Preparing for Pick-up
TAG
You must have a tag at pick-up
Dogs are most prone to escape in the first 72 hours as they are often confused, so this is critical to their safety. Many pet supply stores like Tailwaggers, Rosie Bunny Bean, and Petco have tag engravers. Even if you haven't decided on a name, a tag with your phone number is required before going home.
COLLAR
Martingales are safest
Martingales have a loop that partially tightens ensuring the dog doesn’t slip out. Make sure to fit it appropriately so that when pulled, the rings are ~1.5in apart. Attach tags to the smaller (usually square) rings leaving the main D-ring available for just the leash.
FOOD
Have a bag of food ready
Please ask your foster what type of food they’re currently feeding. If you are adopting a dog straight from the shelter, the shelter feeds AvoDerm Original Chicken Meal. If you’d like to transition to a different food, please do so slowly over at least 5 days gradually increasing the ratio of new to old food. (AKC has a step-by-step breakdown here).
CRATE
Make sure the crate is prepared
Please use a wire crate like this one (unless otherwise specified). Confirm the crate size with the DCLA team and/or the foster before purchase! They should be able to stand up, turn around and lay on their side comfortably. We generally advise covering about 3/4 of the crate with a towel or blanket so it feels like a cave/safe space. For some detailed crate training notes, Blue Man Dog rescue has a great guide here. (We often share their training manuals with adopters, they cover a lot of commonly needed training topics!)
Shopping list
Tag
Martingale Collar
Food
Crate
Poop bags!
Bowls
Dog bed