The questions most adopters forget to ask — medical history, behaviour assessment, foster observations, and what the answers should tell you.
Most adopters ask two questions before adopting: "Does this animal like people?" and "Is it good with other dogs?" Both are important. Neither is sufficient. The rescue organisation has observations that will materially improve your first weeks — but only if you ask for them.
Ask: What vaccinations has this animal received, and when are the next ones due? Has this animal been tested for heartworm, tick-borne diseases, and intestinal parasites? Are there any ongoing health conditions or medications? Was there anything unusual in the initial vet assessment? Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should monitor? Is this animal's weight appropriate for its size?
Ask: What is this animal's energy level on a typical day — not the most active day, not the most calm? Does this animal show any resource guarding around food, toys, or sleeping spots? Has this animal shown any reactivity to other dogs, strangers, or specific stimuli? How does this animal respond when left alone? Is there anything this animal is afraid of? Has this animal ever shown aggression — towards people, other animals, or in specific situations?
On aggression questions: A rescue organisation that says "never, nothing, completely fine in every situation" about any animal is not giving you complete information. All animals have thresholds. A good rescue tells you what those thresholds are so you can manage them — not hide them.
If the animal has been in foster care, ask: How does this animal behave in the morning versus the evening? What does this animal do when you first come home? How did this animal respond to the foster family's routine — meal times, bedtime, visitors? What was the hardest part of fostering this animal? What was the best part? Was this animal exposed to children, other pets, or specific environments during fostering?
Ask: What food is this animal currently eating, and how much? What is this animal's daily routine in the foster home? Does this animal have a preferred sleeping location? Is there a favourite toy or item of comfort I can take home? What is the best way to reach you if I have questions in the first weeks?
Complete, specific answers indicate a rescue organisation that has genuinely observed and documented the animal. Vague or uniformly positive answers may indicate limited foster observation time — not necessarily a problem, but something to factor into your expectations.
Be cautious if: the organisation cannot answer basic medical history questions; they describe the animal in exclusively positive terms without any qualifications; they seem reluctant to discuss any challenges; they pressure you to decide quickly; or they cannot tell you anything specific about how the animal behaves in a home environment.
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