Adoption donations...

What is included in the adoption donation?

It is TLC's policy to provide several things to each TLC dog/puppy. Not all rescues do this, so when 'comparison shopping' rescue against rescue for the lowest price, make sure you are comparing 'apples to apples' and not 'apples to oranges'...

1) SHOTS: All TLC dogs and puppies will be up-to-date on their shots. We commonly advocate DHLPP which includes the vaccine for Leptospirosis - HERE is a good web page by the CDC that describes a great deal about this zoonotic illness (transferable to humans). Because we do see a lot of interactions between our pets and wildlife in SoCal along with potential risks for this to be transferred via natural water sources, we choose to vaccinate with DHLPP. We vaccinate against Bordetella (kennel cough) and if a booster is needed shorter than a year in future, this information will be notated in your adoption packet.

2) RABIES: All TLC dogs and puppies will have their rabies shot (if applicable) and the certificate will be in your adoption packet. Puppies are not commonly vaccinated for rabies until they are 4 months or older. Should you adopt a TLC puppy before they have turned 4 months old, you as the new owner are responsible to insure this is done. Ventura County Animal Regulation do hold rabies clinics once a month around our county, and the rabies shot is minimal ($5.00 in cash) - please see VCAR or call them for their schedule up upcoming rabies clinics. Weekend shots clinics are also held at petstores in Simi Valley (Theresa's on Saturday from 2 to 4PM, Big Al's from noon to 4PM on Sunday).

3) LICENSE: All TLC dogs and puppies (if applicable) will be licensed for the County of Ventura (required after a dog reaches 4 months old and has had their rabies shot). This license is transferred over to the new adopting owner during the adoption process and is good for the remainder of the term. Approximately 6 weeks prior to its expiration, VCAR will send the new owner a renewal directly.

4) MICRO-CHIP: All TLC dogs and puppies are micro-chipped prior to adoption and this registration is transferred to the new owner during the adoption process. Between 5 to 10 days after an adoption, you will receive notification from AVID of your new dog's registration in their system via letter. Please read through the information submitted and contact them for any necessary changes.

NOTE: Depending upon where you live, ownership is either established by a county license OR microchip registration - that's why TLC does both and transfers both during the adoption process.

5) ADOPTION PACKET: You will receive an extensive adoption packet during the adoption process - not only does it have a large amount of great information, it will also have copies of any sterilization certificates, rabies inoculation certificate, licensing, weights, procedures done on the dog, copies of any medical history, etc. Please keep this in a safe place to refer to when needed.

What are you feeding the TLC dogs?

What diet are the TLC dogs and puppies on?

Depending on who is fostering a TLC dog or puppy, the diet will be different, just as there are MANY different methods and products of pet food products.

If Linda is the foster, she home cooks for her dogs and the fosters alike. She's typed out what she does and we've included it in the Resources section of the TLC under Nutrition - Linda's Home Cooked Diet.

Check to see who is fostering the dog or puppy you're interested in, and ask them for the specifics of their diet.

In general however, TLC advocates the feeding of premium dog foods - less fillers and additives means better health for the dogs, as well as 'less' coming out the other end... what dogs cannot digest well (corn, wheat, etc.), they pass on through their digestive system for us to pick up and dispose of. While the purchase price might be higher on premium dog food, at the end you are feeding less in volume, but of a better quality.

Why so many Chihuahuas?

Why do you have so many Chihuahuas at TLC adoptions?

There are two main primary reasons you'll find a lot of Chihuahuas at TLC adoptions each week (Moorpark PETCO, noon to 3PM):

1) TLC is completely foster based - which means that all the dogs we save from dying in the shelters live with one of our foster families. Some fosters will do any breeds - other fosters prefer to only do specific breeds, depending upon their own dogs at home. Most of our foster families are Chihuahua lovers and fanciers, so that is one of the reasons we have so many Chihuahuas.

2) Currently, the CA shelters systems are killing one dog every 4 minutes and 32 seconds. TLC's mission is to save those in greatest danger of being killed. Only the 'Pitbull' breed has higher kill rates than the Chihuahua currently... hence those dogs who are apt to die first are those you are most likely to find at a TLC adoption event.