Thank you for your interest in adopting a purebred Doberman from Hand Me Down Dobes!  As a rescue, our primary goal is to place each dog into a safe, loving, forever home that is the right match for the dog and you, your home, and your lifestyle.

We are currently accepting applications in most of Ohio, southern Michigan, and western Pennsylvania. This limited area is due to our requirement for one of our experienced volunteers to perform a visit in your home as part of the adoption process. We strongly suggest that you complete an application early even if you are not looking to adopt at this moment or if you think there are no dogs that match what you’re looking for. Applications can take up to 2 weeks to process and we do not hold dogs while paperwork and home visits are being completed.

Generally it is the policy of HMDD not to place a dog in a family with children under the age of eight. Previously owning a Dobe or currently having a Dobe or other large breed dog in the home are examples that might result in exceptions to our policy. We do consider each application on a case-by-case basis.

Although not required, a physical fence is always the safest and most desirable. If you have an underground/invisible type fence or no fence, you will not necessarily be approved for all dogs. If we determine a physical fence is needed for a particular dog and you do not have one, we will help you find another dog that will be a better fit for your home. Our top priority is the safety and well being of our dogs.

Every adoptable Doberman in our rescue has received a comprehensive examination by a veterinarian.  The dog is vaccinated so he/she is up-to-date on Rabies, DHLPP, Bordetella and Canine Influenza. The dog is given a heartworm and fecal test and treated for any medical issues, as well as being spayed or neutered if not done previously.  Our Dobes are microchipped and the service is provided for the lifetime of the dog. Our dogs are placed on monthly preventative for fleas, ticks, and heartworms.  All of our adoptable dogs are in caring foster homes for a minimum of two weeks prior to being considered adoptable, although most are in foster care for longer. Insightful observation of behavior is noted during this time which is always shared with adopters.

Our dogs range in age, energy level, training needs and home requirements. We are knowledgeable and experienced with Dobes and the dogs in our rescue, and will assist you in finding the right match for you as well as the dog. We appreciate that you stay open minded during the adoption process. Often people have a certain dog in mind, but then once meeting him or her or talking more with the foster home, realize that perhaps this is not the right fit and happily adopt a different Dobe!

Finding your new best friend is an exciting experience! All adopters complete an Adoption Agreement with us. At the top of this agreement, we provide you with your dogs current health history.  We also complete the enrollment paperwork for the microchip service. We furnish a new, high quality, complimentary collar of your choice for your pet, along with an HMDD rescue tag.  As a new owner you will put identification tags on your dog, but the rescue tag is placed on your dog’s collar prior to leaving our adoption event and provides identification that this is an HMDD dog. If your dog ever becomes lost and for some reason you are unable to be reached, this is one way for us to contact you. We also sell leashes and gentle leaders at our adoption event.  All of our foster dogs are fed a high quality, chicken based dog food that you can continue to purchase and feed your dog. Stores such as Petco and Pet Supplies Plus carry this food as do online stores such as Chewy.com. We do provide a small bag of transition food so if you choose to change, your dog does not have digestive issues from suddenly introducing a new food.

Our adoption fee for purebred pups 12 months and younger is $450, purebred dogs between 1 and 8 years old are $350, and sweet and loving purebred seniors 9 years and older are $250. A $15 service fee will be added if paying by credit card.

Bringing a new pet into your home is a transition for everyone. We will follow up with you with a phone call a couple of weeks after your adoption to check in and offer suggestions or advice if needed. If concerns arise before then, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here for you! (614) 470-2851