Guide · Adoption
Just adopted a dog? Your first 30 days checklist
The records to collect, the appointments to book, and how to help your new dog settle in, week by week.
Quick answer
In the first 30 days, collect every record the rescue has, see a vet within the first week, put the microchip in your name, and keep vaccines and heartworm prevention on schedule. Give your dog a quiet, predictable routine. Many rescues describe settling in as taking about 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months. Keep copies of everything in one place.
Before you leave the rescue: get the paperwork
Ask for everything they have. It's much easier on adoption day than three months later.
- Vaccine history with dates, and the rabies certificate if one was given
- Spay or neuter record
- Microchip number and the company it's registered with
- Any medications: dose, and when the last one was given
- Heartworm test result and any prevention given
- Which vet the foster family used, so you can request those records
- The food they've been eating, and how much
- Your adoption contract. Note any vet-visit deadline in it.
Week by week
Let them decompress
A quiet space, short leashed walks, and the same food the rescue used. Keep visitors and new places to a minimum. Extra sleep, nerves or a skipped meal are common.
First vet visit
Book it for the first week, even if the rescue just vaccinated. Bring every record. In North Carolina, dogs must wear their rabies tag at all times, so get it on the collar.
Paperwork and routines
Put the microchip in your name. If you're changing food, mix it in gradually over about 7–10 days. Set reminders for vaccines and monthly preventives.
Build trust
Their personality starts to show. Add short training sessions and slowly introduce new people, dogs and places. Full settling often takes around three months.
The step most adopters miss: the microchip
A chip only helps if the registry has your phone number. Many are still registered to the rescue or a previous owner.
- Find the chip number in the adoption papers, or ask your vet to scan it.
- Enter it in the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup to see which registry holds it.
- Contact that registry to transfer it into your name. Some charge a small fee.
- Update your phone number and address whenever they change.
What to expect at the first vet visit
Bring every record the rescue gave you, and ask the clinic whether to bring a stool sample.
- A full exam and a baseline weight
- A review of the rescue's records
- Vaccines brought up to date
- A test for intestinal parasites
- Heartworm prevention (the American Heartworm Society recommends it year-round)
- Spay or neuter plans, if it hasn't been done
The easy way
The easy way: start their record on day one
Upload PDFs or photos of the adoption paperwork. Smart Import suggests vaccines, medications and vet visits. Review the suggestions, save your review, then apply your selected choices. Your dog's records change only after you confirm. Then reminders keep the next 30 days on track.
Smart Import found in adoption-papers.pdf
- Vaccinations 3
- Medications 1
- Vet visits 2
Biscuit's next 30 days
- First vet visit: Thursday
- Heartworm prevention: Every 30 days
- Bordetella: Due in 3 weeks
Still looking for your dog?
Browse adoptable dogs from local rescues and shelters, updated every night.
Browse adoptable dogsFrequently asked questions
When should I take my adopted dog to the vet?
Ideally within the first week, even if the rescue just vaccinated them. Check your adoption contract too, since some set a deadline.
My dog came with almost no records. What now?
Ask the rescue again for the intake exam, vaccines and which vet the foster used. If nothing turns up, your vet can restart vaccines or run tests to fill the gaps.
Is the microchip automatically in my name?
Often not. Look up the chip number to find the registry, then ask them to transfer it to you.
Should I get pet insurance right away?
Many plans don't cover conditions that showed up before you enrolled, so some owners sign up early. Compare waiting periods before you choose.
Start with your dog
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The rescue's paperwork, vaccines and reminders, in one place you control.
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This guide is general information, not veterinary or legal advice. Your vet and your rescue have the final word on what your dog needs.