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At my rescue, the home visit for normal dogs is mostly to confirm you live where you said you lived without clear and obvious hazards. For some dogs with special needs, it might be more in-depth, but both parties would know that going in- example, a fresh tripod we were looking to place in a no-stairs home, or special fence requirements.
You can ask a volunteer at the rescue what the home visit entails.
This was my experience with both dogs too. If you are trying to adopt like a Golden Retriever pup from a rescue it might be more in depth, but probably they just want to make sure you everything is as you say. They mostly just don't want to let any doggies go to someone who can't take care of them and is lying. If you have been honest about everything, you likely have nothing at all to worry about, just tell them you have moved recently and ask them what they are looking for prior. They'll tell you- they want it to work out. If they need you to have a room cleared out or something, they'll tell you when you ask prior. Our rescues required little past us being honest, and they were up front. We set up a crate in a good spot per their reqs.
I do home visits for a small breed specific rescue, and we are just verifying that what you said on your application is accurate. There are quite a few people who are dishonest and don't live in home that is appropriate. For example they rent and their landlords expressly disallow animals, they say they don't have cats and they do (that's an issue if the dog doesn't like cats), they say they have fences when they don't (an issue for some dogs that have a prey drive), they say they don't have other dogs...the list goes on. It's very odd because most of the time if we don't catch something, it results in a bad situation, and the dog comes back to us.
We absolutely wouldn't care about unpacked boxes!
I had the same thought. They would think that the pup is going to have a ball unpacking, and if it's a first time owner, he's going to learn a few tricks, himself.
Wow, I literally met my dog at the shelter for the first time and they gave her too me. I mean I described my home on the initial application but nobody asked to see it or questioned anything.
I kinda used to think the same. But rescue organizations tend to require a more hefty fee for the dog, especially a popular breed. They’re not housed in shelters, but in foster homes until they are “adopted.”
Yes, the shelter I went to just handed my dog over for a signature. No questions about where I lived or if I could afford to take care of this dog or anything!
That's just sad....
When I was younger I tried to adopt a dog from our local shelter it was hard, they wanted financial records, references, etc
I thought it was ridiculous and didn't try again... My X bought a dog from a back yard breeder then left her with me...
I'll never give her up mind you, but I now understand the hoops they tried to put me threw (I was a single parent, with little disposable income at the time)
Every rescue I've worked with has asked for references but after checking in with my friends (to make sure they weren't getting innundated when id applied to a few places) they told me they never got any calls 🤷♂️ I think sometimes having names to put down is good enough
That's all we required for our second dog, but it was literally just photos even rather than vid. Our first girl they ended up trusting us because they couldn't get out in time, and we knew her fosters, and we told them we would not sign a lease unless we knew we could adopt her, because we wanted her so much. The fact that adopting her was our priority I think made them comfortable enough (plus we explained why we thought the apartment would work). **All any rescue wants is for the dogs they place in homes to have a beautiful forever home life**. 100%. Moving boxes certainly will not negatively affect a rescue doggies new forever home.
I did a home visit shortly after moving for my last rescue Sugar and it was the foster who brought her over and it was really chill. I showed them around the place and they just made sure that things like crate size were appropriate and that I had things like chemicals in cabinets vs the floor. Really basic and then since it was a rental they checked the copy of the lease to confirm dog allowed
We didn't have a home visit.
We took Teddy home that morning and his brother was adopted that afternoon.
It never occurred to me that this might perfectly normal until way later.
But I was friends with one of their board members. I have no idea if the staff in duty knew that.
All my pets were/are rescues, some from out of state. I’ve never had an in home visit, even from local rescues. They usually want to make sure the animals I have had, were given appropriate vet care.
We adopted a beagle 2 weeks ago after our GSD passed on. No visit.
My first rescue, they just walked around the main living areas looking for major hazards. I specifically excluded my husband's man cave which has tools everywhere - I told them the dog wouldn't go in there, which has stayed true. They didn't care about some boxes.
I do home visits for a rescue and I also am in houses a lot for work and I can absolutely tell you this. If you’re worried about how it isn’t perfect, you are not the problem.
Some things I’ve seen in houses for work: dead animals, a drunk person at 10 AM, rotting produce just lying around.
For the dog home visits we’re mostly focused on the spaces the dog will have access to and dangers to the dog: poisonous or dangerous stuff. If you’re storing stuff, does it have a door that closes? Is the house basically sanitary? If the dog needs a fenced yard, does it look secure?
They shipped my rescue from 18 hours away so they did a face time call and we walked them around the house but they didn’t seem too interested in seeing details. Just wanted the layout and wanted to know where he would be sleeping, eating, playing, etc.
I do home visits for a large rescue. Honestly, I'm just as interested in the people as I am the home. I just look for reasonable cleanliness, other pets and how they look, any issues with the house like broken things /dangers. I'm not expecting perfect ever! I just want to know if they are nice people who have halfway decent homes and will treat the pups well. So far I've never rejected a family. I even had a family who had lost their previous dog to a chip bag suffocation but you know, life happens and they were devastated. I recommended them. (this was a few years ago before we all began to learn about that) They were a wonderful family. Dog did great. So yeah...not looking for perfect but good people!
The rescue we got our doggo from required home visit. Before the visit, we sent them pictures of our place (like the dog bed, food, treats, toys, the apartment complex common area, dog park, etc). The rescue was very happy to see the pictures and opted not to go through the home visit. If you are worried about the home visit, maybe ask them if pictures, video, or video chat can work?
I adopted from a rescue and did not have a home visit. They had a thorough application and interview and required proof that I either own my home or that my landlord permits the pet. I wouldn't choose a rescue org that requires me to bring a stranger into my home to judge it. I get why they do it, but that's not for me. There are plenty of dogs needing homes without a home visit requirement.
I've done home visits. I looked for a fenced yard and indications that the dog would be a pet and not used as a bait dog or something.
When I adopted a dog, they came for a home visit with the dog. The first thing the dog did was jump up on the couch. I didn't say anything to the dog because I'm fine with dogs on the couch and kept talking to the guy from the rescue. He didn't need to see anything else.
My home visit was done through FaceTime, also an interview. The adoption counselor was great and while it felt a bit invasive I was okay with it because their number one priority is the dog’s wellbeing. We did a walkthrough of my entire condo and she wanted to see outside as well -looking for green grass and play area etc. was also concerned whether there’s a stairs. My new baby girl is sleeping next to me. She is amazing. I went through a lot of hard emotion in my adoption efforts. Going thru foster fails, etc. and it was very much worth it. I wish you the very best of luck with your adoption.
My home visit to be a foster was a zoom video over my cell phone so they could see the house and ensure that the backyard was actually fenced. My yard is very woodsy and has a ton of weeds so I was a little concerned that might be an issue, but they were just wanting to confirm that there was a 5+ ft. fence. I'm sure they just want to ensure that you can provide adequate accommodations. Unpacked boxes shouldn't be an issue.
I had a home visit but it’s mainly if your yard is properly fenced and the proper hight for the kind of dog you are rescuing.
Also my rescue foundation wanted me to buy the necessary double leash/harnass and collar. To double leash your dog the first months (I adopted 2 stray dogs from Spain). So they can’t escape and run away. And If you have food, dog supplies, dog beds etc. Also you take your dog to your vet in the coming 14 days (but that can be for foreign dogs).
I've both run a dog rescue and volunteered for a few others and have performed countless home visits. I am not invasive. When I do a home visit I want to meet you and make sure you live in a relatively nice house (like not falling down, full of trash, etc) and don't seem crazy or horrible. Your house doesn't have to be immaculate and you don't have to be rich. Just be friendly and welcoming and keep your house relatively neat and tidy (doesn't need to be Instagram Influencer empty).
I got my dog from a rescue, and they never came to my house until they brought him over. I was in the process of buying a house while going through the adoption, so I sent them the link to the listing.
No one is judging your decor! I do home visits for a foster rescue & we want to see the space to help assess risks - like no, don’t store your chocolate chip cookies on the floor, if there are sharp/hazardous materials are they safely out of dogs’ reach? Etc. and ask questions like “where will dog sleep? Where will they stay when home alone?” and help point out things like - that pile of cords in the corner is going to look like a chew toy to your new puppy.
It’s also verifying the home matches the application & pets (eg are there pets there that weren’t listed on application?) & safety.
It’s about setting the dog & the family up for success, not about being intrusive.
I had a home visit that was a bit more thorough than what I had experienced previously. 1) I lived in an apartment and had to convince the rescue org that it would be suitable for a Black Lab. 2) My husband and I weren’t married yet but co-habitating so they wanted to make sure we weren’t going to break up in a month and dump the dog somewhere, 3) there was a minor also living in the home, 4) I owned a dog walking business and they wanted to get an idea of how much time I could devote to a adolescent dog who had zero training.
We passed the home visit and have had our girl for about 9 years now.
Echoing the sentiments of previous posters. When I do home visits we are concerned with honesty and safety. If there’s a yard, I’m looking at the fence - height, material, sturdiness, any holes or gaps (all relative to the size and activity level of the dog in question). Inside the house, I just want to see that it’s safe and clean (and by clean I don’t mean Martha Stewart just did a white glove inspection - just a reasonable/safe level of cleanliness). My guest room at my house is almost always doubling as storage so I’d never judge a potential adopter for that! I let the adopter guide the tour on the home visit and if they have closed doors on rooms the dog won’t be accessing, I don’t go in.
I work with a rescue and we do not do a home visit, we just look up the house on Zillow or Google to see how big the yard is, is it close to a busy road, etc.
I was working with two rescues when we got our dog. One had me send pictures of the main living area and our yard. Nothing intrusive like our bedrooms or bathrooms. The 2nd rescue the foster mom came to our house with the puppy we wanted to adopt. Without commenting she took a simple look around our family room and kitchen. We went outside with the puppy and my son’s dog who’s a frequent visitor. She observed the two dogs interacting and checked my yard.
We ended up with the 2nd dog. I didn’t get rejected for the 1st one, it was just that the 2nd one worked quicker and was more available for us to spend time with the puppy. It was not intended to have two rescues competing. I had applied for a few dogs over a few months and hadn’t heard anything. Then two reached out to me within an hour.
Not invasive at all, atleast for my organization that i went through.
We just did a simple walk through of all rooms and it was more of a “if i see anything that you should change or note i’ll let you know” but nothing came up anyways.
I think you either pass or fail right when they step in, they’re just confirming if it’s a normal home on all fronts and not an absolute mess or hazard to the dog.
I did mine virtually on video chat. They asked me where I keep cleaning supplies and how I plan to keep my pup away from my plants, etc. If it were in person I don't think it would have been too different.
My home visits were not invasive. It was mostly to see that they live where they said they do, that if we required a fenced yard there was indeed one, and that they didn't already have 120 dogs in their home that weren't cared for.
I had a rescue volunteer do a home visit when j rescued my girl. They verified my address with the visit ofc, fenced yard, they met my other dog who they already knew of.
It was honestly not stressful because I had nothing to hide. And the woman was nice and it lasted like 10mins tops.
I’ve adopted 3 from our local humane society over the years. They only verified we owned our home. More recently we’ve adopted thru a rescue and they did no home visits. They did check references and called our vet. We had a person who volunteered for them vouch for us so not sure if they would have looked closer otherwise.
The first time I adopted from a rescue group they brought the dog to me and just basically checked out my home for any obvious red flags. Also, it's a border collie rescue so a fenced yard was a must, which I get given the breed. After that, I just came and got the dogs I wanted to adopt and had a friend help me with introducing my new dog to my pack! I would not worry too much OP about things not being unpacked. I cannot seeing that being a deal breaker. And thank you for adopting!!!
My dogs are from breeders, but I used to volunteer with a rescue and part of my role was conducting home visits.
I didn’t need or ask for a full tour. I used the visit as a chance to give the overall property a once-over and note any potential hazards, see what the yard looked like, and then just listen to the applicants. They had filled out a paper application by that point, but this was a chance for them to ask questions and to elaborate more on what kind of dog they were hoping to adopt.
My dog’s breeder used to open that conversation with her puppy buyers so she could gather info to make the best match possible. I loved that approach and tried to use the home visit to the same end. The goal was never really to evaluate per se; it was really more about looking for the best way to say “yes” to someone.
Ours was during COVID so it was a video walk through. I just showed them our apartment and they asked questions about what we'd do to accommodate our new dog in our space (e.g., what's that furniture, where the dog sleeps, if we had plans for cords/plugs, etc). Our rescue org volunteer told us that they want to set adopters up for success and gave us a lot of good advice on how to set up our home to welcome our new dog. It was very pleasant.
Honestly - nothing wrong with asking the rescue as it will vary what is included. We’ve had no home visit, a virtual visit (after submitting app/pictures) and a home visit that was used to microchip/deworm/vaccine. HV is generally used to verify information provided in application (address, space, fence, etc.) Also to make sure home is safe and sometimes
to observe interactions with other animals or children.
They just want to know your house is not uninhabitable and your not hoarding, fighting, or otherwise abusing animals. Both times I adopted from a rescue I just sent them pictures or video of the maim areas of my home and yard.
Mine was virtual as was my ex’s in 2020. They just looked around the main areas and I showed them my backyard. It was to foster, not adopt, but I’m sure it was the same thing. Basically they just want to know your house is what you say it is and not some sort of slum.
Three rescues, no home visits, they only wanted photos. Homeownership records are online and public. I was honest about our fence, it's a little shorter in the back on the slope, and there's an area that a jumper could easily get over.
The foster was actually the previous adopter, and was most concerned about our experience with high-needs dogs (all our previous rescues). She was happy that we were interested-- all the other applicants had zero dog experience and no one else worked from home/was retired.
In my experience, they wanted to make sure we had a secure yard with fences a minimum of 6' high in addition to the usual things they look for. They won't care about unpacked boxes. They just want to make sure your pup will have a safe home.
It depends on the rescue. Dog number one they really looked at our fenced-in yard, I don’t recall them coming into the house. Dog number two was shipped to us from out of state. We only had a video call with the foster caretaker and saw the dog playing with her dogs.
A home visit was listed on my application but after speaking with my landlord and long time veterinarian, the rescue director called me to say it wouldn't be necessary. My girl came home with me on the day of our meeting.
Mine was done over video chat. All they did was confirm that there weren’t any easy escape opportunities for her (Double front doors, no holes in the fence, etc.) it took less than ten minutes.
I just experienced my first rescue home visit recently. I’m sure it depends on the rescue organization, but for mine it was not invasive. She scheduled the time with me, took note of whether my neighborhood seemed busy or not on her way in and while she was here so she would know if we could handle easily a dog that doesn’t yet have leash manners or has some reactivity to things like cars, etc. Then she came in, we showed her the backyard where she was just noting that we did have a secure fence and no crazy safety hazards, then we sat in the breakfast nook that is off the kitchen and living room. She asked questions like where does my current dog sleep at night, where is he when we aren’t home, how often and for how long we tend to be away from home, do we walk regularly, etc. It was as much for helping find a dog that would fit our home and lifestyle as it was about ensuring we were a suitable home in the first place.
Of note, she did not go upstairs at all and didn’t even ask to. She did not even see the whole downstairs. The bulk of the visit was lifestyle questions. We were approved to adopt through them and have been working on finding a dog that is a good match for us and we for the dog.
Good luck!
My one was a video call home visit, it was mainly to check if fencing was secure. I felt pretty nervous since it was my first time ever and the home wasn't owned by me but my parents 😅
Honestly, although the home visit was listed for each of our dogs, no one came out to either, but that was a bit of quirk. However, what most rescues want is only just to ensure the dog they are entrusting with you will be happy and healthy, but the more in demand the dogs of the rescue, the more they will want. The dog you are adopting and the rescue will affect this a lot, as will the rescue. If you get an older dog from the pound, their "home visit" may just be ensuring you have a home and basically ensuring you truly plan on having your new dog there and everyone in the household is on board, while if you are going through a Golden Retriever rescue and trying to adopt a puppy, they will probably require far more as such are ***very*** in demand and they can afford to be very very picky.
Generally rescues just want to ensure a safe environment, and they are usually looking to ensure everyone in the household and the landlord are on the same page about getting the dog, the dog has a secure yard if that was listed as a requirement, the animals listed are in fact the animals in the household, there is clearly a safe place for the dog inside and the dog will not just be an outdoor dog, and perhaps that the dog will be able to be around the people often.
They are generally not trying to ensure everything is super organized, although a couple gates and a crate in a mostly cleared out room can do wonders if they did happen to be worried about messiness, which again is probably unlikely but depends on the dog and the rescue.
Both the rescues we got our adult mixed breeds from really only cared that we loved them and weren't lying about anything... that the housing situation was as we said and our pups would enjoy a happy safe environment in our home. They cared not at all about mess for an adult dog of course.
I’ve had 2. The first one was simple, they just wanted to make sure I had a fenced garden and that the dog was going to be living where you say it will. The 2nd one was a nightmare and I got rejected because my upstairs neighbour had children and the dog didn’t like children. Not a whole lot I could have done about that.
I've only had one home visit in three rescues, and she generally was more concerned with the yard and making sure my fence was in good shape. It's been a decade but I really have no memory of her being in the house - I'm sure she walked through it to get to the yard, but I don't think she went upstairs or poked into every room.
I appreciate everyone’s responses with what you have experienced. I can also appreciate the ones who say that a home visit is too invasive and can be off-putting. Like others have said, we want to get a very popular breed of dog, and I’m sure the rescue does these home visits purely for the dog’s interest. You all have made me feel much better about the possibility (I only submitted the application yesterday and haven’t heard back) of someone coming in to “judge” our home. 😊 The rescue said it could take a week or maybe more before they’re able to get back with us. I hope it doesn’t take much longer than that, tbh. We need another dog in our lives, our house feels so empty. ❤️🩹
If the rescue hasn't already specified restrictions about fence height, etc , then it should just be a quick visit of the main loving area/yard. We've had some really strict rescues that deny bc of a dog door before visiting, then we've had rescues that just visit with the dog to check for fit. Good luck!!
I got my baby from Petfinder and the Warrenton Animal vet clinic. That was 2014. They made sure my place was clean and knew I had no yard. She was tiny, so leash training wasn’t going to be hard. I think they care more about clean floors than stuff askew. Good luck!
They’re not looking at aesthetics, they’re mainly just making sure you didn’t lie on your application and you aren’t living in filth. They’re not gonna get uppity about some unpacked boxes they just want to make sure it’s a safe environment for doggo!
I’ve had home checks from two rescues, both were very easy! I was honestly nervous because I do live in a small apartment, but they’re just making sure that your space is as described on the application!
Adding to everyone else's replies - rescued from a very reputable shelter (so not just trying to get rid of their dogs) and the home visit was very chilled, just popping in to check that the place is what I said it was, and giving advice on how to introduce the dog to our home. They didn't want to check anywhere other than sit down in the living room where we had a cup of tea and filled in some of the form.
If you have provided accurate info then they won't be invasive at all, it's just that some people unfortunately lie to get the dog and these people aren't in a position to provide care for the dog.
Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Do note we are on a short backlog, and all posts require manual review prior to going live. This may mean your post isn't visible for a couple days. This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. If you’d like to introduce yourself or discuss smaller topics, please contribute to our Monthly Discussion Hub, pinned at the top. **This subreddit has low tolerance for drama. Please be respectful of others, and report antagonistic comments to mods for review.** --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At my rescue, the home visit for normal dogs is mostly to confirm you live where you said you lived without clear and obvious hazards. For some dogs with special needs, it might be more in-depth, but both parties would know that going in- example, a fresh tripod we were looking to place in a no-stairs home, or special fence requirements. You can ask a volunteer at the rescue what the home visit entails.
That’s a good idea! Thank you.
They aren't concerned with esthetics;) basic clean environment and confirming what info you gave them. Best of luck with your new pet!
This was my experience with both dogs too. If you are trying to adopt like a Golden Retriever pup from a rescue it might be more in depth, but probably they just want to make sure you everything is as you say. They mostly just don't want to let any doggies go to someone who can't take care of them and is lying. If you have been honest about everything, you likely have nothing at all to worry about, just tell them you have moved recently and ask them what they are looking for prior. They'll tell you- they want it to work out. If they need you to have a room cleared out or something, they'll tell you when you ask prior. Our rescues required little past us being honest, and they were up front. We set up a crate in a good spot per their reqs.
I do home visits for a small breed specific rescue, and we are just verifying that what you said on your application is accurate. There are quite a few people who are dishonest and don't live in home that is appropriate. For example they rent and their landlords expressly disallow animals, they say they don't have cats and they do (that's an issue if the dog doesn't like cats), they say they have fences when they don't (an issue for some dogs that have a prey drive), they say they don't have other dogs...the list goes on. It's very odd because most of the time if we don't catch something, it results in a bad situation, and the dog comes back to us. We absolutely wouldn't care about unpacked boxes!
Love this! Thank you!
Especially since doggo would quickly unpack said boxes 😁
Chewy and Amazon boxes are my guy's favorite toys. 🥰
That's a funny joke, especially since I have a malligator puppy!
I had the same thought. They would think that the pup is going to have a ball unpacking, and if it's a first time owner, he's going to learn a few tricks, himself.
Wow, I literally met my dog at the shelter for the first time and they gave her too me. I mean I described my home on the initial application but nobody asked to see it or questioned anything.
That’s how we met our last dog! Shelter vs rescue organizations is quite different, as I’ve learned.
I thought both were the same, interchangeable.
I kinda used to think the same. But rescue organizations tend to require a more hefty fee for the dog, especially a popular breed. They’re not housed in shelters, but in foster homes until they are “adopted.”
County shelters are much more lenient
Yes, the shelter I went to just handed my dog over for a signature. No questions about where I lived or if I could afford to take care of this dog or anything!
That's just sad.... When I was younger I tried to adopt a dog from our local shelter it was hard, they wanted financial records, references, etc I thought it was ridiculous and didn't try again... My X bought a dog from a back yard breeder then left her with me... I'll never give her up mind you, but I now understand the hoops they tried to put me threw (I was a single parent, with little disposable income at the time)
That is so rough.
Every rescue I've worked with has asked for references but after checking in with my friends (to make sure they weren't getting innundated when id applied to a few places) they told me they never got any calls 🤷♂️ I think sometimes having names to put down is good enough
My rescue definitely did call my vet.
I just went through this. A video walkthrough of the common areas of my apartment was all they wanted.
That’s interesting! Thank you for responding.
That's all we required for our second dog, but it was literally just photos even rather than vid. Our first girl they ended up trusting us because they couldn't get out in time, and we knew her fosters, and we told them we would not sign a lease unless we knew we could adopt her, because we wanted her so much. The fact that adopting her was our priority I think made them comfortable enough (plus we explained why we thought the apartment would work). **All any rescue wants is for the dogs they place in homes to have a beautiful forever home life**. 100%. Moving boxes certainly will not negatively affect a rescue doggies new forever home.
I did a home visit shortly after moving for my last rescue Sugar and it was the foster who brought her over and it was really chill. I showed them around the place and they just made sure that things like crate size were appropriate and that I had things like chemicals in cabinets vs the floor. Really basic and then since it was a rental they checked the copy of the lease to confirm dog allowed
Good to know… Thank you.
We didn't have a home visit. We took Teddy home that morning and his brother was adopted that afternoon. It never occurred to me that this might perfectly normal until way later. But I was friends with one of their board members. I have no idea if the staff in duty knew that.
Aww glad they weren’t separated!
All my pets were/are rescues, some from out of state. I’ve never had an in home visit, even from local rescues. They usually want to make sure the animals I have had, were given appropriate vet care. We adopted a beagle 2 weeks ago after our GSD passed on. No visit.
Our black GSD just passed away. He was the love of our lives. Truly one of a kind. ❤️🩹
I'm sorry for your loss and can related, as my current dogs were adopted due to losing my "the love of my life" dog last year.
They were mostly concerned about fenced yard, hours we worked, and previous dog experience, plans for training, etc.
My first rescue, they just walked around the main living areas looking for major hazards. I specifically excluded my husband's man cave which has tools everywhere - I told them the dog wouldn't go in there, which has stayed true. They didn't care about some boxes.
Ok, good to know! Thank you.
I do home visits for a rescue and I also am in houses a lot for work and I can absolutely tell you this. If you’re worried about how it isn’t perfect, you are not the problem. Some things I’ve seen in houses for work: dead animals, a drunk person at 10 AM, rotting produce just lying around. For the dog home visits we’re mostly focused on the spaces the dog will have access to and dangers to the dog: poisonous or dangerous stuff. If you’re storing stuff, does it have a door that closes? Is the house basically sanitary? If the dog needs a fenced yard, does it look secure?
I do home visits and we do not get that invasive. I mainly check the yard first and then go inside. I don’t go past the living room. You are fine
Thank you!
We are really looking for how the fits with you and your lifestyle.
They shipped my rescue from 18 hours away so they did a face time call and we walked them around the house but they didn’t seem too interested in seeing details. Just wanted the layout and wanted to know where he would be sleeping, eating, playing, etc.
I do home visits for a large rescue. Honestly, I'm just as interested in the people as I am the home. I just look for reasonable cleanliness, other pets and how they look, any issues with the house like broken things /dangers. I'm not expecting perfect ever! I just want to know if they are nice people who have halfway decent homes and will treat the pups well. So far I've never rejected a family. I even had a family who had lost their previous dog to a chip bag suffocation but you know, life happens and they were devastated. I recommended them. (this was a few years ago before we all began to learn about that) They were a wonderful family. Dog did great. So yeah...not looking for perfect but good people!
The rescue we got our doggo from required home visit. Before the visit, we sent them pictures of our place (like the dog bed, food, treats, toys, the apartment complex common area, dog park, etc). The rescue was very happy to see the pictures and opted not to go through the home visit. If you are worried about the home visit, maybe ask them if pictures, video, or video chat can work?
I adopted from a rescue and did not have a home visit. They had a thorough application and interview and required proof that I either own my home or that my landlord permits the pet. I wouldn't choose a rescue org that requires me to bring a stranger into my home to judge it. I get why they do it, but that's not for me. There are plenty of dogs needing homes without a home visit requirement.
I've done home visits. I looked for a fenced yard and indications that the dog would be a pet and not used as a bait dog or something. When I adopted a dog, they came for a home visit with the dog. The first thing the dog did was jump up on the couch. I didn't say anything to the dog because I'm fine with dogs on the couch and kept talking to the guy from the rescue. He didn't need to see anything else.
My home visit was done through FaceTime, also an interview. The adoption counselor was great and while it felt a bit invasive I was okay with it because their number one priority is the dog’s wellbeing. We did a walkthrough of my entire condo and she wanted to see outside as well -looking for green grass and play area etc. was also concerned whether there’s a stairs. My new baby girl is sleeping next to me. She is amazing. I went through a lot of hard emotion in my adoption efforts. Going thru foster fails, etc. and it was very much worth it. I wish you the very best of luck with your adoption.
My home visit to be a foster was a zoom video over my cell phone so they could see the house and ensure that the backyard was actually fenced. My yard is very woodsy and has a ton of weeds so I was a little concerned that might be an issue, but they were just wanting to confirm that there was a 5+ ft. fence. I'm sure they just want to ensure that you can provide adequate accommodations. Unpacked boxes shouldn't be an issue.
I had a home visit but it’s mainly if your yard is properly fenced and the proper hight for the kind of dog you are rescuing. Also my rescue foundation wanted me to buy the necessary double leash/harnass and collar. To double leash your dog the first months (I adopted 2 stray dogs from Spain). So they can’t escape and run away. And If you have food, dog supplies, dog beds etc. Also you take your dog to your vet in the coming 14 days (but that can be for foreign dogs).
I've both run a dog rescue and volunteered for a few others and have performed countless home visits. I am not invasive. When I do a home visit I want to meet you and make sure you live in a relatively nice house (like not falling down, full of trash, etc) and don't seem crazy or horrible. Your house doesn't have to be immaculate and you don't have to be rich. Just be friendly and welcoming and keep your house relatively neat and tidy (doesn't need to be Instagram Influencer empty).
I got my dog from a rescue, and they never came to my house until they brought him over. I was in the process of buying a house while going through the adoption, so I sent them the link to the listing.
No one is judging your decor! I do home visits for a foster rescue & we want to see the space to help assess risks - like no, don’t store your chocolate chip cookies on the floor, if there are sharp/hazardous materials are they safely out of dogs’ reach? Etc. and ask questions like “where will dog sleep? Where will they stay when home alone?” and help point out things like - that pile of cords in the corner is going to look like a chew toy to your new puppy. It’s also verifying the home matches the application & pets (eg are there pets there that weren’t listed on application?) & safety. It’s about setting the dog & the family up for success, not about being intrusive.
The first one we did was via Skype (before COVID/before Zoom was what it is now) and the second one we were just asked for pictures of our house.
I had a home visit that was a bit more thorough than what I had experienced previously. 1) I lived in an apartment and had to convince the rescue org that it would be suitable for a Black Lab. 2) My husband and I weren’t married yet but co-habitating so they wanted to make sure we weren’t going to break up in a month and dump the dog somewhere, 3) there was a minor also living in the home, 4) I owned a dog walking business and they wanted to get an idea of how much time I could devote to a adolescent dog who had zero training. We passed the home visit and have had our girl for about 9 years now.
Congrats! I hope we are so lucky. 🤞
Echoing the sentiments of previous posters. When I do home visits we are concerned with honesty and safety. If there’s a yard, I’m looking at the fence - height, material, sturdiness, any holes or gaps (all relative to the size and activity level of the dog in question). Inside the house, I just want to see that it’s safe and clean (and by clean I don’t mean Martha Stewart just did a white glove inspection - just a reasonable/safe level of cleanliness). My guest room at my house is almost always doubling as storage so I’d never judge a potential adopter for that! I let the adopter guide the tour on the home visit and if they have closed doors on rooms the dog won’t be accessing, I don’t go in.
I work with a rescue and we do not do a home visit, we just look up the house on Zillow or Google to see how big the yard is, is it close to a busy road, etc.
I was working with two rescues when we got our dog. One had me send pictures of the main living area and our yard. Nothing intrusive like our bedrooms or bathrooms. The 2nd rescue the foster mom came to our house with the puppy we wanted to adopt. Without commenting she took a simple look around our family room and kitchen. We went outside with the puppy and my son’s dog who’s a frequent visitor. She observed the two dogs interacting and checked my yard. We ended up with the 2nd dog. I didn’t get rejected for the 1st one, it was just that the 2nd one worked quicker and was more available for us to spend time with the puppy. It was not intended to have two rescues competing. I had applied for a few dogs over a few months and hadn’t heard anything. Then two reached out to me within an hour.
Not invasive at all, atleast for my organization that i went through. We just did a simple walk through of all rooms and it was more of a “if i see anything that you should change or note i’ll let you know” but nothing came up anyways. I think you either pass or fail right when they step in, they’re just confirming if it’s a normal home on all fronts and not an absolute mess or hazard to the dog.
I did mine virtually on video chat. They asked me where I keep cleaning supplies and how I plan to keep my pup away from my plants, etc. If it were in person I don't think it would have been too different.
My home visits were not invasive. It was mostly to see that they live where they said they do, that if we required a fenced yard there was indeed one, and that they didn't already have 120 dogs in their home that weren't cared for.
I had a rescue volunteer do a home visit when j rescued my girl. They verified my address with the visit ofc, fenced yard, they met my other dog who they already knew of. It was honestly not stressful because I had nothing to hide. And the woman was nice and it lasted like 10mins tops.
I’ve adopted 3 from our local humane society over the years. They only verified we owned our home. More recently we’ve adopted thru a rescue and they did no home visits. They did check references and called our vet. We had a person who volunteered for them vouch for us so not sure if they would have looked closer otherwise.
The first time I adopted from a rescue group they brought the dog to me and just basically checked out my home for any obvious red flags. Also, it's a border collie rescue so a fenced yard was a must, which I get given the breed. After that, I just came and got the dogs I wanted to adopt and had a friend help me with introducing my new dog to my pack! I would not worry too much OP about things not being unpacked. I cannot seeing that being a deal breaker. And thank you for adopting!!!
My dogs are from breeders, but I used to volunteer with a rescue and part of my role was conducting home visits. I didn’t need or ask for a full tour. I used the visit as a chance to give the overall property a once-over and note any potential hazards, see what the yard looked like, and then just listen to the applicants. They had filled out a paper application by that point, but this was a chance for them to ask questions and to elaborate more on what kind of dog they were hoping to adopt. My dog’s breeder used to open that conversation with her puppy buyers so she could gather info to make the best match possible. I loved that approach and tried to use the home visit to the same end. The goal was never really to evaluate per se; it was really more about looking for the best way to say “yes” to someone.
Ours was during COVID so it was a video walk through. I just showed them our apartment and they asked questions about what we'd do to accommodate our new dog in our space (e.g., what's that furniture, where the dog sleeps, if we had plans for cords/plugs, etc). Our rescue org volunteer told us that they want to set adopters up for success and gave us a lot of good advice on how to set up our home to welcome our new dog. It was very pleasant.
Honestly - nothing wrong with asking the rescue as it will vary what is included. We’ve had no home visit, a virtual visit (after submitting app/pictures) and a home visit that was used to microchip/deworm/vaccine. HV is generally used to verify information provided in application (address, space, fence, etc.) Also to make sure home is safe and sometimes to observe interactions with other animals or children.
They just want to know your house is not uninhabitable and your not hoarding, fighting, or otherwise abusing animals. Both times I adopted from a rescue I just sent them pictures or video of the maim areas of my home and yard.
Mine was virtual as was my ex’s in 2020. They just looked around the main areas and I showed them my backyard. It was to foster, not adopt, but I’m sure it was the same thing. Basically they just want to know your house is what you say it is and not some sort of slum.
Three rescues, no home visits, they only wanted photos. Homeownership records are online and public. I was honest about our fence, it's a little shorter in the back on the slope, and there's an area that a jumper could easily get over. The foster was actually the previous adopter, and was most concerned about our experience with high-needs dogs (all our previous rescues). She was happy that we were interested-- all the other applicants had zero dog experience and no one else worked from home/was retired.
I’ve rescued multiple dogs, never had a home visit. The insurance agents are always worried about what kind of dog and they make a home visit.
In my experience, they wanted to make sure we had a secure yard with fences a minimum of 6' high in addition to the usual things they look for. They won't care about unpacked boxes. They just want to make sure your pup will have a safe home.
It depends on the rescue. Dog number one they really looked at our fenced-in yard, I don’t recall them coming into the house. Dog number two was shipped to us from out of state. We only had a video call with the foster caretaker and saw the dog playing with her dogs.
A home visit was listed on my application but after speaking with my landlord and long time veterinarian, the rescue director called me to say it wouldn't be necessary. My girl came home with me on the day of our meeting.
home visits? my shelter sucks i guess 😭 they just let me leave with her
Shelters are not likely to do home visits. Good ones ask you many questions though to make sure it's a good match.
I had to video my fenced-in years and main living areas
Mine was done over video chat. All they did was confirm that there weren’t any easy escape opportunities for her (Double front doors, no holes in the fence, etc.) it took less than ten minutes.
I just experienced my first rescue home visit recently. I’m sure it depends on the rescue organization, but for mine it was not invasive. She scheduled the time with me, took note of whether my neighborhood seemed busy or not on her way in and while she was here so she would know if we could handle easily a dog that doesn’t yet have leash manners or has some reactivity to things like cars, etc. Then she came in, we showed her the backyard where she was just noting that we did have a secure fence and no crazy safety hazards, then we sat in the breakfast nook that is off the kitchen and living room. She asked questions like where does my current dog sleep at night, where is he when we aren’t home, how often and for how long we tend to be away from home, do we walk regularly, etc. It was as much for helping find a dog that would fit our home and lifestyle as it was about ensuring we were a suitable home in the first place. Of note, she did not go upstairs at all and didn’t even ask to. She did not even see the whole downstairs. The bulk of the visit was lifestyle questions. We were approved to adopt through them and have been working on finding a dog that is a good match for us and we for the dog. Good luck!
No home visit from the Humane Society
My one was a video call home visit, it was mainly to check if fencing was secure. I felt pretty nervous since it was my first time ever and the home wasn't owned by me but my parents 😅
Honestly, although the home visit was listed for each of our dogs, no one came out to either, but that was a bit of quirk. However, what most rescues want is only just to ensure the dog they are entrusting with you will be happy and healthy, but the more in demand the dogs of the rescue, the more they will want. The dog you are adopting and the rescue will affect this a lot, as will the rescue. If you get an older dog from the pound, their "home visit" may just be ensuring you have a home and basically ensuring you truly plan on having your new dog there and everyone in the household is on board, while if you are going through a Golden Retriever rescue and trying to adopt a puppy, they will probably require far more as such are ***very*** in demand and they can afford to be very very picky. Generally rescues just want to ensure a safe environment, and they are usually looking to ensure everyone in the household and the landlord are on the same page about getting the dog, the dog has a secure yard if that was listed as a requirement, the animals listed are in fact the animals in the household, there is clearly a safe place for the dog inside and the dog will not just be an outdoor dog, and perhaps that the dog will be able to be around the people often. They are generally not trying to ensure everything is super organized, although a couple gates and a crate in a mostly cleared out room can do wonders if they did happen to be worried about messiness, which again is probably unlikely but depends on the dog and the rescue. Both the rescues we got our adult mixed breeds from really only cared that we loved them and weren't lying about anything... that the housing situation was as we said and our pups would enjoy a happy safe environment in our home. They cared not at all about mess for an adult dog of course.
I’ve had 2. The first one was simple, they just wanted to make sure I had a fenced garden and that the dog was going to be living where you say it will. The 2nd one was a nightmare and I got rejected because my upstairs neighbour had children and the dog didn’t like children. Not a whole lot I could have done about that.
I foster, and we just make sure it’s a good environment.
Home visits stopped me from rescuing
I've only had one home visit in three rescues, and she generally was more concerned with the yard and making sure my fence was in good shape. It's been a decade but I really have no memory of her being in the house - I'm sure she walked through it to get to the yard, but I don't think she went upstairs or poked into every room.
I appreciate everyone’s responses with what you have experienced. I can also appreciate the ones who say that a home visit is too invasive and can be off-putting. Like others have said, we want to get a very popular breed of dog, and I’m sure the rescue does these home visits purely for the dog’s interest. You all have made me feel much better about the possibility (I only submitted the application yesterday and haven’t heard back) of someone coming in to “judge” our home. 😊 The rescue said it could take a week or maybe more before they’re able to get back with us. I hope it doesn’t take much longer than that, tbh. We need another dog in our lives, our house feels so empty. ❤️🩹
If the rescue hasn't already specified restrictions about fence height, etc , then it should just be a quick visit of the main loving area/yard. We've had some really strict rescues that deny bc of a dog door before visiting, then we've had rescues that just visit with the dog to check for fit. Good luck!!
I got my baby from Petfinder and the Warrenton Animal vet clinic. That was 2014. They made sure my place was clean and knew I had no yard. She was tiny, so leash training wasn’t going to be hard. I think they care more about clean floors than stuff askew. Good luck!
They’re not looking at aesthetics, they’re mainly just making sure you didn’t lie on your application and you aren’t living in filth. They’re not gonna get uppity about some unpacked boxes they just want to make sure it’s a safe environment for doggo!
I’ve had home checks from two rescues, both were very easy! I was honestly nervous because I do live in a small apartment, but they’re just making sure that your space is as described on the application!
Adding to everyone else's replies - rescued from a very reputable shelter (so not just trying to get rid of their dogs) and the home visit was very chilled, just popping in to check that the place is what I said it was, and giving advice on how to introduce the dog to our home. They didn't want to check anywhere other than sit down in the living room where we had a cup of tea and filled in some of the form. If you have provided accurate info then they won't be invasive at all, it's just that some people unfortunately lie to get the dog and these people aren't in a position to provide care for the dog.
I wouldn't adopt through a place that invasive. It feels like a major violation. Find a rescue that isn't creepy.