Planned Pethood Frequently Asked

I found a dog? What do I do?

We get calls all day long about stray dogs in the area. Planned Pethood can help you with your found dog, but our resources are limited. We are doing what is best for as many dogs as we can and sometimes the one you found isn't in as dire need as another one. While we understand you are focused on the life of this particular dog (and thank you for that), we are focused on the lives of many.

If you found a stray dog, please contact us at pets@plannedpethood.org and hopefully we can help you (note those that have adopted dogs from us previously do not get moved up to the top of the list to be helped).

Prior to taking the dog into our program, you should call the Toledo Area Humane Society (TAHS) and the Toledo-Lucas County Dog Warden (TLCDW) to report the dog as "found". If anyone calls looking for a dog matching the description, they will give the caller your phone number. Planned Pethood cannot take a dog into its adoption program without doing what is legally expected to find the owners first. Toledo Area Humane Society can be reached at 419-891-0705. The Lucas County Dog Warden can be reached at 419-213-2800. Both agencies will assist you in trying to find the owner. If you choose to, you may take the dog to the Dog Warden and turn it over to them. If the owner does not come in for him/her they will most likely euthanize. The Toledo Area Humane Society will not take in strays.

The Toledo Blade will also run a free Found ad for four days. Blade classified can be reached at 419-724-2424. Make the ad rather vague so the caller has to prove they are the actual owner and not a bad person trying to get the dog for bad reasons. They are out there!!!

Post flyers EVERYWHERE around the general location the dog was found. Take a picture of the dog. More dogs find their homes again this way than any other method.

If you do not find the dogs owner there are a couple options we can explore. The fastest way we can help is by you fostering the stray dog. Would you be willing to keep the dog in your home while we find it’s new home? Planned Pethood will pay for all its vaccines and to get the dog spay/neutered. We place the dog’s photo and a description on our website www.plannedpethood.org, which gets approximately 48,000 hits a month and on www.petfinder.com We will screen potential homes to ascertain if they are a good fit for your dog.

Or, for a $25 donation, you can list your fully vetted stray dog on the dog page of our website and on Petfinder. It's what we call a "classified" ad. You can show a picture and information on the dog and reach approximately 48,000 people each month. We ask that your dog be completely vetted (spayed/neutered) prior to listing the dog on our website. Send us a write up/contact information on the dog, a .jpg photograph and donate your $25 now here.

I need to return my dog. Now what?

We always takes our animals back into our program to find another home. ALWAYS!!

It makes us sad though that the dog has been with you for this long and now he has to find a new home. We can help you try to work through any issue you might have. But if you still must give up your Planned Pethood dog, we just need to work out a few things.

First, notify us at pets@plannedpethood.org. Please tell us the dogs original Planned Pethood name if possible and the date or approximate date of adoption. Please explain in detail your situation and then immediately fax your dogs current vet records to 419.842.7994, attention dog in-take coordinator.

Second, would you be willing to keep the dog while we find another home? This will be less confusing to the dog and LESS STRESSFUL We also have a shortage of foster homes so it would help us too. Think about your dog and not about your situation. If you can't let us know and we will figure something out. That's another reason why we need your dogs vet records. If we have to board the dog, we must be able to prove he/she is up to date on vaccines before any facility will let a dog stay.

Third, please send to pets@plannedpethood.org recent digital photo of the dog and a write up about the dog. We can place this on our website and list on Petfinder to expedite getting the dog into a new home. You can read some of the other write ups we have online at www.plannedpethood.org (see our dog page). That will give you an idea of what to write about. And we want to know everything, both good and bad please--no sugar coating as it just means more hardship on your dog.

Fourth, now is the time to be honest with us. Are there any behavior issues the dog has that we need to know about? How is the dog with kids? Other dogs? Cats? Is the dog housebroken? Destructive? Does the dog jump fences? Tend to run away? We need to know so the foster can start working with him/her immediately and get the dog to a trainer, if need be. If we get the over-the-top nice version, we basically waste time trying to figure out why a dog that we were told was perfect is less than. Again it makes it harder on the dog in the end.

I need to find our current dog a home.

Help me!

Planned Pethood accepts dogs into our adoption program that were not adopted previously through our organization. Now, the best situation for the dog is to have it remain in your home while we find a forever home for him/her. It can be traumatic moving a dog from home to home and we sometimes don't get to see the dogs true personality. Dogs accepted into our adoption program that stay in your home until an owner can be found is what we call a Present Owner Foster Dog.

Your dog will be listed on our website www.plannedpethood.org and www.petfinder.com We will screen potential homes to ascertain if they are a good fit for your dog. But you get to be part of the process and help select the best home for your dog.

Admittance into Planned Pethood's adoption program is contingent upon a few things. Your dog will need to pass our evaluation for aggression and how it is in a variety of settings. We also need to see a copy of your vet records, which can be faxed to 419-842-7994, attention in-take coordinator.

You must also sign a release to say you understand the guidelines and rules as spelled out in the release. Dogs that attend adoption events get adopted MUCH faster than those that are just on the website. Try to make every adoption event you can. We will also help you meet with people and help you during the process. Dogs that participate in the present owner adoption program MUST adopt the dog via Planned Pethood once we accept your dog into our adoption program.

If we cannot help you at the time of your request because we are full, we ask that you contact rescue groups in our area or try the Toledo Area Humane Society at 419-891-0705 or 1920 Indian Wood Circle in Maumee, OH. Note: You should ask any rescue group how they operate, how long your dogs will be in their adoption program and most importantly WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM LONG TERM IF THEY DO NOT GET ADOPTED.

Another option is our classified program. For a $25 donation, you can list your fully vetted dog on the dog page of our website and on Petfinder. It's what we call a "classified" ad. You can show a picture and information on the dog and reach approximately 48,000 people each month. We ask that your dog be completely vetted (spayed/neutered) prior to listing the dog on our website. Send us a write up/contact information on the dog, a .jpg photograph and donate your $25 now here.

How does the dog adoption process work?

The first step is to fill out an on line application that you'll find on our dog page. Your application will be submitted for review. During the review process, we will be making sure you can provide a safe home.

We want to make sure the dog is a good fit for your lifestyle. We will also be checking with the dog's foster about the dog's likes and dislikes. If you have a veterinarian, their office will also be contacted. Please contact your vet now and let them know Planned Pethood will be contacting them regarding your past/current animals. This will speed up your adoption process.

If your application is submitted during the weekend or a holiday, you may not be contacted until the following business day. If you are submitting an application after 12noon Friday, we suggest you come to our adoption event early as your application may not be processed in time for our regular weekly adoption event.

Please understand that we are all volunteers. Most of us work, have families and we will get back to you just as soon as we can.

If your adoption criteria is met, we will pass your information on to the foster. That only means you have passed through one step of the adoption process. The foster is responsible for contacting you and making arrangements to meet the dog during the week. A Planned Pethood screener must be present if you think you would like to adopt. Please let the foster mom or dad know you wish to have a screener present. Or, you and the foster can agree to meet on Saturday during one of our adoption events. Screeners are always there to complete the adoption. Print off a copy of your completed application and bring it with you.

If you are selected for the dogs adoption, you can take the dog home that same day. We suggest you immediately place an ID on the dog along with buying a dog license. Do that before you leave the adoption event. Many dogs have a hard time adjusting within the first few weeks of adoption and could tend to "flee/jump fences" in attempts to find their foster home again. Vet records will be given to you or mailed to your home within 6 working days.

Here are a few things we would like you to know

1. Planned Pethood does not hold dogs. If you are asked for further information you need to provide this to us as soon as possible. If another home has applied in the meantime, meeting all qualifications prior to you submitting the information, the dog may go to the other home.

2. We also do not adopt on a first come, first serve basis. We select the best home.

3. We have the right to refuse anyone a dog, for any reason.

4. We are volunteers. Planned Pethood does not have a paid staff. We all give our spare time to give unwanted dogs and cats the chance to be in a loving, warm, safe home. We run our organization in a professional manner. Please be patient with our response back to you.

5. There are no refunds for any reason.

What if we want to adopt more than one dog?

We see so many we want to adopt!

Most FAQ? Is there a discount we can get for adopting more than one dog? Sorry, no. You see we adopt our dogs out for under the cost of vetting and loose money on almost every adoption. We rely completely on your donations to survive daily to help more.

But, we highly suggest you adopt one dog at a time, especially when it comes to puppies. If you want to adopt two dogs, give it a little time and then adopt another dog. Many people for example adopt two puppies at once only to find out they are not super people with super patience and an abundance of time for training. Hence many times one of both dogs come back to us at 7 months old wild and untrained with the owners expecting us to solve their problems. Some people can do it successfully but you need to be committed---really committed! It's like having two new born babies in your home that want and need constant attention.

Take your time. A dog is a commitment. If you see several on our website that you are interested in, just tell us on your application or write to us at pets@plannedpethood.org We can talk and find out what kind of lifestyle you have and try to match your family with the dog that will best suit your world. Our foster homes really know their dogs very well and can point you in the right direction for the right dog.

We're having "issues" with our Planned Pethood dog.

What do we do?

First off, don't wait until you are pulling your hair out and are hanging on the cliff ready to jump, E-MAIL US! Don't wait until you are ready to "return" your dog!! We can help you! Whether its biting, excessive urination in the home, jumping a fence, etc. we want to help, let us!

We can help you find a qualified trainer. Or if you have money constraints, one of our volunteers that is a trainer can help you. Best results are accomplished when listening and following the trainers instructions.

E-mail us at pets@plannedpethood.org

Please note that this picture is meant to be funny and does not typically represent issues with dogs (thank goodness!)

Pit bulls--can you help one?

We love all dogs, but unfortunately cannot take a Pit bull into our adoption program. Usually these are lovely dogs that unfortunately have received a terrible reputation by being abused by us humans.

Planned Pethood cannot place pit bulls or mixed pit bulls into our adoption program. However, if you find a stray pit bull or need to find your pit bull a home, you are welcome to place a classified ad on the dog page of our website. For a $25 donation, you can list the dog with a picture and reach approximately 48,000 people each month. We ask that your dog be fixed prior to listing the dog on our website. If the Pit bull is not fixed, we might also be in the position to help you vet your animal prior to adoption.

Send us a write up/contact information on the dog, a .jpg photograph and donate your $25 now here.

Do you adopt to us out-of-towners?

Sure we do!

But we still have to do a home visit. This will add more time to the process as we locate a partner in that area to help us.

Do you hold dogs?

No sorry. It clogs up foster space and disallows us to continue to save more lives.

Even if I pay for it to be boarded until I can take it?

No, sorry again! We truly believe these dogs have been through enough and shouldn't be shoved into a kennel until you can come meet the dog.

We lost our Planned Pethood dog!!

First contact us immediately by e-mail at pets@plannedpethood.org There are many times where many of our volunteers drop everything and help you search for your dog.

The first key in getting your dog back safely is by having a dog license AND current ID tag on the dog.

Place posters with a picture of your dog EVERYWHERE in immediate area it was lost in and high traffic places like grocery stores, banks. Many locally owned businesses are willing to help you! We have found this is the best way to get your dog back.

Send us a picture and information, we'll post it on our website.

Call the Toledo Blade classified department at 419-724-2424 and/or your local newspaper and place a LOST DOG ad immediately--don't wait! Offering a reward helps!

Call the Toledo Humane Society and report your dog missing in case someone tries to turn in the dog there. Call your local dog warden. Go to the dog wardens daily and search for your dog. Give the dog warden and the Humane Society a poster too.

Toledo Area Humane Society can be reached at 419-891-0705. The Lucas County Dog Warden can be reached at 419-213-2800.

What is wrong with giving puppies or my dog (s) away free in the newspaper or by postings?

Everything!

Responsible people are more than willing to pay to adopt a dog or puppy from a reputable rescue group, particularly one that spays/neuters prior to adoption. These are the type of people you want providing loving homes for your dog or dog's puppies.

People who are looking at "free puppies/dog" ads usually are financially challenged and do not provide vet care or spay/neuter for their new pets. In addition, many of these "free puppies" end up as live feed or as bait for fighting dogs (don't take their word the puppies will get good homes--they look like "normal" people).

We are often told that it's got to be a good home if there are children involved which is not always the case at all.

The so called "free puppies and dogs" are usually the ones that are eventually sent to the pound after the owners have tired of them.