We do not adopt out Malinois on a first come first served basis. The final adoption of an ABMC Rescued Malinois is the result of the collaboration of many people. The dog's original rescuer, the coordinator, the person that performs the home check and the foster who knows the dog the best. All provide information that is used to insure the Malinois is adopted by the best home for that particular dog. Our final objective is to make good matches between dogs and families to ensure life long adoptions.

1. Below you will find the steps that you will go through in the process for becoming approved to adopt a Belgian Malinois from ABMC Rescue.

2. Remember to be realistic in listing the dogs you might be interested in. While we have a small network available that can be asked to help with transporting a Malinois short distances ultimately you will be responsible for arranging to get your adopted Malinois to your destination. Picking a Malinois half-way across the country from you increases the difficulty of achieving timely transportation.

3. Follow the link in the dog's listing to file an adoption application. If you are interested in becoming pre-approved that application will be found at: pre-approval application.

4. Fill the application out in *FULL* and review the information that you are providing to insure its accuracy. Applications without a veterinarian will not be processed. If there are extenuating circumstances provide that information in the location indicated by the instructions at that question.

5. Once your application is received arrangements will be made to do the Checks:

• The Reference Check - insure that the information you provide is accurate - the inability to contact one or more of your References can increase the delay in being approved.

• Home Check - arrangements will be made, thru a network available to the Regional Coordinators and Foster Families, for someone to visit you and your family in your home environment. ALL family members must be present for this home check. This is not a pass or fail experience, instead the information obtained will be utilized to insure that you are matched up with the Malinois considered most suitable for your family and life-style.

• Final approval - occasionally because of information obtained during the application and checks process the decision is reached that a suitable Malinois cannot be found for an applicant in the foster system. This does not mean that you are considered unsuitable as an applicant only that it is extremely unlikely a Malinois can be found, or might become available, that would fit your needs.

• Match up - Once you've received Final approval the volunteer working on your application will begin the process of matching your life-style and environment with the known characteristics and needs of specific Malinois currently available. Once a possible match is made it becomes time to:

• Sign the contract and submit adoption fee.

Every effort is made to insure the application process moves along at a steady pace, however; we ask that you remember, each and every person involved in processing your request is working strictly in a volunteer capacity. Each has a home, family, committments and usually a job that also consumes their available time.

Expect the process to take, at the minimum, several weeks, possibly longer. This will be true especially if a suitable match is not immediately available.

Finally, *DO* get pre-approved. Don't set yourself up to be disappointed by deciding a specific Malinois is the only one for you :-))) It is extremely rare for only one person to be interested in a certain Malinois. Instead there are usually multiple applicants and that means only one will be able to adopt the Malinois in question.

Good Luck and we hope you are owned by a
Malinois for many Fun Filled Happy Years!!!!!!