Frequently Asked Questions

What is my responsibility when I adopt a dog from All Aboard Animal Rescue?

It is important that you have thought through what it means to be responsible for a new dog. All dogs have unique personalities, training issues, unexpected behaviors that need addressing. Dogs that have had a rough start in life, as most rescue dogs have, can have a harder time overcoming behavioral issues.

It is extremely rare that with the proper training for a dog and for their human family, a rescue dog can’t overcome any issues they have due to their rough start in life. When you adopt a dog from All Aboard Animal Rescue, you are agreeing to participate in the training required to make your dog a happy part of your happy family.

Some rescue dogs do great in their new homes and don’t need much work other than basic socialization, crate training, and house training. Others can require more time and effort on your part. It is impossible to predict where on this spectrum your new dog will fall.

In the very rare case that a dog cannot overcome serious issues with time, training and patience, and those issues significantly impact the wellbeing of your family, we will do everything we can to help rehome the dog. We’ll post a courtesy listing on our website to start. In some cases, if a foster home is available, we can place a dog in foster care.

If you are unwilling to provide the necessary training for your dog to overcome its behavioral issues, you should not adopt a dog.

Please read your adoption agreement. When you adopt a dog you are agreeing to take ownership of the dog which includes keeping it healthy, happy, safe, and providing the training it needs to become a happy part of your happy family.

How often is your website updated?

Adoptions that happen over the weekend are updated on our website by the end of day Monday at the very latest.

We add new adoptable dogs to our website every day throughout the week. If you want to make sure to see the latest arrivals be sure to follow us on Facebook. We post new dogs on Facebook throughout the week.

Occasionally transportation of a rescued dog is delayed for reasons outside of our control. So you might see a dog listed that may not arrive for a few weeks. We do our best to update facebook posts as we learn new information about availability of dogs that are coming to us from other shelters.

Is All Aboard Animal Rescue a Nonprofit Organization?

Yes. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation registered with the State of Colorado and the IRS.

Where do you rescue your dogs from?

All of our dogs and puppies are rescued from high-kill shelters in TX, NM and Eastern CO. Most of our dogs are on euthanasia lists when rescue them. Yes, even the puppies.

Why are there so many dogs in need of homes?

Unfortunately, in many places people do not spay and neuter their pets or care for them well. In these areas, there are thousands of dogs roaming the streets that were abandoned, born feral, or got lost and were never reunited with their families. People also get dogs as cute little puppies and then decide that they are too much work or no longer want them when they become big or naughty teenage dogs.

According to the ASPCA there are 3.3 million dogs in U.S. Shelters, and each year 670,000 of those dogs are euthanized. Only 1.6 million shelter dogs are adopted each year. And, while the number of animals euthanized in the United states has dropped from 2.6 million to 1.5 million in the past 17 years, there is clearly still a tremendous unaddressed need.

Where do your dogs stay until they are adopted?

Our dogs stay in loving foster homes between our adoption events.

Volunteer foster homes help dogs who have been abandoned, abused or unsocialized, learn to be part of a family. It gives them a chance to feel safe and learn basic behavioral skills. The dog fostering program also gives us a chance to learn about our dogs. Some stay in homes with cats, other dogs, and young children so we know how they respond to those environments and can share that information with adoptive families.

We don’t want any dog to stay in a shelter kennel, scared and alone. We hope you’ll consider being a foster family. When you foster a dog, you’re helping to save that dog’s life and making room for us to rescue a second dog. So you’re really saving two lives!

What breed is my rescue dog?

Because our dogs come from high-kill shelters, determining breed is often a matter of guesswork. We work with our shelter partners and veterinary partners to identify a likely breed mix for each dog. We occasionally receive the mother with the puppies, but in most cases both parents are unknown.

We are limited by the law with regard to how much guesswork we can do. When dogs come to us with a breed listed on their health records, that’s the breed we are required to use when we list the dog for adoption. The State of Colorado requires it.

Virtually all of our dogs are mixed breeds, and we cannot guarantee the actual breeds of any of these dogs. Since the full breeding of the dogs is unknown we can also only give you an educated guess on the full-grown size of a dog you are considering adopting.

We think that the love and gratitude of a rescued dog is much more important than their pedigree. That’s why we don’t discriminate based on breed.

What happens if things don’t work out?

Please be certain that you understand what is involved with adopting a new pet. And be prepared to put the time into training and socializing your new dog. The reward you get will certainly be more than the effort you’ll have to invest.

After every effort has been made on the part of an adoptive family to successfully integrate a dog into their family, and serious behavioral issues remain, we will take dogs back. However, before we can take a dog back from its owners, we will have to find a foster home for them. If no foster home is available you will be required to keep the dog until a new adoptive home or foster home can be found. We will do everything we can to help rehome the dog. Adoption fees (*subject to change) are nonrefundable.

We ask that you give your newly adopted dog time to settle in and get adjusted. Many issues that may arise are due to stress, adjustments, or lack of training.

You can find resources to help you with training issues on our resources page. We also work with a great trainer who we are happy to get you in touch with, and we are always happy to answer questions and provide support.

What do we receive with our adopted dog?

All adoptions include up to date vaccines, 30 days free of pet insurance, a free vet exam and discounts through our partner vet.

Why does my dog have to be spayed or neutered within 90 days of adoption?

Colorado law requires that all dog rescue organizations get a written commitment from adoptive families that their new dog will be spayed or neutered within 90 days. The law requires the payment of a deposit which will be forfeited if the adopted animal is not spayed or neutered within 90 days.

Can I reserve, or put a hold on a dog I see online?

Yes, in order to meet a particular dog at our rescue, a hold is recommended to be placed on the dog. This hold will go towards the adoption fee of whichever dog you choose to adopt– whether that be the original dog you place on a hold or a different dog if it was not the right fit! If you decide not to place a deposit, we cannot guarantee that dog/pup will be available if others are interested

Why was my application to adopt denied?

There are just a few reasons that an application typically is denied.

1. If you have dogs in your home that aren’t spayed or neutered or up to date on their vaccinations your application will be denied.
2. If you have cats or other mammals in your home that aren’t up to date on their rabies vaccinations your application may be denied.
3. If your landlord tells us that dogs are not allowed or that the dog you are planning to adopt is not allowed due to size or breed restrictions, your application may be denied. In cases of size or breed restrictions, you will be approved for a dog that meets those requirements.
4. If your lifestyle or living situation is not suitable for the dog you want to adopt, we will work with you to find exactly the right dog for you. We want you to adopt a dog and give it a loving forever home.

Who runs the rescue?

We have an army of volunteers that make what we do possible. Without them we wouldn't exist. They include our foster families, some of whom have been fostering All Aboard rescue dogs for years. Then there are our volunteers that help set up, run and clean up after every adoption event. Finally, the staff at our partner Animal Hospital of Colorado give us the gift of their support, time, and expertise without hesitation.

In addition to our volunteers, the rescue has a team of three paid staff who manage day-to-day operations, run the foster and volunteer program, coordinate community events, work with partners to transport dogs to Colorado and then to Fort Collins, manage the adoption process, make sure we’re in compliance with all State of Colorado and Federal laws, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Why does it take so long for someone to answer my questions?

We do our best to respond to emails and phone calls the day we receive them. Because our organization is run on a very tight budget, all of our staff is involved with the operational duties required to run the rescue. They are committed to providing excellent service. Sometimes though, the needs of the dogs just have to come first.

If you are trying to reach us on social media and aren’t receiving a response, please call or email. We’ll likely get those messages more quickly than via Facebook.

We appreciate your patience.