Thank you for your interest in adopting one of our release dogs.

Retrieving Freedom, Inc.'s (RFI) mission is to train and place Service Dogs with veterans with disabilities and children with autism. Over the course of two years, puppies are taught basic commands, socialized, and evaluated for suitability as a Service Dog. With responsibility to the health and well-being of both our clients and our dogs, sometimes it is determined that a dog must be released from our training program. This happens for either health or behavioral reasons, and, regardless of the reason, RFI still believes these dogs can make a positive impact as phenomenal companion dogs. RFI has chosen to have these animals adopted through an application process.

Families applying for RFI release dogs should understand these dogs will have medical, health, or behavioral issues which prevent the dog from ever being a Service Dog. Families adopting one of RFI's release dogs must agree dogs adopted from RFI may not and will not be used as a Service Dog. Representing a release dog as a Service Dog in any capacity is grounds for the return of the dog to RFI.

Your program application does not guarantee a release dog adoption. When RFI receives your application, it will be reviewed for completeness, your references will be checked, and we will contact you with any questions. RFI will then assess your application, and you will be notified of the decision. Accepted applicants will be placed on the program's waitlist.

RFI is an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI), and we respect the privacy of our applicants and clients. All information is kept confidential.

It is RFI's protocol to treat everyone who encounters our organization and its employees with respect and dignity. RFI conducts business, including the application process and program acceptance process, in a manner that does not discriminate against anyone for reason of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, the presence of mental or physical disability, sexual preference, life expectancy, or whether the individual is a veteran of any era, with or without disability.

Please list everyone who will live in the household, including the applicant:

Household Environment

Your dog or pet experience

The average age a dog is released from our training program is between the ages of 10 months and 18 months. Occasionally, we will have puppies or older dogs available. All dogs released from our training program will be spayed/neutered prior to release.

RFI works with primarily Labradors (Yellow, Black, Chocolate) and occasionally, will have Golden Retrievers and Golden/Labrador crosses.

Dogs released for adoption may have health or medical issues. Examples include dietary or seasonal allergies, gastrointestinal problems, and orthopedic problems. RFI will disclose the dog's current health needs, including previous and current treatments, recommended ongoing treatment, medications, and any activity limitations.

RFI's intentions are for each adopting family to gain canine companionship and to find each of our release dogs a loving home. Please share with RFI the hopes you have for this match and what release dog characteristics and traits are important to you.

References

As part of processing this application, RFI will contact your current veterinarian, if applicable, to ask about health care provided to your current or previous pets. Please list a veterinarian that can attest to this information. If this is not applicable, please say so on the first line.

As part of processing this application, RFI requests a personal recommendation from someone outside your immediate family. This reference should be able to attest to why they feel you would provide a safe, loving, quality home for a companion dog from RFI. This may be done by providing us the following information OR may be provided through a written letter which includes the referrer's address, phone number, and email address for RFI to contact them.

By submitting this application, you are allowing RFI to contact the listed references. Please inform them RFI will be doing so prior to submitting this application and grant them permission to release your information to RFI.

Program Agreements and Eligibility

RFI's main objective is to place Service Dogs with veterans with disabilities and children with autism. While all dogs in our program are initially trained with one of these placements in mind, we do identify certain dogs that are not suited for service work due to medical or behavioral reasons.

Persons applying to adopt dogs released from RFI's training program must meet the following eligibility:

• Be able to physically control, manage, and care for the companion dog.
• Be willing to provide for the companion dog's daily care, routine veterinary care, and any emergency veterinary care.
• Be willing to provide daily exercise opportunities for the companion dog.
• Be willing to provide for the companion dog's basic needs, including proper diet, rest, attention, and safe areas for exercise, play time, and elimination.
• Understand the companion dog will have medical and/or behavioral issues.

Persons applying to adopt dogs released from RFI's training program must agree to the following:

• To accept responsibility, including financial investment, of owning a companion dog.
• To provide documentation of landlord's acceptance of a companion dog prior to placement if living in rental housing.
• To provide a favorable veterinary reference for families who currently own or have previously owned dogs, cats, or other animals.
• To accept a companion dog as a family pet. The companion dogs from this program are not Service Dogs and may not be used as a Service Dog. Representing a companion dog as a Service Dog in any capacity is grounds for the return of the companion dog to RFI.
• To return the companion dog to RFI if for any reason this placement is not satisfactory, or the family cannot meet the requirements for proper care.

RFI's goal is to make the best possible matches between applicants and dogs released from RFI's training program. RFI will assess both applicant and release dog to make the best choice possible.

If at any time during the process, RFI determines any of the household members to be unsuitable to continue with the placement of a dog, RFI will withdraw the application and/or dog.