PROS does not "sell" dogs, we adopt them out to compatible homes for an adoption fee of $175.00. We do not place pugs on a "first come, first served" basis, instead, we try to match up the needs of the pugs with the desires and lifestyle of the adopting family. Pugs and pug mixes who are adopted through us have received their shots, a heartworm test, are on heartworm preventative, and have been examined by a veterinarian. In many cases, the dog may have had other medical procedures or surgery while in PROS care. PROS will disclose any medical conditions which we know about prior to the adoption.

1. The first step in applying to adopt a rescued pug or pug mix is to fill out an application. Applications can be downloaded at our web site at http://www.pugpros.org or you can request that an application be mailed to you by e-mailing your name and address to PUGRESQ@aol.com, or by calling us and leaving your mailing address on our voice mail at (916) 484-4158. Be sure to fill out the entire application. If there is additional information which you think might be helpful, feel free to attach additional pages of information.

2. When we have a pug or pug mix which we feel might be a suitable match for you, we will give you a call. We try to have the prospective adopter meet the dog at the home of the people who have been fostering the dog. This allows you to see the dog in a familiar environment. We encourage all of the family members of the potential adopting family to make this visit together. If all parties are in agreement that this pug or pug mix is the right match, and a home visit has been completed, (see #3) there is a 24 hour waiting period before an adoption can be completed . This is to try to assure that the decision is based on more than spur-of-the-moment pure emotion, a decision that will later be regretted. Our goal is to find a "forever" home for these pugs and pug mixes; we want this to be a well considered addition of a new "family member".

3. At some point in the adoption process, a PROS volunteer will do a home check, visiting the home of the prospective adopter. This allows us to make sure that the home is "pug proofed" and otherwise compatible for the new adoptee. Depending on volunteer availability, the home visit happens either before you meet with a dog or soon after.

4. The last step in the adoption process, is the signing of the adoption agreement. The PROS agreement requires, among other things, that the adoptive family keep the dog current on all vaccinations and medications, contacts PROS prior to euthanizing the dog (except in cases if extreme medical emergency) and contact PROS if they can no longer keep the dog for any reason, returning the dog to PROS in that event.

The time you can expect to wait until you hear from a PROS representative depends on many factors. PROS takes into consideration many things when placing a dog, and the more open you are to age, color, gender, physical condition or pug mixes, the more likely you will hear from us sooner. We cannot predict how many, or what type of pugs or pug mixes come through our rescue, and cannot therefore predict how long your wait will be. Puppies are, as a general rule, not turned into rescue, (especially not healthy puppies) and the average age of our rescues is about 5 years old. Because of this, if you are adamant about getting a young (under the age of 2), healthy pug, the wait may be several months or more.

We are an all-volunteer organization. Our first priority is to get the dogs into our program and in a foster home as quickly as possible. In addition to the actual hands-on rescuing and placing of dogs, there are a myriad of other duties, such as outreach, fundraising, and administrative tasks that need to be done. Our volunteers also have jobs, families and pets of their own that they need to tend to. There are only a small hand full of people in PROS who are responsible for all of these tasks (as well as many unexpected ones), so we ask for your patience and understanding in having to wait to be contacted. We assure you, the wait will be one worth waiting for. When you decide to open up your heart and home to a rescued pug or pug mix, it’s a decision you will never regret.