Before submitting an adoption application, please review the following:

• Applicants must be 21 years of age or older.

• An approved application is required before an adoption can be finalized. Once an application is reviewed and approved, applicants are considered pre-approved. Final approval occurs after a successful meet and greet and confirmation that the match is a good fit.

• All current dogs and cats in the home must be up to date on core vaccines, on appropriate preventatives, and spayed or neutered unless there is a documented medical reason.

• If renting, landlord approval is required prior to adoption. We recommend confirming any breed, weight, or pet restrictions before applying.

• For dogs that appear to be restricted breeds, homeownership may be required due to common housing limitations.

• Applicants must be able to travel to Virginia Beach for meet and greets and final adoption appointments.

• If at any time you are unable to keep the animal, you must contact Hope for Life Rescue so we can coordinate a scheduled return. We are unable to accept unscheduled drop-offs.

• Kittens under six months of age are typically adopted in pairs unless there is another young, appropriate feline companion in the home.

• While we consider every application individually, we may recommend adult animals for applicants seeking a calmer or more predictable companion. Very young puppies and kittens require significant time, supervision, and physical stamina during their early development. Our goal is to ensure a safe and sustainable match based on lifestyle, support system, and long-term planning.

• While some adoptions may be completed the same day, approval timing can vary depending on application volume, staff availability, and the specific animal.

The first step to adopt from Hope For Life Rescue is to fill out an adoption application. You can do this in two ways:

• Apply directly for the animal you're interested in by clicking the adopt button on their public profile.

• Submit a general application using the link below, if you're undecided or the animal you're interested in isn't currently listed on our site.

Adoption Application: CLICK HERE

We're so grateful for your interest in our animals, but we just ask that you keep in mind that submitting an application for a specific animal does not guarantee adoption, as we often receive multiples applications for the same animal and they may be adopted before we are able to review yours.

Additionally, some animals may require specific homes or lifestyles, and in those cases, even approved applicants may not be matched with the animal they originally applied for. Our priority is always to place each animal in the home that's the best fit for both them and the adopter.

We do keep approved adoption applications on file for 6 months, so if you're still deciding or become interested in a different animal later on, you won't need to re-apply unless your circumstances have changed significantly.

Once your application is approved, there are generally two ways to meet our adoptable animals:

Animals At Our Facility

You’re welcome to visit our facility during our hours of operation to meet animals currently on-site. If you’re hoping to take an animal home the same day, we encourage all members in the home to come with you if possible. We recommend arriving as close to opening as possible if there’s a specific animal you are hoping to meet, as placement often happens based on who arrives first and who is the best match.

Please Note: While we generally do not place holds on animals, exceptions may be made in certain circumstances (such as temperament or certain breed mixes), which we will post about separately if applicable.

Animals In Foster Homes

Some of our animals may be placed in foster homes, which will be noted next to their name on our list of available animals. If you’re interested in meeting a dog in foster, please contact us at contact@hopeforliferescue.com.

Because foster families get to know their foster animals more personally, we work hard to match them carefully with potential adopters. Setting up a meet and greet does not guarantee adoption, but we generally only schedule meetings when we feel it could be a good fit based on the animal’s needs and your lifestyle.

Whether you’re hoping to adopt an animal in our facility or in a foster home, be sure to check out the next step to learn more about the rest of our adoption process and the home visit trial period we offer to help ensure the best possible match!

One of the best parts about adopting from us is that we give potential adopters time to decide if the animal they’ve connected with is truly the right fit for their family. We do this through something called a Home Visit, which is a trial period that allows approved applicants to bring an animal home for up to two weeks (extensions may be granted if needed). This helps make the process of meeting adoptable animals feel more relaxed and pressure-free, since the decision to officially adopt doesn’t have to be made that same day. For those who choose to move forward with a home visit, we typically schedule what we call a Make Official date. This is the day the applicant returns to the facility to finalize the adoption, complete paperwork, and sign the contract.

If at any point before the make official date, you decide it’s not the right fit, you're welcome to bring the animal back. But if it's a match, we will move on to the final step: finalizing the adoption.

Once you’ve made the decision to adopt, we’ll provide you with the animal’s original paperwork, go over any important medical history, and walk you through the adoption contract.

Our adoption fees are as follows:

Adult Dogs: $375

Puppies: $419

Adult Cats: $125

Kittens: $175 for one / $225 for two

These adoption fees help us cover the cost of care each animals receives while with us, as well as the medical services provided as part of the adoption process.

This includes the following:

• Spay or neuter surgery (completed prior to adoption when possible or scheduled afterward)

• Age-appropriate vaccines administered prior to adoption

• Up-to-date flea and tick prevention at the time of adoption

• Up-to-date heartworm prevention at the time of adoption

• Heartworm prevention at the time of adoption

• Deworming

• Microchip with free lifetime registration
  

Please Note: Some animals may still require medical procedures either before or shortly after adoption, such as a dental cleanings, surgeries, heartworm treatment, or other follow-up care.

If a medical need is identified prior to adoption, we will cover the cost of that care, even if it is completed after adoption. Unrelated medical care after adoption is the responsibility of the adopter.