Congratulations!
Thank you for adding a shelter dog to your family
Dog Coalition Adoption Process
Before scheduling a time to bring your new dog home:
Review the DCLA Adoption Guide
Complete the quiz
Send suggested donation
Where does the donation go?
With every adoption, we ask for a suggested donation of $250 that will enable our team to spend more time in the shelters, provide necessary supplies to foster families and address unexpected and emergency medical costs.
Shelter Processing
The adoption can be processed at North Central Shelter. They are open Tues-Fri, 9a-5p and Sat/Sun, 11a-5p. Please coordinate a time to meet your new pup and their foster at the shelter. They may go through a medical check, you will complete the required city paperwork, and complete city processing fees (usually ~$125).
Fi GPS Collar Program
We partner with Fi to offer GPS collar tracking for our adopted dogs. If your dog is currently wearing a Fi collar, we can transfer it to you at no cost. Prefer to get your own? You can purchase one with a $20 activation fee using our exclusive offer code. Either way, you'll receive 6 months of free Fi membership.
Fi collars are GPS-enabled for real-time location tracking, and also include activity and sleep monitoring to help you get to know your new dog's habits.
👉 Enter your email at https://lp.tryfi.com/dcla/ to access your offer code.
We strongly encourage all adopters to take advantage of this program. The transition to a new home is one of the highest-risk times for a dog to bolt or get lost. Having a tracker on your dog from day one can make all the difference.
Transition home
A big part of your dog’s continued balance and smooth transition to your home hinges on following the house rules, crate use, limiting affection, and leaving regularly to keep separation anxiety at bay. You don’t need to enforce these rules forever, but they can be helpful in helping him transition and establishing your leadership.
off the couch
off the bed (human)
out of the kitchen when cooking or prepping dog food
wait for calm before exiting the house or car
Reminders
The adoption guide is free forever. Please come back to it as you settle in with your new dog. We know you’re excited, but please take things slow and remember:
Keep an eye on how your dog is feeling: Body Language
Review this guide if you have multiple dogs
It’s easier to remove rules as the dog settles in than setting new ones once unwanted behaviors start