What is a meet & greet?
Once we have an “approved” application the next step at Wildhearts Rescue is a meet & greet!
This 30-45 minute meeting is an opportunity for you to get to know the dog you’re interested in adopting and for both the dog and our team to get to know you. All members of the household are required to be present for the meet & greet. If there is another dog in the home it’s required that they come along as well. Please don’t bring your cat! Consider this meeting a “mutual interview” and note that it does not guarantee the dog’s adoption. We need to feel good about the dog’s placement, just as we hope you do too!
After you’ve met the dog, we ask that you go home and “sleep on it” before deciding if you’d like to move forward with the adoption. Doing so also gives us an opportunity to chat with the dog’s foster family to gather their input.
Some tips to navigate the meet & Greet
We will always start with a group walk! If a resident dog is brought to the meet & greet please let us know if your dog has any leash reactivity prior. Regardless, our protocol for dog introductions is a neutral, parallel walk outside by adapting to this guide: How To Properly Introduce Two Dogs. Please do not approach the adoptable dog head-on with your pup. Instead, we will dive straight into a distanced walk after the humans have had a chance to say hello with the dogs still in the car.
When you arrive, remain calm and relaxed. Do not walk straight towards the dog or lean down towards them. When inside follow our cues and have a seat on the ground or couch. Let the dog sniff your hand and make their way to you. Please do not reach over the dog’s head with your hand. For some dogs we recommend no eye contact or engagement depending on their fear level. We will provide treats!
Spend time interacting with the dog after their comfort level is gauged.
Ask lots of questions!
Remember that even if you LOVE the dog, we are committed to finding them the best match. Please be understanding if we select another family and please keep an eye on our website and Instagram for future dogs.
Where is my Meet & Greet taking place?
Unless discussed otherwise, meet & greets take place at Urban Pawsibillities in SE Portland. Some foster families are more comfortable having meet & greets at their home or at your home. We’ll let you know if that’s the case. A mask is required to be worn during your meet & greet by everyone present regardless of vaccination status.
Urban Pawsibilities:
3737 SE 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97202
COVID-19 Health and Safety Practices:
If anyone in your household is sick or has shown symptoms in the prior two weeks, you must reschedule. A mask is required to be worn during your meet & greet by everyone present regardless of vaccination status. Please keep a 6ft distance from our team. Your efforts are appreciated! Thank you!
After the Meet & Greet
If you decide that it’s not the best fit, we ask that you let us know ASAP so we can update our records. After taking the night to think about it, if you’ve decided that you’d like to move forward with adopting the dog and we deem it’s a good fit we will send over next steps via email that will include the adoption contract and payment link. We’ll also schedule a quick video call to walk through your home! Lastly, we will coordinate a day, time, & location for you to pick up your dog.
Supplies
The following items are required to be owned by the adoptive families prior to pick up. If you have issues finding supplies please let us know.
Dog seatbelt: Must be brought with you when picking up your dog on “go home” day
Folding wire crate: Please check with us regarding sizing
Items from the dog’s foster care pack supplies are available for purchase if needed.
Wildhearts will provide:
Leftover food & treats to get you started
Personal items: bed, blanket, favorite toys & used chews, hairbrush
Any leftover pee pads: we recommend that you have a few laid out in your home prior to letting the dog explore, just in case!
Each dog is fitted with an AirTag tracking device as an extra safety net during the transition/acclimation period.
Fitted martingale collar, harness, leash, Wildhearts ID tag, and a safety back-up clip.
Why? Because our dogs are flight risks and the last thing we want is for them to get loose (especially without updated identification). If you purchased a martingale collar + updated ID tag for the dog, please bring them to the pick up so we can fit your dog prior to leaving.