Rotten Rottie Rescue does NOT ALLOW OUT-OF-STATE ADOPTIONS;


• The best possible match always takes precedence over who came first. Please do not take it personally if another family is chosen for a specific dog. We foster our dogs in private homes for anywhere from one to four months (or more) in order to get to know them and their needs. Our decisions are based on that knowledge and the history of the dog, along with the circumstances and/or schedules of the adopter. Some dogs require less one on one time than others. Still some are in need of more schooling. Others may be best suited with or without other pets or children. There are many factors involved in the decision-making process and one’s ability to love and nurture a dog is not the only criteria.
• We make every effort to learn as much as we can about the temperament, health, training level, behavioral issues, special needs, and history of each dog. Each dog is hands-on evaluated prior to placement and introductions to other pets and family members in the household are conducted before approval to adopt
• All of our adoptions require that the dog live indoors as a member of the family. NO EXCEPTIONS
• A safe, secure, fenced yard and clean indoor sleeping area is required. We generally place only senior or special needs dogs in apartments.
• All adoptions require a completed adoption questionnaire PRIOR to being shown any available dogs, followed by a home visit.
• Tethering as a means of containment or transport in the open bed of a pick up truck is in violation of the terms of our adoption contract and can result in repossession.


• Some, not all, contracts require that, after an initial acclimation period, you and your dog be enrolled in and complete an approved obedience class.
• We rarely place 2 female Rottweilers into the same household. One Rottweiler with some other large breed dogs of the same gender can also be problematic. YES, it can work; however, it is more likely than not that a problem will developed at some point even if the initial meet and greet were to go well. We would be happy to elaborate when we speak. When looking into a third dog, we ask that you consider the impact that adding a third dog will have on the dynamic of your existing pack. We also require that any and all dogs already in residence be spayed or neutered.
• If you own a small animal it will be difficult for us to feel comfortable placing one of our dogs with you. We normally discourage adoptions to families with small dogs and other small mammals for obvious safety reasons. Not all of our rescued dogs have been exposed to small animals while in foster care or with their previous owners. While initial meetings could go well, this does not guarantee compatibility after they have shared a residence for a period of time. There always exists an element of risk with Rottweiler’s living with much smaller, particularly very active mammals. In special circumstances we have dogs who we know do well with small dogs and cats. If we happen to have a dog that fits that criteria than we would consider adopting him or her into a household with same.
• All rescue dogs are required to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped prior to placement. Most of them are heart worm tested as well. We have addressed and treated any illness or injury prior to adoption and we will disclose this information to the adopter prior to adoption.
• Renters are required to provide written proof from the owner of the property stating that you have permission to have a rottweiler on their property.
• If you have just moved into a new home and your rear yard is all dirt, we are unable to place a dog with you until there is dust containment in the form of grass or gravel or both. This is due to the skyrocketing incidence of Valley Fever we are seeing in such environments. We will be happy to work with you after your yard is landscaped.
• If you are new to the Valley and would like more info on Valley Fever, please educate yourself on this illness. It can affect animals and people alike.
• We follow up with our placements for a minimum of six months.
• Minimum age for adopters is 25 years.
• Folks in their 60's to 80's are all different, as are their lifestyles, health and activity levels. Generally speaking, however, we prefer not to place very young dogs with the elderly. We ask that you seriously consider the dog's needs and be realistic as to how well you are able to fulfill them. Please give thought to any physical challenges, as well as your ability to accommodate the dog's need for exercise, training and socialization for the rest of its life. What might have worked very well in the past may not be quite the same now. Keeping the dog's best interest in mind usually results in a successful placement
• We are available to address questions, problems or concerns for the life of the dog; however, we are not responsible for any bills (veterinary or otherwise) which occur after the dog has been adopted.
• Please don't come to rescue in the hopes of getting a "perfectly trained" dog or getting a "bargain" or of "getting" anything. Come to rescue to give, to love, to save a life and to mend your own spirit. For a rescue dog will reward you in ways you never thought possible.
• Rescued dogs run the gamut from previously neglectful or even abusive situations, untrained and unsocialized, sick or just plain having lacked proper veterinary care, to trained, well cared for dogs merely victims of circumstances or life's changes such as divorce, illness, death or financial difficulties.
• Some were back-yard bred and others papered from titled parents. Some have been thrown outside or isolated and are depressed, anxious or just uncertain. This is why we "live" with our dogs for a period of time prior to rehoming. We get to know them, we learn what type of home they would best fit and we work with any issues that might have resulted from having had indifferent or uneducated owners. We know that they're ALL living beings, with a spirit, heart and feelings and they deserve as much love, care and respect as the next Westminster champion.
Why is your criteria so specific; I thought I was doing you and the dog a favor by adopting?
While we feel that adoption is the only way to go and the partial solution to the overwhelming problem of over-population, we also want a good fit between dog and owner. The success of our policies are reflected in our return rate!
While filling out our adoption questionnaire please fill out each question honestly and completely. Too much information is always better than not enough. It lets us get to know you. You will see different scenarios on the questionnaire that ask for you to tell us how you would handle each situation. Please do not answer these questions with answers like “don’t have a child, NA” or “ I would train the dog not to do that” or “that has never happened to me” these types of answers tell us nothing and indicate to us that you have no idea how to handle the dog. If you choose to answer these questions, with such answers, we may respond with “ we do not feel we have a dog that would be a good match for you at this time”
We do not have the time to try to coax a proper answer from you. If you do not know how you would handle those situations, it’s ok to say that and then tell us what you might try or where you would turn for help.
By taking the time to match a dog's temperament, energy, drive levels and needs with a potentional adopter's household we further ensure that the dog will spend the rest of its' life where we place it. Asking questions and establishing parameters are known to equate with success.
We know why these dogs are in a rescue situation and make every effort not to duplicate the mistakes previously made, usually at the dog's expense. We also know that statistically, well over 50% of all adopted animals are no longer in that adoptive home after the first year.
ABOUT ADOPTION FEES: Adoption fees vary with each dog and typically range from $200.00 to $500.00. In the case of some special needs or senior dogs there is no adoption fee, rather, a freewill donation.
Fees are set taking into account the dog's age, training level, temperament, medical condition(s) if any, and other factors. Some dogs require that hundreds, even thousands of dollars and many weeks or months be spent before they are ready for adoption, others do not. Adoption fees are used, not only to rescue and place the dog you are personally adopting, but to aid in the future rescue and rehabilitation of other deserving dogs.
Veterinary and lab charges, gas, boarding/fostering costs, equipment, training et al, have all risen to the point that most adoption fees are not covering each dog's expenses. Adoption fees are necessary. If we did not charge fees, our rescue efforts would quickly come to an end.
Our greatest expenses include the cost of: gas, microchips, vet visits & surgery, blood work and lab fees, spays/neuters, medications, vaccinations, dog food, collars, leashes, crates & toys, websites, domain names and ISPs, and training, and sometimes we even have to pay adoption fees to rescue a dog. Office expenses add up as well.
Rescue is an expensive undertaking, both financially and emotionally; we are motivated strictly by our passion and concern for Rottweiler dogs.
We are volunteers. We volunteer our time...countless hours every day...knowledge and experience. We are by no means wealthy. We do not make a profit and seldom break even.
Adoption fees come in and go right back out to the next rescued dog.
No staff member or board member of Rotten Rottie Rescue is compensated in any way.
Rotten Rottie Rescue is a non profit charity which relies soley on donations and Rehoming/adoption fees.