Our Adoption Process

Our adoption process is designed to help us set up safe and successful adoptions. Most of the time, we will only place our rescued pets in the Los Angeles area. If you do not live in the LA area, please contact us prior to filling out an application.

We invest a lot of time, money and love in each animal in our care. Our knowledge of our dogs and cats helps take the guesswork out of adopting from us. Some of our animals are good with children, some are good with other pets, and some are appropriate for a first-time pet owner. However, other animals may have special medical or behavioral needs and require an experienced pet owner. Because we take pride in matching the right pet with the right family, we have an extremely low return rate.

Step 1

View our cats and dogs online or at one of our mobile adoption events:

Step 2

Submit an application for the pet of your choice: The application process is not meant to be an invasion of privacy. It’s a tool to help us find out if one of our cats or dogs would fit happily into your home and your lifestyle. We respond to applications within 48 hours. Completion of an application does not guarantee adoption of a Rescue Train animal.

Step 3

Meet the pet: We do not own a facility. All of our animals are housed in private foster homes. If your application is approved, we will arrange for you to meet the animal at a convenient time, either at the pet’s foster home or at one of our mobile adoptions. Everyone who will be living with the pet needs to attend the meeting.

Step 4

Home Check: While a home visit is required prior to final placement, it does not guarantee adoption. We like to see where our cats and dogs will be living to make sure that they will be in a safe and secure environment. Often, we can help with potential hazards by securing screens, yards and fences to ensure a pet’s safety.

Step 5

Adoption Contract: The adoption contract is a legally binding contract between the adopter and our organization. If, for any reason, the adoption of one of our pets DOES NOT work out, you MUST return the animal to The Rescue Train.

Step 6

Adoption Fee: There is a minimum, tax-deductible, non-refundable donation at time of adoption. These fees help us recoup a small fraction of our costs associated with saving the animal’s life.

Our animals have all received the veterinary care they need. Every animal is:

  • Spayed or neutered. If a kitten or puppy is too young to be sterilized prior to adoption, we set up a pre-adoption. Once the animal is old enough to be spayed or neutered, we will arrange and pay for the procedure with one of our vet partners; the adoption will then become finalized.
  • Vaccinated
  • Microchipped
  • Treated for fleas
  • Dewormed
  • Cat ONLY: Tested for FeLV (Feline Leukemia) and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)

Depending on the age of the kitten or puppy, they may or may not have completed their vaccine series. Once you have adopted an animal, all veterinary expenses, including remaining vaccines, are your responsibility for the life of your pet.

Adoption Fees

Step 7

Delivery of Your New Family Member: We share our knowledge and years of experience to successfully transition your new pet into your home. We can connect you to resources, including veterinarians, dog trainers and pet insurance companies, and offer tips for nutrition, supplies and more. Each cat or dog has a team of people behind him/her, and we are here as your support system if you should need us.

Step 8

Have a lifetime of joy, laughter and companionship with your new family member!