Frequently Asked Questions
How are the dogs transported up North? We transport the dogs ourself in our rescue van, trailer or bus.
Has this dog received any training? No most our dogs have not - in a few very rare occasions the dog may know how to sit, shake etc.
Where do our dogs come from? Most come from high kill shelters around the Houston Texas area, but we also get dogs that are strays/street dogs & dogs from other rescue groups that need help finding them homes. Occasionally we get dogs from owners who can no longer care for them.
Why do we transport dogs up North for adoption? In Texas there are so many dogs and not enough owners - with out us transporting these dogs most would be euthanized in the shelters. We have a dog over-population problem.
How long have you been doing dog rescue? We have been helping Houston Texas dogs for over 15+ years.
Can I adopt the dog earlier? No we will only be in town on certain dates that are listed on the dogs Petfinder listing.
Do you spay/neuter, vaccinate the dogs? Yes we spay and neuter all our dogs we adopt out. All dogs are also given age appropriate vaccines.
Do you microchip the dogs? Yes all our dogs are implanted with a microchip prior to going home with you. *You will be responsible for registering the microchip after adoption*
Where are the dog kept before adoption? We have many wonderful foster homes and a some dogs go to boarding.
What breed is the dog? We have no idea since we don’t know their history, we can only go off of what the dog looks like currently. We always tell the adopters as much info as we know.
How big/little is the dog going to get? We have no idea, since we do not know the breed/size of their mom/dad. We can only go off of what the dog looks like now and our educated guess.
Can I adopt a dog if I don’t have a fenced in yard? YES! We adopt to those living in apartments, townhomes and homes with yards not fenced.
Can I adopt a dog if I am older? Yes we adopt dogs to senior citizens.
Is this dog good with kids? If you are inquiring about a puppy, then yes the puppy good with kids as long as your child is respectful to animals. If you are inquiring about a dog, sometimes we have a history and can let you know how the dog was with kids, other times we do not know.
Does this dog get along with other dogs? Generally all our dogs/puppies are good with other dogs. If they are not good with other dogs we will list this on their Petfinder profile.
How old is the dog? Since we don’t get much history on the dogs past we can usually only go off of the dogs teeth and how old we estimate them to be.
Is this dog ok with cats? We do not have a way to cat test a dog. If you are asking about a puppy - then yes generally they are fine with cats and can be trained to live in harmony.
Will this dog shed? Yes all dogs shed. If you are looking for a dog that does not shed for allergy reasons please look at our Poodle, Maltese, Schnauzer Mix dogs, we do get these in frequently but they are usually middle aged dogs - and they are adopted FAST.
TRAINING!!!!!! You must put into what you want out of a rescue dog. Basic training classes and socialization are a MUST.
How can I adopt? Please fill out our adoption application and email back to us or bring to one of our events.
If I live in Canada can I adopt a dog? YES, you would need to cross the border to pick up your dog. To go back to Canada you will need the rabies certificate and sometimes the border agent will charge you a tax for import.
All our dogs have to get a USDA health certificate to travel. If the dog/pup becomes ill before the trip we will not be able to bring them on the transport.
Can you send me more pictures/videos of the dog? No we are not able to send more pictures or videos of the dogs. We are super busy and do not have the time/volunteers to be able to do this.
Can you FaceTime or Zoom with an ARK Dog? No we do not have time or the volunteers to do this.
If I pre-adopt the dog when is the adoption fee due? The adoption fee for pre-adopted dogs is due 24 hours after we speak to you about the adoption.
What forms of payment do you take for the adoption fee? We take Cash, Credit Cards, or Paypal.
Do I get to take my dog home the same day? Yes if you come to one of our adoption events and are approved you will be able to take your new dog home that same day!
Get your new dog/puppy a wellness check-up shortly after adoption. ++ask your Vet to do a fecal exam++ ++keep your dog on heartworm prevention its whole life++
Dog Food? We suggest to feed your dog/puppy ANY high-quality dog/puppy food.
Potty trained? We can not guarantee that any dog/puppy we adopt out is potty trained.
Puppy vaccines? Your puppy will need a series of 3-5 sets of Parvo/Distemper vaccines. Your puppy will come to you with 2-3 sets of parvo/distemper vaccines. You will be responsible for getting the rest of the vaccine series. The vaccines are usually given 2 weeks to 1 month apart. Your vet can let you know what vaccines your adopted dog needs based on the vet records we give you.
Intestinal Parasites? We do worm all our dogs and puppies. We have several different type of wormers that we use for different symptoms etc. Schedule your dog/puppy a wellness check up and ask the vet do a fecal test, if they find any parasites its easy to treat with medication. Since some are in a boarding facility it is very difficult to maintain everyone dog being parasite free since new dogs come in all the time.
We highly recommend keeping your dog on Heartworm prevention year round – especially since they came from the South. It’s a monthly preventive you give your dog.
After Spay/Neuter? No bath for 10 days (if you need to bath the dog/puppy keep the surgical site dry). Do not apply any Neosporin or other ointments to the surgery site. Try to restrict their activities for 10 days (from the date of surgery). Any excessive licking of surgical site will require you to purchase a ‘cone’ Elizabethan collar from Petsmart/Petco.
We suggest the use of martingale collars or harness. Regular collars can get pulled off the dogs’ neck easily. Please make sure you attach a tag with your address and phone number to the collar and have your dog wear it at all times.
Dogs weight? Some dogs get stressed being in boarding facility and lose weight. It is hard for them adjusting to being at a kill shelter, then being rescued then waiting for their adoptive home to come along. When they get into their forever homes they always fatten right up.
Everything we know about the dog/puppy background and medical history will be discussed with you. We ARK have made no representation concerning the breed, health, condition, training, behavior, or temperament of the Dog. The breed listed by our group is a visual guess based upon physical appearance at the time of intake.
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