+ Apply

The first step in the adoption process is to complete an application for adoption online. Please note: Lu’s Labs charges a $25 non-refundable application fee to offset medical, transportation, and operational costs.

Our primary responsibility as a rescue is to ensure the welfare of our labs - which includes facilitating a perfect match with the right forever family for the dog. It is imperative that you are honest and complete in your application responses. Lu’s Labs does not guarantee the placement of any rescue into an applicant’s home and may deny an application based on information provided. Additionally, Lu’s Labs reserves the right to terminate the adoption process should it be determined that false or misleading information has been provided at any point in the adoption process. Lu’s Labs adopts out within a 300-mile radius of Alexandria, Virginia. Should you, the applicant, live outside this area, we urge you to seek out rescues in your area.

Once your application is received, your application will be assigned to relevant vet reference check or landlord reference check volunteers and then to an Adoption Coordinator who will assist you in completing the approval process and help match you with available dogs. Lu’s Labs is volunteer driven (and most volunteers also have full-time jobs), so your patience is appreciated.

**In order to help our first time adopters understand both the time and effort needed to have a dog, as well as determine the type of dog that would be the best fit for their lifestyle, we require all first time adopters (including those that grew up with dogs but have not had one since living on their own) to foster at least one dog in the age range and energy level requested prior to adopting a dog.

+ Reference Checks

Lu’s Labs will contact the veterinary reference and personal references listed on your application for adoption. We ask that you notify your personal references of your application, so the process is not delayed by an inability to get in touch. Your veterinary reference should be the veterinarian that you currently use or have used for previous pets. Please call your veterinarian and give them permission to speak with a representative of Lu’s Labs regarding your pet’s/previous pet’s medical history. Most veterinarians will not give out client information without permission, so a phone call in advance to your vet will help speed up your approval process.

+ Written Questionnaire

All applicants are required to fill out a written questionnaire, which will be emailed to you by your Adoption Coordinator. It is important to fill the questionnaire out as thoroughly and thoughtfully as possible. Your Adoption Coordinator will go over your answers with you during the phone interview for any clarifications that may be necessary. The more details you include, the easier it will be to match your family with a dog, as this questionnaire is used by our Adoption Team and your Adoption Coordinator to help us make the best possible match for our dogs.

+ Phone Interview

Please allow about one hour for the phone interview and note that all members of the household must be present for the call. This call is an opportunity for you and the Adoption Coordinator to get to know each other better, to go over your written questionnaire, to ask questions, and to address any concerns you may have. The Adoption Coordinator will gather information throughout the call that helps facilitate a perfect match for our deserving rescues.

+ Home Check

Once your phone interview has been completed, and your references have been contacted, a home check will be scheduled with a member of our Home Check Team. All members of the household (including children and resident dogs) are required to be present for the home check. A successful home check completes the approval process, and you may refer for dogs that are potential matches.

+ Trainer Selection

All our dogs under 3 and some older dogs have a training addendum associated with their adoption contract. (link to training addendum) You are required to use a trainer that has been approved by Lu’s Labs. A list of those trainers and the link to the Trainer Selection Form can be found here: https://www.luslabs.org/trainerslist

Once these steps have been completed, you are considered fully approved to adopt with us and can move on to:

+ Swipe Right, Swipe Left

Each week, your Adoption Coordinator will send you a list of our upcoming available dogs and together you will determine if any are a match for you. You can help this process along by actively checking our website and Facebook pages and sending your Adoption Coordinator the names of dogs that interest you, so that they can gather more information on them and help determine if any are a good fit. If you and your Adoption Coordinator agree that a dog is a potential match (swipe right), then your application will be sent to the Adoption Team. If the Adoption Team agrees, a phone call will be scheduled between you and the foster family. Connecting with the foster family is your opportunity to verify that the lab does in fact sound like the perfect fit for your family, home, and lifestyle. While you will have discussed the match with your Adoption Coordinator, the foster family knows the dog best. Our rescues are constantly evolving physically, mentally, and behaviorally as they acclimate to the foster environment. It is important to confirm that your knowledge of your intended rescue is as true a representation as is possible. You should ask questions about habits, training, personality, size, schedule, health, and special needs, and any other information you feel is important. This is another opportunity for both you and the foster to verify compatibility.

Please understand that our primary goal and responsibility is to ensure the happiness of our dogs. While you may feel that a specific dog is a good match for you, we will make our decisions based on the needs of the dog.

+ The "Date"

If after speaking with the foster family the dog still sounds like a good match, you will schedule a time for all members of your household (including children and resident dogs) to visit the lab at the foster’s home. When visiting, take your time in evaluating the dog and how he/she will fit into your family. Interact, play, and walk together. Allow any current dog(s) to interact at his/her own pace (do not push the dogs to interact). If everyone passes the “sniff test” the foster will have you read, understand, and sign the adoption contract (add link), Then, you just need to pay the adoption fee (Zelle preferred for payment) and you will be on your way with your new Lu’s Lab.

Once your adoption is complete, please join the Lu’s Labs Alumni Facebook page for updates, support, Welcome to the Lu’s Labs family!