BTRET Home Visit Form

Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee

Home Visit Form

Thank you for taking the time to complete this form after your home visit. Your observations will help us determine whether the home is fitting for a rescued Boston Terrier. Please answer all of the applicable questions thoroughly and honestly.

General Information

Rate this Home Visit 1-5.

What are your reason for this score?

Applicant Name

Applicant City and State

Applicant Phone

Applicant E-mail

Home Visit Volunteer (Your) Name

Your E-mail

Your association

If you volunteer for another dog rescue, list the name of the rescue here:

Date of Home Visit

Discussion Points

No dog should ever be left outside in a car, even with the windows cracked. Also, a dog should never be allowed to ride in the back of a pick-up truck.

Vet care is important. Dogs should be tested yearly for heart worm and given preventative monthly. Ideally, the dog should have flea and tick treatment, too. Likewise, dogs should get age appropriate vaccines. As dogs get older, they should be updated on rabies (required by law) but likely no longer need other vaccines unless they’re kenneled often (in that case Bordetella).

The dog must have a collar with the rescue-issued ID tag on at all times. If the tag is lost at any point, the applicant should call the rescue for a new one. The adopter should also get a regular ID tag for the dog.

Introducing new dog to current dogs. The dogs should meet on neutral territory or outside of the home. The new dog should be kept on a harness and observed indoors and separated when not under supervision.

It can take a few months for a dog to fully adjust to a new home, including the family members and other pets. It can also take time for even a housetrained dog to adjust to bathroom habits.

There’s an incredibly good chance that the new dog will have accidents once in the home. Things like a schedule, appropriate re-training and belly bands can help.

Feeding a healthy diet will extend the life of your dog and reduce health issues. Real meat should be the first ingredient. Avoid foods with and treats with dyes or made out of the country.

Kong toys are great. Caution against rope toys, rawhides and other toys that can be chewed easily and cause blockages. All toys should only be used with supervision.

All dogs can benefit from positive training, even “already trained” dogs. Never use prong or choke collars, or negative training like yelling, hitting, rubbing the face in an accident, etc.

In the case of behavioral issues, they should rule out health issues, contact us for advice, and seek the help of a behaviorist (a typical training class at PetSmart typically won’t do).

It requires time and patience to train a dog.

Dogs will not arrive perfectly well trained.

We have many resources on our website about training, lost and found resources, vacationing, pet-friendly housing and more. The applicant should take the time to review and use these resources.

If they are approved for adoption, they should take all information about the dog, including vaccine information, to their vet for establishment. Explain we have two options for free (one or two month) pet insurance plans they must take advantage of if they are approved. Tell the adopter that if the veterinarian feels the dog has a costly issue, they should contact us BEFORE agreeing to any procedure or treatment. Explain routine vet care can cost several hundred dollars each year. Explain that while Boston Terriers have short coats, applicants should learn or find a vet/groomer who can clean the dog’s ears and trim his/her toenails.

The nature of a Boston Terrier. These dogs are smart and trainable but stubborn. They may not always greet other pets well initially, but are typically not defensive. They typically love to play with toys and chase balls, often to a fault. They can have eye issues (because they’re buggy) and breathing issues because of their short snouts. Boston Terriers should only be kept briefly (long enough to do their business) in extreme weather, or pee pads should be incorporated. Boston Terriers, again because of the shape of their face, tend to snore and can be gassy. They typically love people but are not appropriate for small children.

If the dog runs away or goes missing, they should contact BTRET immediately. Likewise, they should hang fliers and visit (not just call) local shelters. There are helpful Lost and Found resources on our website.

Understanding Contract Terms: The dog must be on a leash at all times if not in a fenced-in yard. The rescue-issued ID tag must be issued at all times. Changes in phone number or address should be given to BTRET and the microchip company for updating. The dog should not be left alone for more than 6 hours without being let out or having pee pads.We can’t guarantee the health or disposition of any dog, though they are seen by a vet. If they can’t keep the dog, the dog MUST be returned to BTRET.

Additional comments on discussion points

Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee

Home Visit Form

General Information

Exterior of House

Interior of Home

Applicant History, Experience and Disposition

Children

Other Pets in the Home

Discussion Points

Final Thoughts