Bringing home a dog is exciting, and the best matches start with honest conversations about schedule, housing, training, safety, references, and the kind of dog that truly fits your home.
These are the same themes the application starts with. Working through them first usually leads to better matches, fewer surprises, and faster conversations with the rescue.
A strong start happens when everyone in the home is genuinely ready for a new dog and understands the commitment involved.
The right match depends on daily care, emergency planning, and support systems that extend beyond the first exciting week.
A little preparation upfront makes it easier to choose a dog whose energy, training needs, and tendencies fit your environment.
The application goes well beyond basic contact details. It is designed to understand your routine, living setup, training expectations, safety planning, and what kind of dog is likely to thrive with you.
Expect questions about the rhythm of daily life so the rescue can picture what a dog’s normal week will look like in your care.
The rescue also wants to know how secure the environment is and whether there are any practical housing limits that affect placement.
The application tries to understand how prepared you are for structure, enrichment, and the behavior side of bringing home a dog.
Fit also depends on your history with animals, the kind of dog you want, and the people the rescue will contact while reviewing the application.
The application itself notes that responsive references are one of the biggest factors in a fast review. Incomplete or unreachable references are also called out as a common blocker to approval.
If you rent, be ready to answer lease questions, share landlord or property manager contact details, and clarify restrictions on pets, breeds, quantity, weight, or deposits.
The current application asks adopters to agree to a non-refundable $250 deposit used to hold a dog once a match is made. Knowing that upfront helps families plan with confidence.
Once you apply, the team reviews your information, reaches out to talk, checks references, and schedules home-visit steps before final approval.
Submit the adoption application so the team can review your interest and begin the conversation.
You should expect an email or phone call from the rescue requesting an interview after the application is assigned for review.
The Adoptions Team will contact your references as part of the review process.
The application describes a remote video based home visit before the final home visit, so home readiness is reviewed in more than one step.
If the fit feels right on both sides, an approval email is sent and final adoption arrangements are made.
That timing depends heavily on responsive references and the scheduling needed for interviews and home visits, so applicants can help by submitting complete information the first time.
Adoption fees help cover important care and make it easier for families to plan ahead.
Puppies are defined as dogs under the age of 12 months.
Adults are defined as dogs over the age of 12 months.
Many adopters want to know where dogs come from and what care happens before placement. Wags and Wiggles believes that part of the story matters.
Wags and Wiggles rescues dogs both locally and from the south, so the rescue pipeline includes more than one kind of intake and transport story.
According to the application, southern dogs typically spend about two weeks in a foster home after being pulled from a shelter before they travel north.
Once dogs arrive in Newport, New Hampshire, they are quarantined and examined by the rescue’s veterinarian prior to foster care or adoption.
Families consistently describe Wags and Wiggles as responsive, thoughtful, and easy to work with. Reviewers repeatedly mention smooth adoptions, strong communication, and dogs that arrive cared for, socialized, and ready to become part of the family.
"They made sure the dogs we met were a great fit for our lifestyle."
"The whole process was easy and the volunteers are amazing people."
"You can tell they truly care about every animal in their care."
If you are ready to answer questions about your household, schedule, training plan, pets, and references, start the application now. If you need more context first, browse available dogs or reach out before applying.