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    Adopt A Doggie

    4.5 (100 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Services - Adopt A Doggie

    Pet adoption

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    Jazzy is our silly girl
    Becky D.

    Best adoption experience ever! I have two wonderful Formosan Mountain Dog sisters adopted when they were two years old. Each dog has its own bio, pictures, and videos on the https://adoptadoggie.org/ website. Mary Choi the rescuer works with you through video chat to make a good match. A vet has thoroughly checked all dogs, and they have all the necessary shots, vaccinations, etc. There are videos of how the dog reacts around children, cats, and other dogs at a dog park, being walked in a busy downtown area, playing, and showing no food aggression. Much information is provided that I found very helpful, even though I've been rescuing dogs for more than 50 years. For example, trimming nails, introducing to a bath, basic training, etc. The dogs came crate trained. We have gone to the recommended trainer. Mary does an amazing job, working with the dogs, training them, and finding good homes matching the dynamics of the home with the dogs recommended. She is available if you have questions or need advice. But there's an amazing group of volunteers in the Bay Area that will meet you at the airport, hold Doggie Socials at a dog park, and will help you via phone, text, email, or even meet with you in person if you have questions or need advice. It's a wonderful support group. I've worked with many adoption groups and they've all been wonderful. This one just goes the extra mile. There's more information online about each dog than ANY rescue group I've worked with before. If you're looking to rescue a dog I highly recommend this group. As with all rescue groups I've worked with if something happens down the road, the dog can always go back to the rescue group. Poppy (FKA Vanette) and Jazzy (FKA Vanetti) have been wonderful additions to our family. So happy to be working with Adopt a Doggie!

    Nutmeg enjoying a siesta
    Carl S.

    If anyone is looking for a a doggie to adopt, and is having trouble finding that match, consider www.adoptadoggie.org I adopted my first pup (Curry) in Nov 2018, and Nutmeg in October 2020. As they are feral rescues, they took some time settle in - Some shyness, defensiveness, and not very trusting. Yet, with a patient and attentive demeanor, training, and lotsa love, these girls have flourished. While they are highly affective as a home alarm system, they also warm up to new people quickly, and adore the people they already know. These are highly intelligent animals that use every survival instinct at their disposal until they can be rescued. People need to keep this in mind if considering adoption. Like any creature fighting to live every damn day, you'd be weary too. Patience and consistency are the key to unlocking these pups. This is where adoptadoggie comes into play - once the dogs are rescued , they are nursed back to health, and given lotsa positive stimulation and some basic training to begin their journey to their forever homes. So you are aware, this organization isn't just picking up stray dogs and shipping them out the first chance they get. The founder Mary Choi is a true champion. She will work with people in trying to find a good match based upon shared personal and household dynamics. And if for whatever reason a dog cannot be adopted, it has a forever home with adoptadoggie. Another bonus with this organization is the adoption group. We have an ever expanding group of owners who share information with each other, help out, dog sit, have get togethers. It is very helpful especially for new owners who may be struggling with their new family member. So, if you are really interested in adoption, and have taken everything I've stated earlier into consideration this is a great organization.

    My two dogs adopted from AAD. They are the loves of my life.
    Clara K.

    I like to do thorough research before I move forward with anything. I found AAD online and have never heard of them. I did online searches, watched videos about Mary and her work and attended one of their monthly doggie meet-ups to gain a better understanding of what AAD is about before adopting. AAD did not disappoint. I was interested in one of their dogs and was AMAZED that Mary could share a lot of details about the personalities of the dog. This tells me that she actually spent quality time with the dog, did a comprehensive evaluation and was very transparent. I had two cats at the time and really wanted to make sure the dog was a good fit with my cats and my lifestyle. Mary was very honest and told me that the dog I chose. was not a good fit for me. Based on what she knew about me, she suggested another dog and I trusted her. This dog is now the love of my life. Not only does AAD perform a thorough evaluation on each dog's health, personality and temperament, they also help train the dogs on basic commands. Of course, as with all dogs, training is an ongoing process; however, having a dog that's been exposed to basic training by professionals is incredibly helpful and valuable. When you adopt a dog through AAD, you are part of a community. AAD has a Facebook group, where individuals can share photos, post questions and ask for help. Because we've all adopted through AAD and have a FMD, we have a natural connection . Furthermore, AAD hosts monthly doggie meet-ups. This is a great opportunity for humans as well as their dogs to socialize, make friends and explore different areas. I love AAD so much, I adopted my second dog from them as well. I couldn't be happier with my decision. I'm truly thankful to Mary, Laura and the entire AAD organization for the valuable work they do to rescue so many animals. This world needs more individuals like them. Thank you!

    Falk G.

    Mary is absolutely amazing! Thanks to Mary my two best friends found me. FMDs are not starter dogs, need time to trust you, and you need to invest into building their trust in you, but once they trust you they are the biggest cuddle babies I have ever seen. I never had a dog more loyal, smart and creative. My cats love them, and they all play and sleep together. Again, you must be willing to invest in winning their trust, these dogs are street rescues that were abused over generations. No surprise that they don't trust anyone at first, but they moment they decide to trust you, the moment they put their head on you shoulder, is magic. I will always be thankful to Mary for the amazing and selfless work she does. I will always be thankful for bringing my two best friends to me. I will always be thankful for making such a HUGE difference !!

    Afternoon nap time.
    Alan M.

    Never adopted a dog before and so I don't have anything experience to compare to. It was a surprise for sure to find out the dogs are coming from Taiwan...an international adoption. The fee as mentioned is about $400. From what we found it isn't too far off from other animal adoption from within the states. But again I'm no expert here. The adoption process included providing photos of our home to ensure it is sufficient to house the doggie and have plenty of space for it to run around. We picked up River (fka Kitty) at the airport. We waited for quite a few hours but it was worthy for us because River is just the loveliest 4 legged being I know. We have a good relationship with the staff at AAD and agreed to become foster parents for dogs coming from Taiwan waiting to be adopted. We did 2 rounds of fostering which one became a foster fail. And that's how we got ourselves a 2nd dog, Winter (fka Giselle). Both girls are FMD mix and they get along just fine and both dogs came into our lives without any issues of with our family and got used to their new forever home pretty much right away. I know we are lucky to have this experience as not every adoption stories are the same. Winter is way more skittish than River. She is hyper aware of everything and is spooked easily so I don't want to paint an unrealistic picture for people who are looking to adopt a FMD. Definitely be ready to nurture these dogs. It will take patience. I hope this helps anyone who is looking to adopt.

    Carolyn W.

    I adopted my 1st Formosan from AAD in 2019 when my kids were old enough and I felt ready to have the responsibility again. I found mine on Petfinder and learned this was an international adoption. I met with Mary over FaceTime after she emailed a few options and I was able to view the dogs live to make a final selection. I was able to discuss my lifestyle and kids age, etc to determine the best fit. It resulted in a very good fit. I wanted an active dog for hiking and my first FMD is athletic and was off leash in about 7 months working with her. I was so happy with her that I thought it would be so great to have a second dog - for the first time in my life! So a year later we got a second one, a more mellow girl but she also loves to hike. The best part of adopting has been the community of AAD adopters who post to our group on Facebook. I have organized hikes and there are regular meet-ups. We share advice, struggles and tips. I've never had this type of support as a dog "parent" and it's such a great resource especially if your dog is having a longer transition period or a training issue etc. I hike with my pups several times a week and they generate a lot of comments and discussion with people and it's very cool how ppl are starting to recognize FMDs! They are quirky and fun dogs and it has been a special experience for me and my kids to be loved by them.

    Alyssa D.

    I got my best friend from AAD. Mary and her team are amazing. They go above and beyond to make sure that you are compatible with your dog and that both you and your new best friend have a great start! Mary herself is a saint, she personally remembers all of the dogs she rescues! Not to mention that after you get a dog from AAD, you will still be connected to a community of fellow Formosan mountain dog owners who you can meet up with and get support from. If I ever get another dog, it will definitely be from Adopt a Doggie!

    Amanda C.

    I have adopted 3 dogs from Adopt a Doggie and they are the center of my universe! We had a Formosan Mountain Dog previously so we knew what to expect with this breed. Once bonded to your family this breed is very in tune and focused on their people, ours are very loyal and protective. They are up for long hikes or just chilling on the couch as long as they can be near their family. They also do well in their crates when we need to leave them for a few hours. Mary is very helpful throughout the whole process and has a heart of gold. She is talented at listening to your needs/wants in a dog to choose a perfect match for your family and lifestyle. We were able to video chat with her and our dogs multiple times before their arrival to make the transition as smooth as possible. Testing the dogs with cats was very important to us in making our decision as we have an 11 year old grumpy cat. Mary chose us the perfect dogs and listened to all our concerns! I love my FMDs so much, wish I had room for 3 more!!!

    Nikki W.

    I adopted my two dogs from Adopt a Doggie back in 2021. I first adopted Polly (previously Ebrey) in July 2021 and then Penny (previously Ebley) in September 2021. They are such great dogs! They are friendly, playful and well behaved. It is clear that hard work was put into their intial training by Mary and the Adopt a Doggie volunteers before they were adopted out. Both of them were crate trained, socialized and nearly fully potty trained. Both of them are great at dog parks with other dogs of various sizes.

    Sonia V.

    We were so happy we found Mary and her organization. We have two small boys and were ready to add a puppy to our family. We needed a dog who would, of course, be gentle. Living in an apartment we also needed a dog who wouldn't be too big. We found adopt a doggie through petfinder and contacted Mary through her website. You can just tell Mary is passionate about her rescue work and really goes above and beyond for people as well. (you can check out her work on the documentary "Rescuing Rex" on amazon prime). I was nervous adopting from abroad but had gone to the local shelters for weeks and couldn't find any dogs that would be a good fit for our family. I had done a lot of research and heard that formosan mountain dogs may be a bit aloof and skittish. I told Mary my concerns and she assured me that she would send us a gentle pup since we had little boys. We could not have been happier with our sweet Cosmo. My son was so excited the day we picked her up at the airport. She was shy at first but so polite. She woukd sit before eating, quickly learned our backyard was her potty spot, and came crate trained. It took her about 3 months to blossom into her full quirky self. She isn't like a retreiver who runs up to everyone and slobbers all over them, but she is graceful, cuddly, loving and loyal. FMDs are great because they will go on long hikes but are happy to hang at home. Cosmo and the boys have a blast playing at the beach, cuddling on the couch and playing catch. She is whip smart abd easy to train with treats. Mary has continued to be very supportive and is still in contact with us if we have any questions. I am so happy our family took this leap of faith 1.5 yrs ago because we found the perfect puppy.

    Goofy girl!
    Lisa D.

    We are so so happy with Mary, Laura and foster mom Laine! Everyone was super great to work with from the beginning to end. Mary responded to my application within a day or two and followed up with a whatsapp call to introduce me to the dog we thought we might adopt. It was so wonderful to see the dog live and see her size, temperment and how she was with other doggies. Since we were not ready to adopt for another couple weeks, they could not save the dog for us, so she got adopted. When we were ready we ended up hearing from SF Bay area contact, Laura, who told us a sweet puppy became available! She had been adopted but the family felt she didn't do as well with the cat as she had hoped and she didn't do great on the leash. Since we don't have cats and know how to handle a 6 month old puppy, we decided to meet her that weekend. We met "Sandra" puppy at foster mom Laine's home in the Bay Area last Sunday. The day leading up, Laura and Laine were kind enough to send photos and videos of this sweet girl in the home, at the beach, with their other Formosan Mountain Dogs, etc. We got sooo excited we could hardly wait! When we met her, she was so darn cute, sweet, playful and well behaved...we couldn't NOT take her home! Clearly this doggie was trained before coming into our lives but she is also just a great dog with a wonderful temperment. She is only a little timid with men and other dogs but warms up within seconds and wants to play! She only made 1 accident indoors in the 7 days we have had her, and has already learned commands too. Smarty! She is even better, more adorable and loveable than the videos convey. Her new name is Nikita, and we are absolutely smitten. Thank you for rescuing this amazing doggie! We are excited to give her the best love possible!!

    Sweet Lola.  3

    I've had a very good experience with Adopt A Doggie. My first dog, Lola, was a senior and had been placed with Muttville (senior dog rescue) in San Francisco. I was able connect with AAD and received background information and videos of Lola prior to her coming to the U.S. Despite her very difficult background of abandonment in Taiwan, she made the transition well, and I feel blessed and honored to have had her for the final 2 1/2 years of her life. When Lola passed, I contacted Laura Shelly to inform her, and she was very kind. Being the true advocate that she is, Laura took the opportunity to inform me of another dog that had been returned from the original adopters and needed a home. I still chuckle when I recount that conversation, because Laura is nothing if not dedicated! I agreed to take in the "new" dog and while of course she couldn't take Lola's place in my heart, she has definitely established herself as part of the family for the past 4+ years. Her name is Markles. Initially she was very shy, skittish, and reactive which was understandable given her experiences and situation. She is whip-smart and overtime has settled in to being sweet, strongly attached to her humans, and friendly when meeting strangers ( after some initial sniffing). About two years ago I was again contacted by Laura who wanted me to know that there was another FMD (Nori) who needed to be re-homed. She apparently had been traumatized in the flight out to San Francisco, and was having difficulty in adjusting to living in a condo in Emeryville. She was extremely fearful of going outdoors and meeting new people. In true dedicated fashion Laura provided an abundance of information as well as the option to foster Nori. Laura made the transition as informative and supportive as possible, and now two years later, Nori & Markles are living their best lives in San Rafael! The changes in both girls is remarkable, and it came with patience, persistence, love, and the help of Brent Cooper (Cooperhaus Dog Training), Laura Shelly, and Mary Choi. We love our "re-hommies" !!

    Willow the FMD relaxes on the bed.

    I am very grateful that I discovered Adopt A Doggie! Mary and Laura at Adopt A Doggie are so wonderful. After much research on the breed, I submitted an application, which both Mary and Laura were super responsive to, and answered any and all of my additional questions. After multiple video consultations and introductions to several different animals, we were able to pair me with a terrific dog, Willow. Willow was shy at first, as is common to the breed, but Mary and Laura had already prepared me with what to expect, and how to bond with my new friend. She warmed up quickly and learned to I was very clear with what I was getting into, and that Willow was a rescue animal that might require special attention, but much to my surprise and delight, aside from being very nervous for a few days, Willow learned to trust me pretty quickly. Not only was I matched with an amazing animal, but Adopt A Doggie also has extensive follow up and offers discounted training with the incredible Brent Cooper. While Willow already came to me socialized, potty, and crate trained, Adopt A Doggie's after-adoption training program has helped Willow to be a model dog citizen. She's super intelleligent and very athletic, and I believe that Brent and his trainers really know how to optimize my experience with her. If you're looking for a new friend and are willing to put in the work to properly train an animal, I cannot recommend Adopt A Doggie enough.

    Silvie with Lulu (cor-gle) and Scout (cor-terrier)

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Adopt A Doggie

    How long does it take before you hear back from Laura/Mary? I submitted an application but haven't heard back yet and reading reviews make it sound like some applications are missed :(.

    A year ago I adopted 2 two-year-old FMD sisters from Mary. I didn't hear back from anyone right away. So I sent an email or called. I hadn't filled out or uploaded the application correctly, so it was incomplete. I don't remember if it was Laura or… Read more

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Adopt A Doggie

    I adopted my FMD, Nicky, from Adopt A Doggie with the help of Mary, Laura, and Laine almost five years ago.

    Mentioned in 68 reviews

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    Adopt A Doggie - petadoption - Updated May 2026

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