Your MLRR Adoption Agreement

Your signed Adoption Agreement outlines your responsibilities as your dog's legal owner and MLRR's expectations for the lifelong care of our dogs.

Your Dog Is Now Yours

Legal ownership and responsibility transfer to you at adoption.

You assume responsibility for your dog's food, housing, veterinary care, training, emergency care, and other expenses.

Veterinary Care

• Have your dog examined by a veterinarian within two weeks of adoption.
• Keep vaccinations current.
• Provide year-round heartworm prevention.
• Provide flea and tick prevention as recommended by your veterinarian.
• Seek veterinary care when your dog is sick or injured.

Training & Humane Care

MLRR dogs must be treated humanely and trained using positive, force-free methods.

Your Adoption Agreement prohibits methods based on pain, fear, intimidation, or dominance, including:

• Shock collars
• Prong collars
• Choke chains
• Electronic or invisible fencing
• Hitting or kicking
• Alpha rolls or pinning
• Leash jerking
• Other painful or intimidating training techniques

If You Have a Serious Behavior Concern

Please contact MLRR promptly.

The Adoption Agreement requires adopters to notify MLRR within 24 hours when significant escalating aggression occurs, including behaviors such as biting, snapping, lunging, resource guarding, or similar aggression toward people or animals.

MLRR may be able to offer guidance or recommend an appropriate professional.

If You Can No Longer Keep Your Dog

You may not:

• Sell the dog
• Give the dog away
• Rehome the dog yourself
• Surrender the dog to another rescue
• Surrender the dog to a shelter
• Abandon the dog

Contact MLRR if circumstances change and you can no longer keep your dog.

Behavior-Related Returns

Behavior concerns should be reported to MLRR before requesting a behavior-related return.

The Adoption Agreement requires a minimum seven-day transition period after MLRR receives a behavioral return request so that an appropriate placement can be located.

During that period, the adopter remains responsible for safely managing and containing the dog.

Adoption Donations

Adoption donations are generally non-refundable.

Important Limited Medical Return Provision

The Adoption Agreement contains a specific Illinois statutory provision for an animal diagnosed with an illness that existed at the time of adoption. Please refer to your signed agreement for the applicable time limits and requirements.

Spay / Neuter Requirements

If your dog was adopted before sterilization because of age or medical need, you must comply with the separate Spay/Neuter Agreement and required timeline.