Stray Rescue of St. Louis

Adoption FAQ

How old do I have to be to be considered for adoption?

Do I have to own my home in order to adopt?

You do not have to own your home in order to adopt from Stray Rescue! However, due to breed and size restrictions, we MUST have written landlord approval including any specific breed or size restrictions before we can proceed with your application.

Do you need to talk to my landlord?

If you rent your property, we will need to talk to your landlord to determine what their pet policy entails. If you have paperwork showing if the policy contains breed or size restrictions, please make our team aware of this so that we can better tailor our search for a match! We MUST have written landlord approval including any specific breed or size restrictions before we can proceed with your application.

Do I have to have a fence?

No! We will adopt most available dogs out to families who do not have fences. Some dogs will do better with a yard, but our matchmakers will help you find the right pet for your home.

Can I adopt from Stray Rescue if I live outside of Missouri?

Absolutely! You have to come to us to ensure that your family is a perfect match because animals adopted from Stray Rescue must be returned to us if the adoption does not work out. If something happens and your adopted animal ends up not working for your family, you must provide transportation for the animal back to our shelter. That being said, we have successful out-of-state adoptions all the time!

How do I apply?

You can find our adoption applications for dogs, puppies, and cats/kittens here!

How do I meet with an adoption team member?

First, start by filling out an application, then head on down to our Pine Street Shelter (2320 Pine Street, 63103) between 10a - 6p Tuesday - Friday, and 10-5 Saturday & Sunday. We are not open to the public on Mondays. NOTE: For dogs in foster homes, puppies, and kittens we will scan your application and send it to the foster family to contact you directly.

What do adoptions include?

Every adoption includes spay/neuter, a microchip, and up-to-date vaccinations. We can also provide you with advice on subjects such as crate-training, dealing with separation anxiety, and more!

How long does the adoption process take?

Due to the large amount of applications that we receive daily, we ask for patience from all potential adopters as our amazing team of matchmakers sort through all of the applications. We are dedicated to screening applications as quickly as possible, but the time that it takes to process your application can vary. However, if you do not hear back from us, it does not mean that your application was denied! Feel free to give us a call (314) 771-6121 or stop by the shelter between 10a - 6p Tuesday - Friday, and 10-5 Saturday & Sunday. Although we are a large shelter, we have a small team of wonderful staff, so responding to every applicant isn't possible.

What are the adoption fees?

What happens after I fill out an application? Why can't I fill out another one?

After you complete an application, we will begin the screening process to find the best pet for you! Our adoption team is constantly receiving new applications every day, so the amount of time that it takes to process an application varies. Once you have filled out an application, you do not need to fill out another. If the animal you applied for has been adopted, just let us know you are interested in others!

Am I applying for a specific animal?

When you apply, you are applying as a person. Once your application is screened and approved, you can work with our staff on adopting an animal from us! On your application, you can list animals you are interested in to help our staff match you with an animal. The specific animals you list might not be available by the time your application is approved due to the very high number of applications we are receiving! If you are open to hearing about our other wonderful animals, we would love to have you apply and talk with our adoptions team!

How do I know if my current pet is a good match for the pet I want to adopt?

Once you have filled out an application and our adoption team has selected you to have a meet-and-greet, our team of highly qualified trainers will take it from there! They will work together to introduce the animals in an environment that is as stress-free as possible. The first step is for the trainers to introduce the animals without you present to prevent your current pet from being protective over its owner(s), and if that introduction goes well the trainers will then bring you in to interact!

I saw a dog on social media that I am interested in adopting, but they are not available for adoption yet. What can I do next?

You are more than welcome to fill out an adoption application and mention the animal's name on the application so we know exactly who you are interested in! Please note that animals with rescue stories get a lot of applications and that filling out an application for a specific animal does not guarantee that you will be chosen to adopt that particular animal.

What kinds of dogs do you get at the shelter?

We specialize in rescuing stray dogs. The dogs most likely to be strays are typically medium sized dogs, around 40-60 pounds. That being said, a large population of the dogs that we bring to Stray Rescue are pit bull terriers or pit bull terrier blends.

What is heartworm? Should I be concerned?

Although heartworm disease sounds scary, it is very common among homeless pets and stray dogs. They are initially infected by the bite of a mosquito. Three of the five dogs we rescue come in with heartworm disease. But it is treatable! We treat them here and if you adopt before or during their treatments, they are still covered by us as this is considered a "pre-existing condition." Our clinic team will walk you through the care needed so there are no surprises along the way! This includes helping keep the dog relaxed. During treatment, they shouldn't get a lot of exercise and need to keep their heartrate down. Heartworms are expensive to treat but easy to prevent, so make sure you give your dogs at home their monthly preventative to save yourself lots of heartache and money!

Why do you recommend adopting two kittens?

Studies have shown that kittens need interaction with other kittens of similar age to promote healthy development! A kitten learns everything about being a cat during the first year of its life, and the best way to make sure they learn everything they need to know is to learn from daily interaction with other young cats. Taking a kitten away from littermates or similarly-aged kittens and isolating it could delay its emotional, social, and physical development. This could lead to health and behavioral problems. In the end, adopting kittens together is better for them AND their adoptive family!

Why don't you adopt puppy siblings together?

We adopted this policy in order to avoid something called Littermate Syndrome. Littermate Syndrome can occur when puppy siblings are raised together in the same household past the recommended 8-10 weeks that they would remain with their mother and siblings and can result in behavioral problems like fear, anxiety, and aggression. The puppies could form such a strong bond with one another that it inhibits their ability to bond with other dogs, but also their owners! This makes puppy siblings very difficult to train and could make them fearful or aggressive towards people, other dogs, or any new experience. While adopting puppies from the same litter might sound like a great idea, in the end it could put yourself and the puppies at risk.

What does fostering entail?

Ready to apply? Fill out an application here!