come up for adoption.
Important:
- Double-check your references and veterinarian information, including phone numbers.
- Remember to click “Submit Application” when finished.
Location Requirement:
We can only consider applicants who live within 40 miles of the Albany Airport.
If you live farther away, please look for a rescue organization closer to your community.
Step 2: Reference Check
We’ll contact your personal and veterinary references as part of the review process.
This ensures we understand your pet care history and readiness to adopt.
Step 3: Interview
Once we receive your application, a volunteer will contact you for an interview.
This step helps us make the best possible match between you and your future companion. In many cases, the person doing the review is the foster parent for the dog you are interested in.
During the interview, we aim to:
- Get to know your family and lifestyle
- Match personalities between you and our dogs
- Ensure each dog finds a happy, lasting home
We require all household members, including children, to attend the interview.
Because every adoption should be the right fit, we do not allow surprise or gift adoptions.
Step 4: Home Visit (if needed)
We may conduct a home visit when:
- You have other pets, and we need to ensure compatibility
- You request one
- We believe there’s something we should check before completing the adoption
This step is especially important when adopting a dog into a home with cats — sometimes personalities just don’t mix, and we want everyone to be happy!
Step 5: Contract & Adoption Fee
You’ll review and sign the [Adoption Contract]
- Receive your dog’s medical and vaccination records
- You pay the required adoption fee.
Then, it’s official — you’ll meet and take home your new family member!
Step 6: Follow-Up
We love staying connected with our adopters!
A volunteer may call or email you to check in and make sure your dog is adjusting well.
HBDR can also be a resource for you if you are having difficulties, so please feel free to reach out if you need any help.
The Homeward Bound Adoption Fee
The adoption fee is not a purchase or sale price and is not refundable.
Our current fees are $295 for dogs over 24 months old and $395 for puppies/dogs up to 24 months, which covers part of our out-of-pocket expenses. At times due to the nature of rescue work we do not know exact history of each dog, so we use the information we have to make our best determination of age. The adoption fee is based on our understanding of the dog’s age, which you should be comfortable with at the time of adoption. You are welcome to give more as part of a donation but please do not ask us to take less – every penny goes to help save another dog and none of us are paid to do this – we do this to help great dogs find loving homes.
Homeward Bound Dog Rescue is a nonprofit organization and is run by a group of volunteers, all dedicated to saving the lives of homeless dogs and helping them find their forever homes.
All of our volunteers donate their time to Homeward Bound and most of us are foster homes, taking in dogs prior to them being adopted. This allows us to give you a profile of your our dogs personalities and can help match you up with the most appropriate dog.
All our dogs are vaccinated and spayed or neutered prior to placement in a home. There are some exceptions to this rule and we always do our best to make sure you know as much about your dog as we know. Sometimes in rescue, that means we may not know everything. You can rest assured, however, that we have done our best under the circumstances. This is also why we recommend that you bring your dog to your vet after you adopt him or her.
We sometimes get asked why we charge an adoption fee and the answer is simple: it helps to defray SOME of the costs associated with rescuing your dog. Costs can include: fees to shelters, spaying and neutering, shots, emergency medical care and medicine as well as occasionally having to pay an outside source for getting the dogs to the area. We also have rent, heating & cooling, a cell phone, a website and office supplies that we need to purchase in order to run the group. The fee helps to pay for some of this and we rely on donations to help us make up the rest difference. We will gladly show you the typical medical expenses we pay in keeping our puppies and dogs alive and in good health.