ILLINOIS COCKER RESCUE
Rescuing, Rehabilitating, and Rehoming
Cocker Spaniels, Cockapoos, Poodles and other Toy Breeds

Adoption Guidelines

Questions about specific dogs will be answered
after an adoption application is submitted.

Please carefully read the following Adoption Guidelines prior to filling out an adoption application.  Note that for an ideal home, we may relax certain of the conditions noted below.

1.  We permit out-of-state adoptions ONLY if all resident family (and canine) members come to personally meet the dog and there is mutual chemistry between the dog and the applicant.  All adoptions occur on the premises.

2.  We do NOT adopt to families with children under the age of ten (10) years old.

3.  Our rescued dogs were restored to health by being fed a natural diet known as The Raw Diet or BARF (Bones And Raw Food). This diet keeps dogs healthy, gives them energy and vitality, creates a lustrous coat, keeps teeth clean, and prevents skin, ear and many other health ailments.  This food can be made at home by the adopter or purchased frozen at many convenient locations.  

4.   We ask that our adopters become informed about the contents of commercial pet foods (see Commercial Pet Foods) and the dangers caused by over-vaccination (see Vaccinations).  

5.  Many of our rescues are young dogs who have not learned to hold their urine for long periods of time. Accordingly, if the dog will be left alone at home for greater than five (5) hours during the work day, we ask that prospective adopters plan to hire a dog walker, come home at lunchtime to walk their dog, ask a neighbor to undertake this task, or bring the dog to doggie daycare.

6.  We stress that these are rescued dogs and that there may be some emotional scarring. This is especially true with those who have been rescued from commercial breeding facilities.  Accordingly, we seek homes of experienced dog owners who know how to work with their new companion to overcome many of these issues.

7.  Unless an apartment dweller, we prefer adopters who have fenced backyards or require that the dogs are leashed-walked at all times.

8.    When filling out an Adoption Application, it is very important to include a vet and groomer reference.  After submitting the application, please highlight, copy and paste a copy of the summary page (which comes up after submitted the application) onto a separate email to us.  If your application is received, you will receive an email response within 24 hours.<

9.  Illinois Cocker Rescue reserves the right to make periodic home visits.

Adoption Application    E-mail us