By applying to adopt from us, you are agreeing to each of these policies:

  • Inside only. LRRoF does not adopt to families that want an “outside only” dog. All dogs adopted from LRRoF will live and sleep inside the home. All dogs adopted from LRRoF will not be left alone outside in yard or left outside alone in a dog run.
  • Child supervision. All dogs adopted from LRRoF must never be left alone with children under age 10.
  • Young child requirement. Families with children under 7 years of age may only adopt a dog with a young child history. As a result of this policy, it may be more difficult to find a suitable dog so the wait for a dog with a small child history may be longer. 
  • No tie out. A ‘tie-out’ (a long rope or chain attached to a stake or other fixed object) is not an acceptable method of containing a dog to the adopter’s property.
  • Puppies require frequent feedings and potty breaks. Pups under 6 mos. of age require either a stay at home parent or access to age appropriate alternative care.
  • No gifts. The dog may not be adopted as a ‘surprise’ or a gift for someone else. LRRoF will work directly with the adoption applicant only (not family members, neighbors, etc.)
  • Unaltered animals  – If you have animals in the home that have not been spayed/neutered for reasons not medically-related, then you may be disqualified from adopting from LRRoF.
  • Obedience is key. The adopter should enroll their young dog in an obedience class, or with a private trainer, within 30 days of adoption. It is the adopter’s responsibility to research and locate a trainer.
  • Crating recommended. The adopter must be willing to obtain a crate and crate train the dog, if necessary. This is especially important when a young dog is adopted. Crates are also helpful when potty training a dog and as tools to keep dogs safe when the owner is not present to supervise the dog.
  • Routine care. The Adopter must agree to properly maintain the health of the dog by placing him/her on an annual vaccination schedule under the direction of a veterinarian. We require Rabies, Distemper and Parvo vaccines annually, Additionally, we strongly recommend Bordetella and Lyme vaccines as well.
  • Heartworm treatment & annual testing. Florida has one of the highest incidence rates for heartworm in the country. The adopter must agree to place the dog on year-round heartworm preventative and have the dog tested annually for heartworm, and he/she will receive heartworm preventative by prescription from a veterinarian. Your Adoption Counselor will verify consistent heartworm and flea/tick preventative care for all current and past pets
  • All on board. All family members, including any other household pets, must be present during the home visit and when meeting a prospective “adoptee” Labrador to be sure of a good match.
  • Renters and HOAs. Adoption applicants residing in a townhouse, condominium, apartment or rental property must provide written documentation stating that they have permission from the landlord/homeowner’s association to add a dog (the size of a Labrador) to their household. This letter/documentation should be given to the LRRoF volunteer at the time of the home visit.
  • References required. LRRoF requests a reference from the veterinarians named by the adopter on the application form. If you do not have veterinarian, no reference will be requested. We do not adopt our dogs out of Florida as a home visit is required. Out of state adoptions may occur if the residence in another city is close to a volunteer in Florida for a home visit.
  • Application Fee Non-Refundable. The $25 application fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.  We do not guarantee that by applying to adopt that you will be approved to adopt, or that you will find a suitable dog.
  • Service Dogs. Our primary mission is to adopt dogs as family pets and to place them in loving, permanent homes. Our dogs come to us from a variety of past experiences and we cannot assure anyone that the dog they adopt will be able to successfully complete service dog training or serve in that role. Because of the high failure rate of training dogs (even Labradors) to become service dogs, we strongly discourage you from applying to adopt from us. Your application will most likely be declined and your application fee will NOT be refunded. If you are looking for a service dog, we request that you seek appropriate dogs elsewhere that have already been trained for the task you seek.
  • Florida Residents Only.  Because we require home visits prior to approval for adoption, we will only adopt dogs to families residing within the state of Florida where we have a volunteer presence.  Our volunteer presence may change over time so verify on our Apply to Adopt page that we can service your application.  We do not adopt to residents of other states.

Policies last revised: August 2023

The LRRoF Board of Directors reserves the right to change these policies at any time without notice.