Application for Adoption

Thank you for your interest in adopting one of our MARS orphans. Please realize that many of our dogs came to us because they were mismatched with their former owners’ personalities, facilities, and/or lifestyles. For the sake of both the dog and you, we need you to review the policies and procedures below and provide all of the information in the application.

Policies and Procedures

Before you complete an application, please review the following:

We ask first and foremost that potential adopters have experience with the Akita breed or extensive knowledge of same. (You can find Akita breed info on our site.)
Due to the sheer size of the Akita breed, it is our policy to not place adult Akitas in homes with resident children under the age of 10. Puppies may be placed in Akita-savvy homes with children 6 years and older.
We do not place same-sex dogs within the same household.
We adopt our orphans within our area of coverage in the Midwest. We do not ship our orphans.
We don’t adopt to homes which use electric fences.
We do not place our Akitas in apartments due to many not allowing the breed and also the breed is very protective and living in an apartment often causes problems due to their protectiveness of the adjacent dwellers and adjacent pets within.

Once your application is received:

We will contact your references.
We will conduct a physical home check. (You will be notified of any deficiencies and recommended corrective actions.)
If you application is approved, you are free to meet/adopt any of our available orphans. If your application is declined, we will provide reasons why.
We do require a hands-on meeting, so travel is required to where the dog is located (most are in private foster homes or private kennels).
All orphans are spayed/neutered (except some puppies until they are old enough), up-to-date on all vaccinations, and micro-chipped for permanent identification.
Our adoption fee is $400 (or $500 for puppies with $100 returned upon proof of spay/neuter by one year) and we are a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization. The adoption fee for bonded pairs is $600 for the pair.

We require potential adopters to read our Pre-adoption Guide before filling out an application.

If you have read and understand the policies above and still wish to submit an application, please fill out the form below. Thank you for your interest in MARS!

Instructions
1. Read our Pre-adoption Guide and then fill out the form below.
2. If you would like to add more information that you feel would help us find the best dog for you, please do so in the comments section at the end of the form.
Note: If you would rather submit your application via mail, please click here for a printable version.
Fields marked with * are required.
Dog Preferences
Let us know what type of Akita you are looking to add to your family, and if you're interested in any of our current MARS orphans.
Age and Sex*
Remembering that same sex Akitas rarely co-exist peacefully (it is a MARS policy that we only place orphans in homes where the resident dog is of the opposite sex of the new MARS orphan), and that the majority of rescue dogs are young adults, what sex and general age category do you have in mind to adopt?
Would you consider a long-coat?*
- Yes
- No
Are you interested in any of our current orphans?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, who?*
Personal Information
Applicant Name*
First Last
Applicant's Driver's License #*
Do you have a Co-Applicant?*
- Yes
- No
Co-Applicant Name
First Last
Co-Applicant's Driver's License #
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province ZIP / Postal Code
Phone*
Additional Phone
Email*
Co-Applicant Email
How did you hear about us?
Employment Information
Employer*
Occupation*
Years at this job*
Employer's Address*
Street Address City State / Province ZIP / Postal Code
Employer's Phone*
Previous Employer
If less than one year at current job, enter name and address of previous employer
Co-Applicant's Employer
Co-Applicant's Occupation
Co-Applicant's Employer Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province ZIP / Postal Code
Co-Applicant's Employer Phone
Household Information
How many people are in your household?*
Enter each person (other than yourself) in the household below (use + to add more people)*
Note: Due to the sheer size of the Akita breed, it is a MARS policy that we only adopt orphans to homes with children age 10 and older.
Relationship to you Age Sex (if under 18)
Who is home during the day?*
Do you operate a home daycare?*
- Yes
- No
What are your work hours?*
Co-Applicant's work hours
Do you currently have any animals in your household?*
- Yes
- No
Animals in household*
Please indicate the following for each animal currently living in your home - Type (cat, dog, etc.), breed, age, gender and whether the animal is spayed or neutered.
You must list ALL animals (use + button to add more)
Type Breed Age Gender Spayed/Neutered?
If not neutered/spayed, why not?
Note: It is a policy of MARS that all household pets must be altered prior to the placement of a MARS orphans
If there are no children and/or animals living in your home, are there forseeable times when the Akita will have to spend time with visiting chidren and/or other animals?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please explain below*
Information About Your Home
Do you own your home?*
- Yes
- No
If renting, does your lease permit large dogs?*
Note: We will require a copy
- Yes
- No
How long have you lived at this address?*
Previous Address*
If less than 2 years at current home, please list previous address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province ZIP / Postal Code
Do you plan on moving soon?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, when and where?*
What is your lot size?
Is your yard fenced?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, how high is your fence and what kind of fencing material is used?
NOTE: We do not adopt Akitas out to homes with any form of electronic/radio fencing
If no, are you willing to provide a fenced area or kennel with a top?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, what type and by when?*
If you are not permitted to build a fence, what type of leash walking regimen will you implement for this Akita?*
Annual budget for dog*
Keeping in mind the yearly costs of maintaining a large breed dog on high quality food, heartworm preventative, flea and tick preventative, vaccinations, parasite and heartworm checks along with possible emergency care that may occur during your Akita's life, how much are you able to budget yearly towards the ownership and care of this dog?
Akita Accommodations
Where will the dog be during the day?*
At night?*
When you are away overnight (boarding, house sitter, etc.)?*
How do you plan to confine the dog when you are away from your home daily?*
Will there ever be a time when the Akita will be left outdoors when no one is home?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please explain*
All MARS orphans are crate trained. Do you own a crate?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, what type (airline/plastic or metal/wire mesh)*
Do you need assistance in acquiring a crate?*
- Yes
- No
Are there any unusual circumstances to which the Akita will have to adapt?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please explain*
How long do you believe it will take for this new Akita to adapt to your lifestyle including when you are away from your home?*
Are there any canine behaviors you are not willing to tolerate?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please explain*
Your Personal Feelings About Akita Ownership
What are the negative aspects of Akita ownership (health & temperament)?*
What do you feel are disadvantages to pet ownership?*
How can these disadvantages be managed in order to preserve the human-canine bond?*
What do you feel are advantages to pet ownership?*
Other comments about Akita ownership
Previous Ownership Experience
Have you owned a large dog before?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, what was the breed of dog?*
What happened to the dog?*
Have you ever taken a dog through pet training classes?*
- Yes
- No
Where?*
When?*
How many levels?*
Please describe the type of training that was utilized in the class you attended.
Which skills were taught?*
Did you agree with the training methods utilized at the training class?*
- Yes
- No
Please explain
What type of equipment/collars were used and recommended?*
If you have never taken a dog through pet training class, are you willing to?*
- Yes
- No
Do you need assistance in finding a positive reinforcement pet trainer in your area?*
- Yes
- No
Since Akitas DO NOT respond well to harsh corrections in training, are you willing to utilize positive reinforcement/behavior modification techniques and avoid using punishment or aversive methods in order to train your MARS Rescue Akita?*
- Yes
- No
References
Veterinary Clinic
What Veterinary Clinic do you plan on taking the Akita to?
Dr. Name
Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province ZIP / Postal Code
Phone
Is this your current Veterinarian?
- Yes
- No
If you don’t have a veterinarian, do you need assistance in finding one that is familiar with Akitas?
- Yes
- No
Personal Reference*
Two (2) local individuals (not related to you and in addition to a veterinary reference) who knows or has known your other animals (if possible, one of which is a neighbor)
Name Phone Email
Personal Reference #2*
Name Phone Email
May we check your references to verify the information that you have provided?*
- Yes
- No
May we visit your home?*
- Yes
- No
When is a good time to visit?
Have you applied to another Akita rescue?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, which Akita rescue?*
Have you ever submitted an application to any other animal rescue?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, which rescue?*
Did the other rescue conduct a home check?*
- Yes
- No
Have you ever been charged with and/or convicted of any charge related to spousal, child, or animal abuse?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please explain*
Has anyone in your household ever been charged with and/or convicted of any charge related to spousal, child, or animal abuse?*
- Yes
- No
If yes, please explain*
Comments
Please add any information that you feel would help us find the best dog for you.
Conditions for Submission of Application
Agree to terms*
Please check the box next to each item below to agree to the terms.
NOTE: ALL applicants must read the entire Pre-adoption Guide prior to submitting an application with MARS.
- I have obtained and read the Akita Owners Rescue Foundation MARS Information Packet.
- I understand the nature of responsible Akita ownership and the commitment required.
- I am aware of all the potential negative health and temperament aspects of the Akita breed.
- I understand that there is a NON-NEGOTIABLE adoption donation of $400 for an adult MARS orphan ($600 for a bonded pair). One half of this donation is refundable any time during the initial 4 week adjustment period upon return of the Akita, but at no time thereafter. Or MARS will assist me in selecting another Akita.
- I understand that any unaltered MARS puppy has an adoption fee of $500 with $100 returned upon proof of spay or neuter by one year.
- Due to the nature of purebred breed rescue, I understand that MARS can offer no definitive proof of the lineage of their orphans except in cases in which AKC registration papers have been relinquished with the orphan.
- I understand that any misrepresentation of myself or any untruths in the information which I have provided herein that are discovered at a later date will invalidate any adoption agreement and will give MARS the right to reclaim the Akita.
Signature of Applicant*
By typing your name here, you are signing this application electronically. You agree your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual signature on this application.
Name Date
Signature of Co-Applicant*
By typing your name here, you are signing this application electronically. You agree your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual signature on this application.
Name Date