Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately, no. The adoption fee covers the cost of spay/neuter services provided by our veterinarian, first shots, microchip, and transportation from the originating shelter.

The only exceptions to the adoption fee are sponsored dogs, who our generous donors have made a contribution toward their adoption fees. We may offer a discounted adoption fee for our senior dogs.

Yes, no exceptions. We require an application to ensure the safety and best interests of the animals we have taken into our care. We ask that anyone who is interested in adopting a dog from Laura’s Hope Rescue fill out the application.

You can get started here.

No.

No, if you don’t vaccinate your animals or if they aren’t current on their vaccinations at the time you submit the Adoption Application, we cannot approve your application.

However, if there is sound medical reasoning behind your decision not to vaccinate, we will be happy to discuss your situation with you and your veterinarian.

Yes! Please let your references know that a volunteer from Laura’s Hope Rescue will call them.

Your veterinarian may need permission from you to talk to us. Please give your vet permission to talk to Laura’s Hope Rescue.

If we cannot verify your references, we cannot approve your application.

We would love for you to meet our adoptable dogs. However, our meet and greets are by appointment only.

Please complete the Adoption Application before requesting a meet and greet.

Unfortunately, because heartworms are so prevalent in the South, we typically have a number of dogs that test positive for heartworms in our care. We work with our veterinary partners to develop a treatment plan for the impacted dogs. We prefer to follow the American Heartworm Society guidelines for treatment.

We provide you with the medication to treat heartworm based upon the American Heartworm Society guidelines. It is important that a dog is calm and relaxed for a few weeks following treatment, we prefer treatment to occur in your home as opposed to being in our kennels.

You and your veterinarian may choose another course of action.

Laura’s Hope Rescue will take back any newly adopted pet if the adoption does not work out for any reason. Please contact us to start the return process. If you hare having behavioral or medical issues with the dog, please specify the problem as we may be able to assist.

You found a dog that you want to adopt, but you’re not sure it will work out in your home with your other pets and would like to try it out for a few days. We do trial adoptions in certain situations, usually for our older adult dogs. If you are interested in a trial adoption, please contact us to discuss your situation.

Please note, you are required to complete all adoption paperwork and pay the adoption fee, but your contract will have a stipulation that entitles you to a full refund if you return the dog within a certain time frame.

Puppies

We don’t typically offer trial adoptions with puppies. Puppies tend to get along with other pets in the home. We prefer that the adopter is 100% ready and committed to the puppy before adopting.

If you have concerns about raising a puppy, please talk to us. You might discover that one of our older dogs is a perfect fit for your lifestyle since they are usually much less work than raising a puppy.

We try to set the right expectations about anything that we know about the pet before you adopt (dogs/puppies need training and possibly housebreaking, separation anxiety is possible in dogs abandoned at shelters, puppies tend to cry the first few days, dogs/puppies need regular exercise to be good dogs, etc…) but if you are experiencing a problem, we want to help you fix it.

We have volunteer trainers willing to help with behavioral issues and we have veterinarians that can offer advice on what to do with medical problems. We also send home every pet with 30 days of free health insurance that comes in handy should a medical problem develop after adoption. We want every adoption to be successful.

We like to follow up with you after you adopt from us to ensure that you have the support that you need. If you need to contact us before that, please contact us and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

Borrowed from Dr. Weedon:

HEARTWORMS…not so scary anymore; there are new slow-kill methods that we have used for several years now with great results. Please consider them BEFORE using the adulticide methods. Please check into the alternative methods and give this information to your vet – These college’s studies have proven that slow kill not only works, it’s safer. The only disadvantage for rescues is it takes 6 to 12 months…but it works and is very inexpensive to use. We also use proheart injections. If there is no microfilaria in the blood…it cannot be transmitted. BMAR is not a vet, but is a constant user of these programs with great results!

A New Protocol

A new heartworm treatment protocol was published in the Journal of Parasties and Vectors by Molly Savadelis of the University of Georgia last fall, opening the door to a treatment option that could be feasible for shelter animals.

“Savadelis’ protocol indicates that another option is available, and it was a great choice for Reddington,” explains Dr. Weedon.

The “moxi-doxy” protocol, as it is referred to, involves the combination of two drugs many

pet owners may be familiar with: Advantage Multi® for dogs (10% imidacloprid + 2.5% moxidectin) and doxycycline.

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that can be administered orally, and Advantage Multi is a common heartworm and flea preventative that is applied topically. The doxycycline is given for thirty days and the Advantage Multi is given once a month as directed on the label. After ten months the dog can be antigen tested to determine if the heartworm is still present.

“When this protocol was completed in the study, all previously infected dogs tested negative for heartworm within ten months,” states Dr. Weedon.

“My experience with this treatment was great, and I’m really pleased with it,” says Do. “I had Reddington tested at three, six, and eleven months. He tested negative at six months but was considered officially negative at eleven months!”

Traditional adulticide therapy requires strict kennel rest to reduce the chance of embolism.

This therapy can be difficult to implement in a shelter setting. On the moxi-doxy protocol,

the animal’s activity should be limited, but strict cage confinement may not be necessary.

However, any high exertion should be avoided.

“We didn’t exercise-restrict Reddington too extensively. He wasn’t allowed to tussle around with other doggie friends or run around at the dog park for hours at a time by any means, but strict crate rest was not necessary,” reports Do.

“There are no long-term restrictions yet identified for animals that recover from heartworm

after use of the moxi-doxy protocol. More data will be developed as the protocol’s use expands,” says Dr. Weedon.

Heartworm-positive patients are often classed according to severity, and many dogs in advanced stages may not live despite treatment. Presently, there is no evidence to suggest that moxi-doxy is any less effective than traditional therapy.

Dr. Ryan Fries, a boarded cardiologist at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital notes, “It is great that we continue to look for ways to treat this devastating disease. Moxi-doxy is a great protocol for some dogs and owners; however, each case is unique and this protocol may not be appropriate for all dogs in all stages of heartworm disease.”

Dr. Weedon concludes, “Moxi-doxy offers us another great tool with which to treat heartworm-positive dogs. With this protocol in a shelter setting, we can save resources and save lives.”