We Want You To Have A Successful Adoption With Us
Our primary purpose is to ensure you have a good experience with the adoption process through Ellijay Paws In Need and the Gilmer County Animal Shelter. We want to assure you have the needed information to integrate a dog into your home appropriately so he or she becomes a happy, healthy member of your family. To accomplish this, we follow a very specific process of adoption.
Once you decide on a dog you would like to meet, please send us an “adoption inquiry”, which can be found on each dog’s profile and we will send you the adoption application in return.
Once we deem you and the dog to be a good fit, we will schedule a meet & greet for you, the potential dog, and other members of your family.
In the meantime, please thoroughly read the resources listed below.
Someone from our adoption team will contact you to discuss the appropriate decompression/integration methods to ensure a happy and calm home.
Our experience is that when new adopters follow the recommended process they have a very successful adoption.
Our Adoption Team
Pat
Susan
Stephanie
Rick
Ashley’s Story
Welcoming Jax Into Our Home with Marv and Scarlett
We adopted 1 & 1/2-year-old Jax from the Gilmer County Animal Shelter on Dec. 11, 2021. We found information online & on dog rescue sites explaining the importance of properly acclimating a new dog, especially a dog who is coming directly from the shelter, into a home & how to introduce him to an existing pack. Because of Marv’s past aggression, we had to add a layer of caution. We knew it would be a slow process that would require a lot of patience & a total home life adjustment while we tried to make it work.
We followed the recommendations by keeping Jax away from the other Marv & Scarlett at all times in the house. Several times a day, they had leashed walks with distance. We would alternate Jax walking in front of Marv & Scarlet so they could smell him and then switching so he could smell them. Eventually, we graduated to Jax crated, but in the same room with the other 2. Scarlet accepted Jax quickly so we started allowing them time together with Marv in another room.
After a couple of weeks, Marv wasn’t interested in Jax during the walks & they began sniffing the same areas of grass together, nose to nose, for the 1st time. It wasn’t until day 12 that we came inside after a walk, removed the leashes & had them lay next to each other for treats. Even after that, they continued to eat & sleep separately for several more weeks. It’s now been almost 8 months & we have just started leaving them “out” in the house together when we leave for an hour or less. Anything longer, Jax is still crated and Marv & Scarlet are in a separate room.
Is the proper integration process somewhat difficult? Yes. Time-consuming? Yes. Frustrating? At times. But is it all worth it to save a dog, give him a chance at a new life & give any dog brothers & sisters time to accept him, so he’s finally & forever home?
A thousand times, yes!
Resources for Adopters
The 3-3-3 rule is CRUCIAL to follow when you bring a new dog into your home. We will talk with you about this and help you think through how to provide a safe, quiet space for your new family member to decompress, get their bearing, and begin to re-connect with their curiosity before meeting and getting to know their new family. This takes time, and slow is ALWAYS better. Please read the 3-3-3 rule from Rescue Dogs 101 closely.
Click on Archie to read an important document from Lifeline Animal.org on Bringing a new dog home.
Thinking about adding a second (or even third) dog to your pack? Click on our threesome here and learn more about slow and steady integration. We humans always want to go too fast. In this Rescue Dogs 101 article, you learn how and why to SLOW DOWN! You want years of love and fun ahead of you, so start off correctly. And, if you haven’t read Ashley’s story at the top of the page, please do. Slow and steady is always the way to success.
Interested in Adopting One Of Our Dogs?
Click on Margie and she will take you to meet all of her friends.
1. My life is likely to last ten to fifteen years. Any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you acquire me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want from me.
3. Place your trust in me. Remember that before you acquire me.
4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, and your entertainment. I only have you.
5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don’t understand your words, I understand your voice when it is speaking to me. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget.
6. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that can easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
7. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I don’t understand what you ask of me or perhaps I am not feeling well, not getting the right food, been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak.
8. Take care of me when I get old, you too will grow old.
9. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say ” I can’t bear to watch,” or “let it happen in my absence.” Everything is easier if you are there.
10. Remember, no matter what, that I love you. Unconditionally.
The ten commandments was written by ©Stan Rawlinson (The Original Doglistener).