How to Adopt a Puppy or Dog in Germany | PetzLover

Where can you adopt a dog in Germany?

• Animal shelters (Tierheime). Most are run by local animal welfare societies; the Deutscher Tierschutzbund's shelter finder (Tierheim-Finder) lists those near you.
• Breed rescues and breed clubs. Some VDH clubs help place dogs of their breed; the Klub für Terrier, for example, has a page for terriers in need.
• Rescues bringing dogs from abroad (Auslandstierschutz). Read the section below before you commit to one.
• Private adoption listings. You can browse dogs listed for adoption and save the search to hear about new ones.

No shelter can promise a particular breed or age. Ask several, keep your search running, and be open to an adult or a mixed breed with the right character.

How does adopting a dog from a German shelter work?

1. You fill in a questionnaire about your household, home, working hours and other pets.
2. You meet the dog, ideally several times and on a walk, with everyone who lives with you.
3. Many shelters visit your home before the adoption (Vorkontrolle).
4. You sign a protection or transfer contract and pay the adoption fee.
5. You take the dog home with its Impfpass and papers.
6. A follow-up visit after a few weeks is often agreed.

Expect questions about time alone, children, other animals, your landlord's consent and your experience with dogs. They are not meant to put you off: shelters want each dog to stay in its new home.

How much does it cost to adopt a dog?

Stiftung Warentest advises having the dog's health checked before you sign and recording known findings in the contract.

What should you know about adopting a dog from abroad?

Rescues that bring dogs into Germany and hand them on for a fee need a licence under § 11(1) no. 5 of the Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz). Each dog must enter with an EU pet passport, a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination, which a puppy cannot have before about 15 weeks of age.

• Ask to see the rescue's § 11 licence and the name of the veterinary office that issued it.
• Ask which tests the dog has had for diseases common in its country of origin, and get the results in writing.
• Prefer rescues that let you meet the dog, for example at a foster home in Germany, and that take it back if needed.
• Be wary of very young puppies "rescued" from abroad: the Tierschutzbund warns that illegal traders sometimes disguise their transports as animal welfare.

Is a puppy or an adult dog the better choice?

• Puppies in shelters often come from seized transports or accidental litters. They need house training, socialisation and their vaccination course, and their adult size may be a guess.
• Adult dogs have a known size and character, and many are house-trained.
• Senior dogs are often calm and grateful for a quiet home; ask about their medical needs.

Ask the shelter how the dog copes with being alone, with children, other dogs and cats, and on public transport. If an owner rather than a shelter is placing the dog, read how to take in a rehomed dog.

What should you expect in the first weeks?

• Set up a quiet corner with a bed and water before the dog arrives.
• Keep the first walks short, on a secure harness, and keep visitors to a minimum.
• Register the dog with your municipality for dog tax and, in Berlin, in the central dog register; apply for any shelter-dog exemption.
• Register the microchip in your name, free with FINDEFIX (the Tierschutzbund's pet register) or TASSO.
• Check your state's rules: in Lower Saxony, a new owner must report a dog over six months to the central register within a month, and most first-time owners must pass a competence test.
• Book a vet check and stay in touch with the shelter if problems come up.

Many adopted dogs need several weeks before they relax. Patience, routine and calm handling help more than anything you buy. If you ever have to give a dog up yourself, read how to list a dog for adoption.