Adopt From Us
Adopting a Senior Dog is a Special Kind of Joy
Senior dogs are as unique as the people who love them. Some are playful comedians, some are fearless adventurers, some are loyal little shadows, and some are expert nappers who believe every lap belongs to them. Each has a lifetime of stories behind them and a personality that's entirely their own. Whatever you're looking for, there's a senior dog who's just right for you.
At Miri's Haven, our dogs live in foster homes where we get to know their personalities, routines, quirks, preferences, and needs before matching them with adopters. Our foster families know their dogs deeply, and we're committed to helping both dogs and adopters find homes where they can truly thrive.
The first step is completing our Adopter Profile. This profile helps us learn more about you, your household, your lifestyle, and the type of dog you’re hoping to welcome so we can make the best match possible.
You’re welcome to apply for a specific dog or simply share more generally what kind of companion you’re looking for. Some adopters already have one dog in mind, while others are open to guidance and suggestions from our team.
The more we understand about what you’re looking for — and what daily life in your home looks like — the better we’re able to help match you with a dog who will truly thrive there.
Once we receive your Adopter Profile, our Adoption Coordinator will contact you to schedule a conversation.
This conversation helps us get to know you better and learn more about your household, lifestyle, routine, and preferences so we can thoughtfully determine which dogs may be the best fit for your home.
If you’ve expressed interest in a specific dog, we’ll also talk through that dog’s personality, needs, and routine in more detail and discuss whether they seem likely to be a good match for your household and lifestyle. If you’re looking more generally, we may also suggest dogs that could be a particularly great fit for you.
At this stage, we’ll also gather veterinary information for current or previous pets, along with references and a few photos of your home and household environment so we can better understand where the dog will be living. Our goal is never to look for perfection, but simply to ensure our dogs are placed in homes where they will be safe, loved, and well cared for.
Once we have all of your information, our team carefully considers which dogs may be the best fit for your household, lifestyle, and preferences.
We also involve the foster families of specific dogs since they know them best and can provide valuable insight into the type of home in which they'll thrive.
We also consider whether a particular dog may have specific needs or “must-haves” for their future home. For example, if a dog truly requires a fenced yard and you don’t have one, we may instead suggest another dog who is leash-trained and doesn't need one.
Our goal is always to make thoughtful, lasting matches that set both dogs and adopters up for success.
Once we believe we’ve found a great potential match, we’ll connect you directly with the foster family to arrange a meet-and-greet.
This is an opportunity for you and the other members of your household — including any resident dogs — to meet the dog in person, learn more about their personality and routine, ask questions directly to the foster family, and make sure the match feels right for everyone involved.
If all goes well, you may be able to take your new dog home that very day or arrange another pickup time in the near future.
And if it turns out not to be the right match, that’s totally fine! We’ll continue working together to help you find "the one."
What We Look For in an Adoptive Home
Our goal is always to make thoughtful, lasting matches that set both dogs and adopters up for long-term success. Because every dog is different, there is no one-size-fits-all checklist for adopters. Instead, we look carefully at whether a particular dog seems likely to thrive in a particular home.
Some dogs may have specific needs or preferences for their future home, while others are much more flexible. Depending on the individual dog, we may look for things like a fenced yard, a quieter environment, a home with or without other dogs, or a household where someone is home frequently. For many of our dogs, none of those things matter at all. It simply depends on the dog and what kind of environment they need to thrive.
Because many of our dogs are seniors with medical needs, a history of consistent veterinary care and preventatives for current or previous pets is also extremely important to us.
adoption timelines
Our team works hard to move as quickly as possible once we receive an Adopter Profile. Our Adoption Coordinator can usually speak with you within one to two days of receiving your profile, depending on your availability.
Once that conversation takes place and we’ve heard back from your veterinarian and references, the remaining steps in the process usually take no more than about two weeks. In some cases, timelines may be longer — for example, if you’re interested in a dog who has not yet been medically cleared for adoption.
Because we are an all-volunteer rescue, and many of our volunteers — including our Director — balance rescue work alongside full-time jobs and other responsibilities, timelines can sometimes vary depending on application volume and foster availability.
out-of-state adoptions
We absolutely adopt dogs outside of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, and many of our dogs have found wonderful homes across the US.
We welcome out-of-state adopters as long as they — and any dogs currently in the household — are able to travel to meet the dog in person and safely transport them home. We do not ship dogs or arrange transportation for adoptions.
For dogs receiving a very high volume of applications, we may prioritize strong local matches when possible. However, we’re always happy to consider out-of-state adopters for the right dog and home, and many of our dogs have been adopted by wonderful families well outside our immediate area.
"Today my heart overflows with gratitude for my Miri's baby. I cannot imagine my days without her — she is my joy, my light, and my happiness."
"I love her more than life itself — she is the love and joy of my life. Thank you for all you do and lots of love to everyone at Miri’s Haven."
"He has taken over our home and our hearts. He is absolutely a delightful little guy, and we feel so lucky to have him. Thank you for choosing us to be his pawrents."
"We love every bit of this little man very much. He’s such a character, and it’s a privilege and an honor to care for him softly as he ages."
"Thank you for helping save her and bring her into our lives. She has brought us so much love and joy, and I will forever be grateful to Miri’s Haven for rescuing her."
"She’s such a cute, silly girl and so sweet. She’s happily sleeping on the couch against my leg right now and, without question, she is my soul dog."
"She is the best, and that’s all there is to it. I don’t know how we ever managed without her goofy presence."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long does the adoption process usually take?
Can I adopt if I live outside the DC, MD, or VA area?
Can I adopt if I work outside the home?
Do you adopt to first-time dog owners?
What if I’ve never had a senior dog before?
What if I don’t have a fenced yard?
What medical care do dogs receive before adoption?
Why do you check veterinary references?
Do you do international adoptions?
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’re looking for a quiet couch companion, a tiny shadow, a dog who wants adventure, or a senior who simply wants a soft place to land, we’d love to help you find the right match. Our foster families know their dogs deeply, and we’re committed to helping both dogs and adopters find homes where they can truly thrive.