Adoption process - why it is so important and how it goes

Adopting a dog is one of the most exciting and meaningful decisions we can make. It is not just a gesture of compassion, but rather a commitment for the next 10-15 years, in which our lives will intertvine with that of a dog. We advocate a new and structured adoption process with clear criteria. Only in this way the risk of dogs falling into unsuitable homes, from which they will be returned to the shelter, or falling into an environment that does not meet their needs will be reduced.

We strive to introduce this adoption process within the two municipal shelters - in Gorni Bogrov and Seslavci. There, members of the “Gang of the 1500s” work for sustainable adoptions. In their work, they draw on the experience gained from a project to create profiles of one hundred dogs from the two shelters. The project is implemented with the support of “Dog Trust” and the municipal enterprise “Ekoravnovesie”, which manages the shelters.

To ensure a healthy, happy and sustainable relationship between the adoptive parent and the adopted dog, our procedure has been carefully designed and includes several key stages.

1. Filling out a form and having a first conversation about your lifestyle

The adoption process begins even before the first personal contact. You see the dog on our social networks or directly on our site and fill out the initial adoption form uploaded online. This is the first step through which we obtain basic information about you and your daily life.

Once we receive the completed form, a member of the adoption team contacts you by phone or email to start the actual conversation. This is not a formal interview, but an open dialogue, the purpose of which is to understand how you imagine life with a dog, what your options are and what you expect.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Your lifestyle:work schedule, leisure, living conditions (apartment, house with a yard), travel.
  
  
• Previous experience with animals:have you had a dog, what difficulties have you encountered.
  
  
• Your readiness for adaptation:how you would react to problematic behavior, whether you are open to training and what you mean by “well-behaved dog”.
  
  

Your walking options:how often and where you would take the dog out — in a park, urban environment, forest or interblock space.

For example:
— If you travel frequently, we will discuss how the person who stays at home will take care of the dog, whether you will leave it at a hotel or how you could include it in your trips.
— If you live in an apartment without a yard, we will talk about the need for walks and what options are suitable for different dogs.
— If you have never had a dog, we will tell you about the typical challenges of the first months after adoption and how to face them calmly.

This conversation helps us to get to know not only the practical aspects of your life, but also your attitude towards training, boundaries and building a relationship with a dog. This is the key to the correct combination of man and dog, because an active dog will not be happy in a home without movement, and a calmer or timid dog will not feel good in a very noisy and dynamic environment.

Once we have an idea of your lifestyle, we proceed to the selection of a dog to fit into it. Often people fall in love “at first sight” over a photo — and this is completely understandable. But our task is to look beyond emotion and offer a dog that you not only like visually, but will also feel good in your home and with your rhythm of life. Our goal is to build a harmonious relationship between you and the dog - a relationship in which both parties are satisfied and happy.

To make this choice as precise as possible, our adoption team conducts detailed behavioral tests. Through them we get a real idea of the temperament, needs and behavior of each dog with whom we have carried out the test.

During behavioral tests, we carefully observe how each dog behaves in different situations. We appreciate how it goes on an occasion — whether it is calm and confident or has a tendency to pull and strain. We observe how he reacts to other dogs and strangers, and whether in these situations he is more friendly and open, more timid and anxious, or needs more space and more gradual socialization.

We track how he feels in enclosed spaces and whether he manages to relax and adapt quickly, or is experiencing tension. We also check his tolerance for manipulation — whether he allows him to be touched on his paws and ears, to have his teeth examined and, if not, how he reacts and what would help him feel more secure.

We also find out how the dog rides in a car - whether it travels calmly or shows signs of anxiety. We also observe which factors calm him down, what can overexcite him and which situations startle him.

All this gives us valuable information so that we can select a dog that not only likes you, but also really suits your capabilities, lifestyle and willingness to meet its needs.

Example from practice: A family liked a dog from our site and were convinced that it was “theirs”. However, after the conversation, we found that there were two young children in their home, another dog and the environment was more noisy and dynamic. When reviewing the results of the behavioral test of their chosen dog, it became clear that he needed a calmer and predictable environment to feel safe and overcome his trauma. Yes, he would probably appreciate the presence of another dog in the home, but the noisy environment would inevitably subject him to constant stress that would only deepen his fears.

Instead, we directed the family to a dog with a more resilient and balanced character, who would accept the child's energy and the other dog with joy. Today they share a home full of harmony and their dog is happy, cared for with attention and play, without feeling overwhelmed or threatened.

3. Acquaintance and walks

After selecting the right dog, the most beautiful part of the process begins — meeting him at the shelter. We invite you to the municipal shelters on the walking days organized by the Gang of 1500 — on Saturday in the Shelter “Seslavtsi” and on Sunday in the shelter “Gorni Bogrov”, when there are members of our team in the field. These meetings are not just a formality — it is the moment when you and the dog begin to get to know each other and build the first steps towards trust and affection.

Within a minimum of three walks, you have the opportunity to see the dog in different situations - to feel his pace, his reactions and the way he feels next to you. It is equally important that the dog gets to know you so that he can associate your voice, smell and presence with something safe and calm. This is the first step towards building trust between you.

These meetings are not just “walks”. They are a time in which the dog gradually goes from caution to confidence, and you feel if this relationship is yourconnection. Many of the dogs in the shelter come with a difficult past - a past in which their trust in humans has been broken. One meeting is not enough to erase old fears. But a few consistent, calm and positive meetings can usher in a new chapter in his life - with you.

For more energetic dogs, this stage is even more important. If the dog pulls hard on a leash, these walks will give you a real idea of his pace, energy and physical activity needs. This time is valuable to assess whether you can respond to his rhythm and how you would cope with training and daily walks.

If you already have another dog, these meetings are the perfect time to get to know each other. We will be able to meet them and observe if they like each other and if they can live together without tension.
If there is a cat in your home, we can arrange a trial meeting by taking the dog together to see his reaction. So we will make sure that it can adapt to cohabitation with a cat.

Example: During the first walk, the dog may be worried or distanced - not looking for contact and looking around restlessly. On the second, he already begins to approach, sniff your hand. And on the third - he wags his tail as soon as he sees you and walks confidently next to you. In more active dogs, it is often observed how the initial pull of a leash gradually gives way to more focus and attention towards the person when he begins to be perceived as “his own”. These are small but significant steps that show that the relationship is being built and that you become his person.

And that is exactly the point of this stage — to give time and space to build trust. Make sure that every dog gets into an environment that suits them — an environment where they will feel safe, accepted and understood.

4. Final choice and documents

When, after the walks and the get-togethers, you and we are confident that this is “your” dog, we move on to the final step — adoption. It is carried out in compliance with the requirements set out in ORDINANCE No. 41 of 10.12.2008 for the objects in which pets are kept, bred and/or offered for trade, to boarding houses and shelters for animals, as well as the relevant regulations for the internal order and organization of work in the two municipal shelters.

Signing the required documents is more than a formality — it is the moment when your new common beginning begins.

However, if during this process you or we feel that the dog is not “yours”, this is not a failure. On the contrary, it is a valuable part of the road. In such cases, we will offer you another dog that better suits your needs and possibilities, because we believe that the right combination is the key to long-term harmony.

Throughout this whole process, you are not alone. Our team is here to walk with you on this path — to support you, answer your questions and help your future with your chosen dog begin calmly, confidently and with as few challenges as possible. For us, each adoptive parent becomes part of a large family. We are happy to keep in touch even after the adoption, to share your joys, to see photos and stories about how the relationship between you grows.

We are always open to advise you in any situation that you find yourself in with your dog, be it a matter of behavior, adaptation or care. It is important to us that every adoption is successful and long-lasting, because behind every dog there is a story — often marked by abandonment, insecurity or lack of trust. When a dog gets into a new home, it doesn't just change the place where it lives. He believes that this time he will not be disappointed again.

A stable relationship between a person and a dog is much more than a “good adoption”. It is a new beginning for both sides. That is why we hold on to this process, because we know that when we give time and support, the dog does not just find a home, it finds its person, but the person discovers in him a friendship that radically changes his life.

Why is the procedure so extensive?

This procedure is not designed to hinder you, but rather to protect both you and the dog that will become part of your life. Every adoption is a new beginning — not only for you, but for a living being who has already experienced abandonment, loss, or difficult times.

Often people come with a good desire and great love, but sometimes emotion prevails over reason. This is when mistakes happen that are not for the benefit of anyone—neither humans nor dogs.

History of the practice: Some time ago, even when there was no such procedure, the following happened: a family came, liked a dog and took it right away. No questions about their lifestyle. No information about the character of the dog. They just picked him out of the cage.

There were three children in the home, a cat and a parrot. At first everything seemed fine, but after a while the dog ate the parrot and bit one of the children. He was sent back to the shelter, quite confused by the rejection he experienced.

In this situation, the dog was not “to blame”. It was simply reacting to the environment in which it had found itself — noisy, full of new stimuli and animals, too uncertain and variable for it. The responsibility lay with the adults — none of them had made a conscious and responsible decision.

It is such stories over the years that have shown us how important it is to have a thoughtful and thoughtful system that builds sustainable relationships and protects both parties from disappointment and pain.

What do you gain from this process?

• Time to get to know— you will have the opportunity to observe the dog in different situations before making a final decision.
  
  
• Support and security— the adoption team is by your side all the way and thinks about your future together.
  
  
• Knowledge and preparation— you will learn how to help the dog adapt, how to read its signals and how to build trust.
  
  
• Sustainable start— a relationship built on calmness, awareness and trust that will last for years.
  

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With what attitude should you approach adoption?

Adoption requires openness and a willingness to look beyond your own emotions to start seeing those of the dog. Very often people come with a specific idea or a strong emotional desire, but the key to a successful adoption is to trust the process and allow the dog to “tell” what is right for him through his behavior.

A dog is not a gift and it is not an object that you simply put in your home. It is a living being with its history, fears and joys, which depends on your awareness and willingness to understand it. That's why we don't give dogs as a gift. There are hundreds of examples of how such decisions lead to suffering.

We're here to guide you through this journey - to show you how to look at things through a dog's eyes, how to prepare for life together, and how to build a relationship that starts not with a momentary urge, but with patience, respect and trust.

Because adoption is not just an act of kindness — it is the beginning of friendship, trust and mutual care. Giving time and attention from the very beginning is the most valuable gift you can give - both to yourself and to a dog who deserves his second chance and strongly believes that this time will not be abandoned.