Adoption


Please complete the adoption application before contacting us about an available Aussie.

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MidWest

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NorthEast

SouthWest

NorthWest

Adopting from ARPH

Please be advised that during the current COVID-19 restrictions, responses from our volunteers may be delayed and home visits postponed.  Thank you for your understanding.

 

OUR DOGS

The Australian Shepherds available for adoption through ARPH come from many sources. Some of them have been rescued from pounds and shelters. Others are referred to us by owners who can no longer keep their dogs for a variety of reasons. ARPH only accepts purebred Aussies into the program. Vicious dogs are not accepted into any of the listings.

The majority of dogs we rescue are young adults or adults. While pups do appear from time to time, they are not common. More males than females tend to be the trend in rescue as well so please consider both genders when adopting.

Our dogs are kept in foster homes with volunteers who share their homes with these dogs until the right adoptive home is found. These foster homes evaluate for temperament and also work on basic training of the dogs.
 

 

VETTING OF THE DOGS

All of our dogs over 6 months of age are spayed/neutered. We feel there are more than enough Aussies already in need of homes and that our rescues should not be used for breeding. If a dog is too young to be altered the adopter will need to agree in writing to do so by the time the dog is 6 months of age.

Our dogs have been seen by a vet and declared healthy for adoption. They are up to date on vaccinations, have been heartworm tested and also been cleared for parasites.
 

 

THE ADOPTION PROCESS

Anyone wishing to adopt a dog through ARPH must first complete an Adoption Application. When the adoption application is complete it is forwarded to the ARPH Rescue Representative closest to you. That representative will review the application, call all references, discuss parts of your answers with you, and may ask for a home check during the application approval process. ARPH looks for homes with a past history of responsible dog ownership which includes annual vetting of all pets.

After you have completed the application and submitted it, please be patient--it may be several days to a few weeks before you hear back from a representative. Most ARPH Volunteers have jobs during the day, as well as families and their own dogs to tend to in the evenings. This is a labor of love for us all, and we work very hard to respond as quickly as possible to potential adopters.

We do NOT ship dogs to adopters.
 

 

AFTER YOU'VE BEEN APPROVED

Once your application is approved, the ARPH Rescue Representative with whom you are working will help you find the right dog to match your family. Sometimes a dog that matches your home will be available immediately, but in most cases, it will take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The more narrow your criteria for the right dog, the longer the wait. If your heart is set on a certain color, gender or age, you will probably wait longer than the adopter who is open on all these things. We do not place our dogs on a "first come, first served" basis, but according to the needs of the dog.

Many, but not all, of our ARPH Rescue Representatives have a web site or Facebook page for their area or region where you can receive more information specific to their area. Please look at the Available Dogs below, on our Facebook page, or visit the other ARPH regional sites to find available ARPH Aussies.

ARPH's careful screening process endeavors to ensure that each Aussie is placed in a loving, caring, and permanent home. ARPH is looking for owners who have adequate time, energy, and resources for Australian Shepherds. If your home fits those requirements, we look forward to hearing from you.
 

 

ADOPTION FEE

 

ARPH's standard adoption fee for a fully vetted dog is $300 U.S. Any donations above the standard fee will help to offset any necessary expenses, and are tax deductible (for U.S. residents only).

Occasionally, the fee may be lowered for special needs dogs and some senior dogs. Unaltered puppies require an additional spay/neuter deposit which is refunded upon proof of spay/neuter, per ARPH's adoption contract.

 

We sometimes have aussies on referral from private homes.

Please see our Referrals page.

 

 

 

Bernie ARPH #14559

WA

 Adorable Bernie is a one year old neutered black tri who loves people and is a total wigglebutt! He's fully housebroken and crate trained, and is very treat motivated for training. He's responding well to basic training and is starting to get much better on leash using a gentle leader. Bernie needs an experienced home who will give him great training to work through his puppiness. In addition to normal manners training, he has some resource guarding tendencies with male dogs so that will be one of his training needs. He is available to an only-dog home, or a home with a non-diva female or older dog.

If you are interested in adoption from us, please submit an adoption application. We do vet, reference and in home checks on all potential adopters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ebbie ARPH #14372

TX

Ebbie is approximately 3-4 years old and ~40lbs. She is fully-vetted, crate-trained, house-trained, and walks beautifully on a leash. She was found as a stray and never reclaimed.

Ebbie is a very happy girl! She is sweet, kind, fun, and loyal. She is super playful and likes to play with other dogs. She has a great off-switch and can also be content to relax in the house. She can be a smidge shy when first meeting people, but has a quick rebound and is very sweet with all humans. Ebbie is cat friendly.

Ebbie is ready to find her forever family! Could that be you?

Ebbie is located in Austin, TX and it is required that you travel there to meet her in person within 10 days of application approval if you want to adopt. We do need the entire party to be involved when meeting available dogs, including every family member and dog(s) that currently live in your home.

If you are an approved ARPH adopter with a current application on file and interested in learning more about Ebbie, please contact Kim at [email protected]. If you are not but are interested in becoming an approved ARPH adopter, please submit an adoption application.

 

 

Shasta ARPH #14464

TX

Shasta originally came to our program when her elderly owners had to move to assisted living. Unfortunately, she was morbidly obese and didn't feel too great. Over the last 6 months, we have seen a complete transformation as she went through her weight-loss journey and had a manageable health condition diagnosed and regulated. Shasta arrived a whopping 99lbs in June 2022. As of December 2022, she has lost THIRTY-SIX POUNDS (36!!!) and weighs 63lbs. Her ideal weight is 55-58lbs, so we are almost there! She also has Cushings Disease. Fortunately, she takes her twice daily capsule without any problem wrapped in a pill-pocket =) All her adopter will need to do is check bloodwork every 6-12 months.

Shasta is an easy-peasy house companion. She has an endearing personality, LOVES walks, and is a total velcro Aussie. She wants to be with her family! Due to her Cushings, she does have to go tinkle every 3-4 hours. Due to this, we require an adopter that either works from home, or has a doggy door. She cannot go 8-10 hours without relieving her bladder, but has no accidents if allowed appropriate access.

Shasta is rock-solid with other dogs and is even cat friendly. She adores humans, no matter their gender, size, or age.

Shasta has come a long way and achieved all of her health goals! All that is left is to find her forever family.

Shasta is located in North Richland Hills, TX and it is required that you travel there to meet her in person within 10 days of application approval if you want to adopt. We do need the entire party to be involved when meeting available dogs, including every family member and dog(s) that currently live in your home.

If you are an approved ARPH adopter with a current application on file and interested in learning more about Shasta, please contact Laura at [email protected]. If you are not but are interested in becoming an approved ARPH adopter, please submit an adoption application.

 

 

 

 

Josephine (Phinie) ARPH #14463

TX

Phinie was picked up roaming as a stray and never reclaimed. She is approximately 5-6 years old and around 40lbs. She is fully vetted, house-trained and crate-trained.

Phinie is a very sweet, gentle, and timid girl. She is very uncertain about human companionship, but thrives in the midst of other dogs. She is cat-tolerant and doesn't react to nearby goats or chickens.

Phinie can be sensitive, so she needs a quiet home without a lot of loud noises or people constantly coming/going. She is a PHENOMENAL chore dog. This is her niche. She loves to follow you around the yard and property and help oversee anything you might be working on -- gardening, repairs, etc. She is still not fond of being heavily petted or snuggled, but her love language is sharing space quietly and gently within your space. If you work from home, she will always be right there laying under your feet.

She absolutely needs other dogs in her future home. A kind and gentle owner will be necessary... someone that will be patient with her and know that she will never be the center-of-the-party type of girl. Phinie is more a "home on the range" girl. Is this the type of home you can provide?

Phinie is located in Burleson, TX and it is required that you travel there to meet her in person within 10 days of application approval if you want to adopt. We do need the entire party to be involved when meeting available dogs, including every family member and dog(s) that currently live in your home.

If you are an approved ARPH adopter with a current application on file and interested in learning more about Josephine, please contact Laura at [email protected]. If you are not but are interested in becoming an approved ARPH adopter, please submit an adoption application.

 

 

 

 

Bryn ARPH #14466

TX

Bryn is a young (approximately 1.5yo) 40 lb female that came to Aussie Rescue after she was abandoned at a daycare/boarding facility and then taken to the shelter. She is fully vetted, house trained, crate trained, and does well on a leash.

Here is what her foster mom has to say:
"Bryn is a well mannered companion dog. She is very comfortable lying next to me during my work day and gets along very well (full integration took several weeks) with all my dogs. She has never shown any aggression towards me, even when "pushed".

She is vocal, not barking, but when she gets excited she makes a singing "roo,roo" sound. She is a licker, and knows her basic commands (sit, down).

She has not made a single mess in the house, nor destroyed anything. She has not tried any digging in the yard, but she prefers to be in the house. Some firmness must sometimes be used to get her to go out, but once she gets to the door she willingly goes out. When ready to come in she "bounces" several feet into the air in order to look in our kitchen door window.

Bryn's baseline activity level is low. She would do very well in a smaller home or yard, and she would make an outstanding pet for a home body."

Bryn's ideal home will have either male or no other dogs (we don't place females with females). Bryn can lose her nerve around a lot of strangers, so her ideal home will be one that is more quiet and doesn't always have a large number of people coming/going. Bryn will not be placed in a home with children under 12 years old.

Bryn is located in Sanger, TX and it is required that you travel there to meet her in person within 10 days of application approval if you want to adopt. We do need the entire party to be involved when meeting available dogs, including every family member and dog(s) that currently live in your home.

If you are an approved ARPH adopter with a current application on file and interested in learning more about Bryn, please contact Laura at [email protected]. If you are not but are interested in becoming an approved ARPH adopter, please submit an adoption application.

 

 

Jax ARPH #14542

TX

Jax is still new to the program and we are still getting to know him. Please check back for future updates!

Jax is located in Bryan, TX and it is required that you travel there to meet him in person within 10 days of application approval if you want to adopt. We do need the entire party to be involved when meeting available dogs, including every family member and dog(s) that currently live in your home.

If you are an approved ARPH adopter with a current application on file and interested in learning more about Jax, please contact Kim at [email protected]. If you are not but are interested in becoming an approved ARPH adopter, please submit an adoption application.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hudson ARPH #14549

TX

Hudson is still new to the program and we are still getting to know him. Please check back for future updates!

Hudson is located in Bedford, TX and it is required that you travel there to meet him in person within 10 days of application approval if you want to adopt. We do need the entire party to be involved when meeting available dogs, including every family member and dog(s) that currently live in your home.

If you are an approved ARPH adopter with a current application on file and interested in learning more about Hudson, please contact Laura at [email protected]. If you are not but are interested in becoming an approved ARPH adopter, please submit an adoption application.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louis ARPH #14466

TX

Louis is still new to the program and we are still getting to know him. Please check back for future updates!

Louis is located in Gainsville, TX and it is required that you travel there to meet him in person within 10 days of application approval if you want to adopt. We do need the entire party to be involved when meeting available dogs, including every family member and dog(s) that currently live in your home.

If you are an approved ARPH adopter with a current application on file and interested in learning more about Rex, please contact Laura at [email protected]. If you are not but are interested in becoming an approved ARPH adopter, please submit an adoption application.