I emailed this business to find out about a certain dog. I never received a response back. I'm sorry it didn't work out. I'm sure they stay busy but it was disappointing to not be able to have any questions answered. In the end we decided to look elsewhere. Also of interest- I think the dog I wanted to meet was still over seas and maybe that's why they didn't respond? So just be aware if you see a dog on their web site it may not yet be imported. So maybe one star isn't fair? Either way a quick email or note would have been appreciated. That said I'm grateful anyone takes the time the rescue a dog. We've have had a successful overseas adoption in the past & was considering it again (the group we used before doesn't seem to be rescuing currently). read more

Took a chance on adopting Raili from Taiwan. We had submitted a request for her on pet finder. Mary and the association reached out to us. Let us know of some medical work she had & provided plenty of video, photos and a live whatsapp meeting to show us raili and guarantee her health and disposition. We were smitten, said yes, and picked her up a month later at SFO. These dogs are not easy, but a year later it has been the best decision we've ever made. Raili has gone from shy and reserved to a goofy confident dog. the formosan breed is very fight or flight so it is important to give them time to adjust, but also make them face challenges and overcome their fear. Adopt a doggie gave us referals to Brent Cooper (cooperhaus training). and we worked with him for a short while to help with training and confidence building. These dogs are work, but if you have the time it will absolutely work out. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

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Since 2015, we've adopted 3 pupperoos from Adopt A Doggie! They are each unique with there own quirks, but all are dedicated and loyal family members. Thinking of adopting a Formosan mix? Mary's dogs are where it's at. What's also great is the dogs all come with full medical history from their time of rescue, whether it was last month or 2 years ago. That really helped us learn more about the experience each dog had before arriving to us. Formosans mixes are excellent dogs with big personalities. They are very in-tune with their primary member of the family and protective of their family (human, other dog, cat, LIZARD) and property. Lots of energy and love training and having tasks/jobs to do during the day - they have an active mind and can get bored! At the beginning they do need lots of focus and bonding - which is not surprising! These pups have lived on the street and some come from really tough situations, and have developed keen instincts, alertness, and awareness. Then they arrive shipped from Taiwan, so patience is key with them. They are all special dogs who just need some extra love. If you are looking for a dog to guard your home, protect your family, camping trips and long hikes in ALL terrain, and at the same time giant sweet mushes, you can't beat a Formosan from Adopt A Doggie! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Adopt A Doggie - My two dogs adopted from AAD. They are the loves of my life. - Pet Adoption Near Me

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 !! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

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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! read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

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!!! read more

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The dogs are fixed too early and not properly evaluated to be adopted safely into families. Please do your research on the Formosan breed before you adopt. Our dog attacked all of our cats despite being raised with them since brought home a few months old. Even with training it escalated to me being bit devastatingly, requiring multiple reconstructive surgeries. I believe if you want to adopt a dog, please meet it first, get to know what you are in for. Please do your research on the breed, save your face. Please see the 2-star review below describing the real temperament of these dogs. read more

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. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

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. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

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!! read more

Adopt A Doggie - Goofy girl! - Pet Adoption Near Me

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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" !! read more

Adopt A Doggie - Sweet Lola. 3 - Pet Adoption Near Me

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I have 2 dogs from Adopt a Doggie. Everyone you work with is amazing. They all care about the dogs and their well being. I started looking at the local shelters and rescues, but just found huskies, pitbulls/mixes or chihuahuas, which I was not interested. I went to Petfinder and saw this dog that grabbed my attention. When I looked into the details, I saw it was a Taiwan dog. Like many people I was skeptical on getting a dog I had not met. But it was the best decision I made. My 1st FMD is super smart - I would say the best dog I have every had. Based on my experience, I helped foster. My 2nd dog was a foster that did not work out with its 1st owner. Lucky for me, she was a great fit for me and my 1st FMD. Mary Choi will really help you find the perfect dog for you and your family. I would adopt with Adopt A Doggie again if I find I need another dog. read more

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. read more

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*** 1000TH REVIEW*** Woo-hoo! For the last couple of months I thought I would save my review for that 5-star rated restaurant but after much thought wanted to save and dedicate to all ANIMAL RESCUE groups such as ADOPT A DOGGIE and the various HUMANE societies trying to find forever homes for these wonderful 'babies'...whether domestic or overseas. I found a Adopt a Doggie by accident via PetFinder and very grateful to have found Silvie (her given name) a lab/Formosan mix. Mary Choi the founder, rescuer, caretaker is a loving person to be admired for saving these street dogs (in Taiwan) from danger and possibly, meat factories. She is a selfless person who takes them into her home to train and make them ready for adoption using her own resources and minimal private donations. Terry and Laura are the Bay Area coordinators who work with Mary to coordinate the adoptions - countless hours transporting from SF Airport (after a long flight!), coordinating meetups, training and endless resources to assist new adopters...all volunteered time. With any new pet it takes time to adjust, require patience and will test boundaries...after consistent training, Silvie has been a great sister to Lulu and wouldn't do anything different. Love her ...naughtiness and all! If you're not ready to ADOPT you can help by volunteering or making a minimal donation (goods or $$) to any rescue or humane society in your area...like Yelp friends, Janet T (Peninsula Humane Society), Charlie B (Northern CA Beagle Rescue) and Jennifer N (ARF - Tony LaRussa Animal Rescue Foundation) You ladies rock! read more

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My husband and I have adopted two dogs through Adopt a Doggie. I can't say enough great things about the founder, the volunteers and the network of dog owners. The process is straight forward. The dogs are vetted. By watching the videos, you can get a very good idea of what you are getting. As with any pet, patience, consistency and love are required. We love our girls to death, they are the best!!! Mary Christine Choi is amazing and the organization is wonderful. I would be happy to discuss our experiences with any prospect adopters read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

So happy that we found Mary and her team to adopt our boy from. After an initial application, we were scheduled to have a video chat with Mary to see if he was going to be the right match for us! She listened to our past history and our personalities to make sure he was the perfect one. After that, he was scheduled to be on the next flight over from Taiwan to SFO. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep the few days prior to his arrival. Mary and her team provided us with a lot of good information and advice so that we were prepared for his arrival. We also have monthly meet-ups with the other owners in the area that we enjoy going to each time! It's a perfect time for all the pups/siblings to meet up again and play with each other. I'm so grateful to Mary and the team for pairing us up with our boy, Hershey. We love him so much and can't imagine what's it like without him. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

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Amazing experience from start to finish. We completed our application in June and met with Mary virtually (her rescue is in Taiwan). She had the perfect match for our family but wanted to confirm all aspects, so she continued to test her with children, cats, and adults. She sent pix and videos along the way. After the spaying process she shipped her over, and we picked her up at SFO - coordinating with the volunteers stateside. A smooth transaction in every way; Mary goes out of her way to make sure her dogs are placed with families that will cherish these beautiful dogs! We immediately began training with Brent Cooper in San Jose (as recommended) and can't say enough great things about our experience as a whole. As a first time dog owner, we would certainly consider adopting a second dog from this organization in the future! read more

Why the 5 stars? 1. Community. After you adopt your dog, there are regular meetups to socialize your dog and you. There's a facebook forum to asked questions and trade-time for dog sitting. 2. Commitment. They are committed to the success of the dog owner and the dog. Beside adopting a great dog from them, I help foster. Sometimes it is not a perfect fit and they try to re-home the dog and make adjustments. This is true even years after the initial adoption. Laura and Mary are accessible and gives great advice. There was even a dog that was hit by a car and the AAD found a surgeon that saved the dog's leg and helped rehab her. 3. The have great dogs. Most are medium size: goofy, loyal, athletic, lazy, affectionate, few genetic problems because they are mixed breeds. Even suitable for many cat owner or household with kids. They are pre-socialized and ready to flourish with your love. Of course this is a rescue so they come in many shapes and sizes, but most dogs they rescue are Formosa Mountain Dogs (Mixed breed) that are all of it above. read more

Mary and her team (Laura, Terry and volunteers) do such an amazing job at not only rescuing the sweetest dogs but also providing an easy experience for those trying to adopt a dog. I was referred to Mary through an old coworker after becoming obsessed with her Formosan mountain dog. Since then I have adopted two dogs thanks to Mary and they have brought so much happiness to my home. Our first dog was adopted in mid-2020 and our second in late 2022. Both times I have seen immense care from adopt a doggie, in the way they have provided us with all the necessary resources, vaccines and medical care for the pups and scheduled pickups. FMDs are amazing dogs and I am so happy I found an organization that cares so much and helps these amazing dogs find the perfect homes. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

We had such a great experience with ADD and Mary in Taiwan! In 2019.She face timed with us and our kids and talked with us, got to know us and our lifestyle and matched us with the perfect dog for us. When it was time for a second furry family member we of course got in touch with Mary in Taiwan and Laura locally! Again, she matched us with the perfect sibling for our MYLO! Raya joined our family November 2022! They prepare you so well for your new pet and the dogs come in such great shape, crate trained and house trained! And they are always available for you if you need help or advice! read more

Adopt A Doggie - Raya - Pet Adoption Near Me

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We had a great experience with the Adopt a Doggie organization last year, which we found through Petfinder. Please keep in mind many of their breeds are listed as 'lab' but some are likely formosan mountain dog mixes as all dogs were rescued from Taiwan. Please do research into this breed to ensure it will be the right dog for your family. Their mission statement really speaks to me, as it sounds like Mary is single-handedly running the organization herself from rescuing to training all of the dogs. Their website shows plenty of photos and videos of each dog interacting with children and food, to ensure they are not aggressive and will make great family pets. You can also see videos of her facilities in Taiwan to understand how many dogs she is caring for and the type of environment the dogs are in. We found our dog Basil when she was about 4 months old and picked her up from her foster home (she had already arrived to the Bay area for some time now, but I understand some dogs they post could still be overseas) and could immediately tell she was very well taken cared for and loved. The foster home had small children and one other dog, so we felt confident Basil would get along well with kids and other animals. Her foster mom even gave us her large travel crate, toys, and blanket to make the transition more comfortable, which was extremely sweet of her! The adoption fee was very reasonable given the fact that all dogs have their shots (their medical papers are in Chinese since they perform most of the services in Taiwan), spade/neutered, microchipped, and have been on a flight all the way from Taiwan! We could not have been happier with our new furbaby! Please keep in mind since some of these dogs were rescued off of the streets it takes them a little while to be completely trusting and affectionate (depending on the age they were rescued). Basil was a little jumpy the first 6 months or so until she got used to us and her new life, we also ran into other adopted formosan puppies and could immediately see they were not used to being pet or were very skittish. Please be patient with your new pup! Basil is now an extremely happy, playful, and lovable dog and we always get asked what breed she is as she is very unique looking and has a friendly personality. I highly recommend adopt a doggie to anyone looking to adopt! I understand the hesitation of adopting from an overseas organization, but there are many stray and unwanted animals in Asia due to the culture of not owning pets. Mary understands the best chance for these animals would be sending them to the US to get adopted. She is not trying to make money from this (I'm not sure how she could given the absurd amount it must cost to transport these dogs) and doing the best she can given her limited resources. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Basil the formosan mix, about 1.5 years old now - Pet Adoption Near Me

I adopted my FMD, Nicky, from Adopt A Doggie with the help of Mary, Laura, and Laine almost five years ago. What a blessing! The training she received in Taiwan from Mary was incredibly valuable. When she came to the USA she was helped by Laura to recover from kennel cough and then fostered lovingly by Laine. When you get a dog from Adopt a Doggie they will support you throughout the dog's life. This is wonderful gift for which I am very grateful. read more

I have had the best experience with Adopt A Doggie. I adopted my first dog almost 10 years ago, and have adopted 2 more since. I just moved to California from the East Coast and was looking for a rescue; I was very impressed with the videos that Mary posted. My first dog Pebbles (originally Angelina) even had the actual video of Mary rescuing her on her profile! I was in love right away. She was a little puppy alone in the mountains with ticks all over her. The video is on You Tube. Now this abandoned pup is living the dream in California. Mary gives lots of information about each dog's personality in the videos. The work that Mary does to rescue, socialize, and train is unbelievable. She and Laura work tirelessly to help these wonderful dogs get adopted to the right home. Adopt a Doggie gives ongoing support after your dog is adopted including social meet ups for the dogs and their owners. Not only did I adopt 3 dogs from Adopt a Doggie, I also began fostering for the organization. I have fostered over 50 dogs! Fostering has been a really rewarding experience. It is such a good feeling to prepare a dog for adoption and then see it go to a wonderful home. I have made lifelong connections and good friends with with people connected to Adopt a Doggie, I am so happy. I HIGHLY recommend adopting a rescue dog from Adopt a Doggie !!! read more

I also have gotten 3 doggos from Mary! Two are 1/2 Formosean and the fluffy one's mom was a border collie, I'm thinking Dad was part Chow. He is so silky and fluffy. And she is indeed dedicated to getting the right dog with the right humans! I had a senior dog that I wanted to help train the new pup. How to use the pet door... The new pup really surprised me when he started grooming the old one - she loved the respect... Since he was active I decided to get another pup from Mary to fit with his active style - because I'm not always so active - they give sooo much love to my son and I, and are so devoted to each other! They BOTH groom the older dog. It is a beautiful thing to witness - they are very sweet, loving, intelligent, and shed less than my older dog :))) I ended up fostering a third - and she was such a good fit for our family I kept her too. It's not as crazy as it sounds. They take care of each other, emotionally, grooming, and playtime. Which means they don't have separation anxiety. They are 7, 6, and 5 years now. I have a pet door and free-range food, so I am free to go about my day and come home to bundles of LOVE! We got 2 cats a year ago. We fostered them at 1/2 pound ea and the dogs like them - yet don't cuddle with them. BUT - all of them can eat from the same plate at the same time - so - all good buddies! I'm told they are very well-behaved all the time:))) In fact, all 3 often come to work with me - in a retail store! They come when called, which is great for hiking off-leash! read more

I have adopted two amazing pups from Mary, and she worked to get my family the right match. My pups were crate trained, potty trained spayed, micro chipped, and shots up to date. The dedication she shows to these dogs is admirable. read more

Adopt A Doggie - This is Ellie fka Ebony - Pet Adoption Near Me

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Adopt a Doggie is an amazing dog rescue. I was able to find two amazing pups from this group. The group also makes sure the pups adopted are a good fit for you and your family. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Pet Adoption Near Me

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We adopted our rescue pup Raina from Adopt A Doggie in December 2022. We began a search for adoption at our local shelters and found it challenging to find the right dog for our family. A friend recommended Pet Finder and within days we found Raina on the app and got connected with Mary via Facebook. We turned in an application, did a Facebook live chat interview with Mary, and picked our sweet girl up from the airport a couple weeks later. She was very scared as any rescue dog would be especially after being shipped on a plane for so long! We worked with her gently, slowly and lovingly and it didn't take long for us to earn her trust. She is gentle, loving, and affectionate. Formosan Mountain Dogs do tend to be a one-person dog, they attach and imprint on one main member of the family. Raina has definitely done that with me, however she is also warm and affectionate with the other members of the family. If you adopt a dog from Mary, you will be met with lots of support and guidance from the local volunteers to help you with any questions or resources you may need. There is a great local group of fellow Adopt a Doggie families who meet up regularly and offer support as well. FMD's are a special breed of dog, they are do require lots of love, gentleness, and patience. I have had pure bred dogs in the past, and none of them has been as shy, silly, and quirky as Raina, but she is just the sweetest most lovable and loyal creature I've ever had in my life. read more

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***ADOPTER BEWARE - READ BEFORE CONSIDERING ADOPT-A-DOGGIE*** Following the format of other reviewers with bad experiences here, I wrote a list of what to expect (ADOPT A DOGGIE WILL NOT PREPARE YOU FOR ANY OF THIS). This is based on my long painful experience with the dog I adopted and with this rescue (and Mary Choi, specifically). 1. The dogs are often listed as a lab mix and as "shy". This is so fast from the truth, "shy" barely scratches the surface of the behavior problems you might encounter, and it's a euphemism fort anxious and aggressive. It's frankly an intentional misrepresentation to suggest these dogs have a mild social temperament. 2. The rescue claims to temperament test the dogs. Mine was listed as good with strangers, men, children, and cats. She's none of those things. She started out trembling and scared to even go outside, and then she found her voice and became a barking reactive mess. Just getting the dog to poop is a real trial and test of your strength. 3. When asking for help on the rescue's Facebook group, you get 1 of 3 responses. I received all 3: a) give it time and patience (time to let the problem get worse); b) go to Cooperhaus training in San Jose (because slapping a prong collar on the dog and forcing it to interact while it's panicking builds your authority, I guess?!) c) it's your fault the dog is that way, since they have video of the dog behaving normally in Taiwan. Very nice. 4. If you decide to keep and rehab the dog, expect to spend so much time and a shit ton of money (thousands a year beyond the usual care needs) on training and behavior modification, on meds, on finding people with the skill to care for your high needs dog when you go out of town, etc. I didn't sign up for this when I adopted my pup. So KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO. 5. Trainers I consulted told me she's going to struggle her whole life. What a life. She doesn't deserve to have ended up in an apartment in a crowded city. She needs to be on a farm or on some land with many acres. Adopt-a-Doggie should know that. Trainers and vets have told me my experience is not unique to this type of dog or to dogs from Adopt-a-Doggie. In retrospect, I should have known that a rescue that ships a dog on a plane before it's 6 months old is not a rescue worth its weight in salt. 6. They refuse even basic help, such as answering questions about the dog, when you first receive the pup. My dog had severe diarrhea when I got her. I took her to the ER (she was pooping blood) and the vet asked me to ask the rescue what they'd been feeding. When I emailed Mary Choi, the response I got was "take the dog to a vet." Yeah, very helpful. Turned out the dog had giardia. It would have been nice to receive honest information to begin with, and to have been given any information when I inquired, and to not have to run every test under the sun costing a $1000 the first week after the dog arrived. SUMMARY I'm heartbroken. I kept my dog. I love her. But I don't enjoy her at all. Life with her is very hard. And the poor pup deserves to have ended up living in the country. I wish for her sake I knew then what I know now. WHO SHOULD ADOPT FROM ADOPT A DOGGIE? Someone interested in the process of rehabbing a dog -- and I don't mean obedience training or using a leash to control the dog, I mean solving the underlying anxiety. DO NOT expect accurate information from Adopt-A-Doggie, Mary Choi, or their local representative. Don't expect them to know what they're talking about. And don't expect them to empathize or be on your side. Unlike other reviewers who still commend the organization for good intentions, I do not. I believe they are unethical, think they know more than they do, give bad advice, make bad decisions, are unkind, and lack compassion when you are struggling. They suffer from "rescue" mentality, wanting to be saviors so badly they say and do things that result in bad outcomes, both to the dog and to the adopting family. Mary Choi was particularly egregious on all counts, and the local rep, Laura Shelley spouts nonsense about dogs in emails to you written in All CAPS. The pros: The dogs, to the extent they are a breed or type, are super smart, athletic, agile, and loving of their owner. But you have to be willing to invest a LOT of time patience and money in the process of rehabbing them. read more

We adopted our dog Bailey (Formerly Known As Anberta) from Adopt A Doggie in October and she is a wonderful dog. By adopting a stray from Taiwan, you're saving 2 dogs by opening a spot for another stray in their foster homes. However, I made sure to do a lot of research and asked a lot of questions beforehand because I knew I would not be able to meet the dog firsthand. My dog was listed as friendly, good with walks, good with cats, basically good overall. When we met her, she was very skittish and scared and needed at least a month to start coming out of her shell, which was expected. She came to us untrained, or maybe it was the accent or us speaking a different language but we had to start her obedience training from scratch (beginning with "sit"). If you're considering adopting a dog from this organization, make sure you know that these rescuers are very kind/compassionate to want to help these stray dogs find loving homes and they do all they can to try to train them but the dogs have lived on the streets of Taiwan so they might come with certain quirks, (such as being afraid of balls as our dog is) or will hide behind you when it sees car driving past. As you will learn in the obedience training class (free), you must NOT baby the dog, as it will teach the dog that it is ok to be scared. It sounds very counter-intuitive but it has helped our dog overcome it fears. PROS: - 1 free dog obedience training class is included with the adoption by Cooperhaus in Milpitas, CA. - The Adopt A Doggie community is very close knitted via their Facebook group and holds monthly doggie meet ups at various dog parks around the Bay Area. - The "adoption fee" is a suggested donation, so it is tax deductible. - The cost includes the flight over if the dog is from Taiwan, and includes the crate (there is a suggested donation for it so they can buy crates for other dogs). - If you have any questions or concerns, Laura and Mary are always available to help and answer questions CONS: - Some dogs are located in the US but most are in Taiwan so pickup from SFO airport is needed. Expect to be at the airport for at least 1.5 hours depending on flight delays. - The "adoption fee" is $400 and the crate has a suggested donation of about $60 or more (but it is tax deductible and you get to keep the crate) - however, you have to take the crate because the dogs can't be let out of the crate at the airport. read more

Adopt A Doggie - Our doggie Bailey next morning after getting picked up from the SFO - Pet Adoption Near Me

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1st of all, Looking for the perfect pet for you and your family is hard enough. When I found bubbles a Bichon Frise who was apparently in Taiwan. I was told that there were other people looking at the dog but they were not really interested. After two days of working with Laura and she assured me that I was the top runner in getting this dog. I told her that I wanted her to be 100% sure that this dog would not be taken from me because I did not want to be disappointed. She said that it wouldn't happen and that I was the # 1 person. I told her do not tell me that unless you are sure. She said for sure I was the one getting this dog. I told my family that we were getting this dog. I even went as far as buy a new crate, dog food and toys in preparation for his arrival. A day later, Laura then said that she wanted me to do a video conference with Mary Choi when she returned from the Christmas holiday. Then another day while I was busy with Christmas shopping and out to dinner she text me and wanted to Video Conference with Mary Choi at that moment, last minute. She realized it was a difficult task since I was not prepared to do this so soon. She wanted to reschedule for the next (Sunday) evening between 6 and 7 pm but I had plans that I could not cancel so we rescheduled for Monday evening. Let's not forget that the conference was supposed to happen after Christmas and it's still 12-21-2019. Then out of the blue on Sunday night we get a text from Laura saying that Mary has decided to give the dog to another family. So, If you are planning to adopt a dog, I say look else where. I did not mind jumping through hoops in order to adopt the dog. First sending photos of the inside and outside of my home, photos of our existing pets and then photos of my entire family and girlfriend as well. I understand sending photos of your home to ensure that the pet is going to a good home is one thing but photos of myself and family? I could understand if I had small children but they knew that I did not because that is one of their questions but what I look like should not make a difference. Then pulling this crap and giving away a dog that was promised to me is just plain rude and a little cruel and heartbreaking. In addition, look at the reviews on Yelp. According to one review it seems as if these dogs may come with psychological issues due to their prior history before coming to Mary Choi and to the USA. In addition, you are buying the dog without no personal interaction with the dog prior to picking them up at the airport. I should appreciate the blessing in disguise. I am just a little heated for their lack of compassion for the people that want to adopt. If they treat clients like this, makes me wonder what the dogs go through. read more

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We have two rescues from Mary. They are both angels (and devils - in a fun way). We could not be happier or more grateful for the work Mary does. read more

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Best decision we have made. We had been looking for an additional family dog for a while, but were not considered due to having a senior dog, cats and a small child already. From the first time I chatted with Mary i knew she cared very much about finding us the right dog....AND SHE DID! Zilon has been such blessing to our family, and has been fitting into our lifestyle since day 1. Would do it over and over again! read more

Everything has been so amazing from Day 1 with Adopt a Doggie! My husband and I adopted our first pup from them back in January of 2015, and we just passed her 3rd birthday last month! We picked Trinity up at SFO after extensive online video watching and communication with Adopt a Doggie to screen us to be sure we were a fitting home for our sweet girl. In August of 2015 we went ahead and adopted another pup, through Adopt a Doggie again because we had such a great experience. This time we brought Trinity to their boarding facility in Hayward to meet the other pups, and we found our perfect match, Lola. They were both great in training (a little anxious but they prepped us for that and explained most taiwanese dogs are shy and skittish) and after all of our hard work we can now say we have 2 of the most well behaved dogs we know. They include a free training session in the adoption fee and we utilized this over at Cooperhaus (I wish they had training closer to Concord since this was in San Jose but I see why, Cooperhaus was amazing!!) which was great. Adopt a Doggie also hosts monthly meet ups for all of their dogs and we love to visit these when we can. A lot of the time we see our dog's siblings there and overall they get great interaction in these meet-ups and owners all share tips about their dogs from taiwan. I would give Adopt a Doggie 10 out of 5 stars if I could for how much the owner, Mary, loves these dogs and takes care of them. She is a true example of who you want in charge to ensure these wonderful doggies find equally wonderful and loving homes! read more

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My dog Pepper (FKA Windsor) just arrived from Adopt A Doggie/Mary's Doggies and it was an excellent experience. For those unfamiliar with the process, it is just a little different to a typical US adoption and requires a a small adjustment (predominantly waiting a couple of weeks for your dog to arrive), but otherwise it is seamless. We had been searching on Petfinder and found some dogs we liked. We contacted Adopt A Doggie (not knowing the dogs were in Taiwan) and we interacted with a lady named Laura, who "screened" us, oriented us to the process and organized our interview (via Zoom) with Mary in Taiwan. Laura was super helpful with advice, responsive and nice. Then we interviewed with Mary and she recommended a different dog for us given our lifestyle. At first we were a little skeptical, but now we TOTALLY understand and appreciate Mary's intuition and expertise and we are so grateful and happy with our dog. While we waited, Mary sent us videos of our dog every few days - playing, training, walking, meeting people, meeting cats, playing with dogs, etc., so we really felt we were getting to know her even though we had to wait for her - this was both comforting and helped the (virtual) bonding process for us, as when she arrived we already knew a lot about her temperament and personality. Both Mary and Laura were responsive to any questions we had and always responded extremely fast (for Mary in Taiwan, 16 hours ahead, I was shocked sometimes at how late/early she was working) and made us feel like their only client - of course they had many many more. Then, Pepper arrived at SFO and it was a well organized handover with very nice volunteers (Karen & Kelly) handling things for us at the airport - fast and efficient. Finally, knowing nothing about Mary Choi/Mary's Doggies before we went into this and now having spent some time researching them, I can only say I am profoundly humbled by seeing the work they do and the personal sacrifices Mary makes to rescue these dogs (160 dogs at her modified home at the time we adopted). Adopt A Doggie/Mary's Doggies are an extremely worthy charity and the I am so grateful people like this exist. Their Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhZfhnsF7EG0flz5ljfbMw) is all you really need to see to give you the confidence that this is an above and beyond organization. Thinking about adopting? - go for it! read more

We have adopted 3 dogs from Adopt A Doggie and each one of them has changed my life for the better. Before, during, and after the adoption process, Adopt A Doggie is thorough and easy to work with and communicate with. Please consider adopting from Adopt A Doggie next time you're ready to bring a new dog into your life! read more