The Australian Shepherds available for adoption through ARPH come from many sources. Some of them have been rescued from pounds and shelters. Others are referred to us by owners who can no longer keep their dogs for a variety of reasons. ARPH only accepts purebred Aussies into the program. Vicious dogs are not accepted into any of the listings.

ARPH's standard adoption fee for a fully vetted dog is $200 U.S. or $225 C.D. Any donations above the standard fee will help to offset any necessary expenses, and are tax deductible (for U.S. residents only).

Occasionally, the fee may be lowered for special needs dogs and some senior dogs. Unaltered puppies require an additional spay/neuter deposit which is refunded upon proof of spay/neuter, per ARPH's adoption contract.

People wishing to adopt a dog through ARPH must first complete an Adoption Application. When the adoption application is complete it is forwarded to the ARPH Rescue Representative closest to you. That representative will review the application, call all references, discuss parts of your answers with you, and may ask for a home check during the application approval process. ARPH looks for homes with a history of responsible dog ownership which includes annual vetting of all pets.

After you have completed the application and submitted it, please be patient--it may be several days to a few weeks before you hear back from a representative. Most ARPH Volunteers have jobs during the day, as well as families and their own dogs to tend to in the evenings. This is a labor of love for us all, and we work very hard to respond as quickly as possible to potential adopters.

Once your application is approved, the ARPH Rescue Representative with whom you are working will help you find the right dog to match your family. Sometimes a dog that matches your home will be available immediately, but in most cases, it will take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The more narrow your criteria for the right dog, the longer the wait. If your heart is set on a certain color, gender or age, you will probably wait longer than the adopter who is open on all these things. We do not place our dogs on a "first come, first served" basis, but according to the needs of the dog.

ARPH's careful screening process endeavors to ensure that each Aussie is placed in a loving, caring, and permanent home. ARPH is looking for owners who have adequate time, energy, and resources for Australian Shepherds. If your home fits those requirements, we look forward to hearing from you.

Interested in adopting an ARPH dog?  Click here!  Adoption Application.