Find your companion. Change a life.

Adoption is more than bringing home a dog; it’s making space for the next rescue. When you adopt from Mutt Scouts, you’re not just choosing a companion, you’re supporting our mission of taking in dogs that others left behind.

Many of our rescues arrive with medical needs or trauma histories. We invest deeply in their care and rehabilitation so that when they reach you, they’re ready for a fresh start. Adopting doesn’t just change one life, it helps us say “yes” to the next dog who urgently needs us.

When you adopt, you make rescue possible

A happy dog with one eye slightly closed, standing on sandy ground with a blue sky and some clouds in the background.

Why adopt from Mutt Scouts?

When you adopt a Mutt Scouts mutt, you become part of a compassionate and supportive community that truly cares about setting dogs and adopters up for success.

Before becoming available for adoption, our mutts are spayed/neutered (if age-appropriate*), vaccinated, microchipped, thoroughly evaluated by trusted veterinarians, and given any additional medical care they may need. They are then placed in experienced foster homes where they can decompress, socialize, and begin to heal.

Foster care allows us to better understand each dog’s personality, behavior, and needs so we can make thoughtful matches and provide transparency to adopters. Our fosters are happy to answer questions and share insights both before and after adoption.

*Unaltered puppies require an additional deposit and must be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age at the adopter’s expense.

Group of five people, four women and one man, standing outside near a brick wall, holding a sign that reads Happy Gotcha Day Violet. One woman is holding a brown dog with a purple collar. All are smiling and dressed casually.

Our adoption process

Our adoption process is designed to ensure the right fit for both our dogs and their future families.

Each step plays an important role in setting everyone up for long-term success. Many of our dogs come to us with medical needs or complex histories, and thoughtful placement matters.

What to expect

The first step in our adoption process, before we are able to arrange a meet and greet, is to complete an adoption application. Please submit your answers thoughtfully. The more we know about you, the better we are able to match you with one of our mutts. We often receive multiple applications for each dog, so please allow at least 48 hours before following up with our team. We are a very small team of volunteers and we put a lot of care into deciding if an adopter is right for one of our mutts. The match needs to be right for both human and dog.
If you aren’t sure which mutt is the right fit, we’re happy to help match you with a dog based on your lifestyle, experience, and what you’re looking for in a companion.
Once an application is reviewed and approved, a home check (usually conducted via video call) is required. A Mutt Scouts coordinator will need to see a walkthrough of any spaces where a pet will reside or have access to on a regular basis, including inside and outside of the home.
After a home check is complete, your Mutt Scouts coordinator will help arrange a meet and greet with the adoptable dog. Typically, potential adopters travel to a location decided by the dog’s foster. Location is at the discretion of the foster.
The final steps in our adoption process are the completion of the adoption contract, submission of the adoption fee, and a spay/neuter addendum and deposit (if applicable). An adoption will not be finalized until all of the steps above have been executed and approved by a Mutt Scouts coordinator. The paperwork regarding your new mutt’s medical history will be presented to you at this stage.
The adoption fee in Southern California is $450 for adult dogs and $500 for dogs under one year of age. Due to the cost of transportation, the adoption fee on the East Coast for adult dogs is $550 and $600 for puppies. Adoption fees may vary in special circumstances such as age, medical care provided, and/or breed and are determined on a case-by-case basis. The adoption fee covers the cost of vetting and caring for our mutts in preparation for entering their adoptive homes. In some instances, our adoption fees may be higher due to varying levels of care needed or other unexpected circumstances.
For unaltered puppies, there is an additional $50 spay/neuter deposit. The deposit for unaltered puppies will be returned to adopters after proof of spay/neuter has been submitted to our team. A spay/neuter addendum to the adoption contract is required with all unaltered puppy adoptions. For the adoption of puppies under six months of age, the adopter is responsible for the cost of altering their puppy when they reach six months of age.
Upon adoption, all of our mutts are up-to-date on their shots and vaccinations, microchipped, and spayed/neutered if of age. Adopters will be presented with the paperwork regarding their new mutt’s medical history along with the final adoption contract.
Our mutts are vetted by our trusted veterinarians, and all medical conditions known to us will be discussed with potential adopters prior to the presentation of the adoption contract.