***PLEASE NOTE -- EFFECTIVE NOV. 1ST, OUR ADOPTION DONATION AMOUNTS HAVE CHANGED. SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS.*** 

So You Want to Adopt a Buster Dog . . .

Adopting a Buster dog requires a tax deductible donation of $200 for adult dogs, and $300 for puppies under 6 months of age.  This means that at the end of the year you can list this as a charitable contribution on your tax return.  Your donation helps us cover the cost of veterinary expenses, dog food, and in some cases boarding expenses.

You can download an application at the bottom of this page and email it to us at info@busterdogs.com.

Please note:  Because of the high price of fuel, we charge a small additional fee for the home visit/adoption trip for anyone living more than 75 miles from Belleville.  This additional fee is also considered a charitable contribution.

Before Adoption, all Buster dogs are:

• Spayed/neutered
• Fully vaccinated (Distemper, Bordatella, Parvo, and Rabies - as age appropriate)
• Dewormed, tested negative for heartworm, and given heartworm preventative
• Microchipped

The Buster Foundation does NOT adopt dogs out in any of the following cases:

• A home with other dogs and/or cats that have not been spayed/neutered
• A home located in a city or township with breed-specific legislation (we recommend you research your city's animal-related ordinances prior to filling out an application)
• A home in which the dog's primary caregiver(s) is under the age(s) of 21
• A home outside of the state of Michigan
• A home in which a resident has been convicted of cruelty or neglect to an animal.

 The Adoption Application Process

After we receive your completed application, we will then do the following:

1. Review your application to make sure the information provided is complete and appropriate given the needs of our dogs
2. Contact your references
3. Contact you with any follow-up questions or concerns we may have
4. Schedule a time for you (and your family members and pets) to meet the dog(s)*
5. If the meeting goes well, we will then schedule a home visit with the dog at your house*

*Please note:  ALL family members and pets residing in the house must be present for at least one of the interviews and home visits.  This includes anyone who might be spending regular time at your home such as close relatives, significant others, dogsitters, etc.

It is common for the adoption process to take as long as 2-3 weeks, from the time that we receive your application to the day you are able to take the dog home with you.  We hope you will be patient and understand that adopting one of our dogs is not a quick process, given the importance of finding each dog the best home.

Things to Consider

After reviewing your application and meeting with you, we may suggest that a dog of a different age, sex, or temperament will be better suited to your living situation and household.  For example, we often recommend that homes that already have one dog adopt a new dog of the opposite sex in order to reduce the likelihood of conflict between the two.  Similarly, we often recommend that households with multiple young children let us recommend the best dog for them, in order to ensure positive interactions between the new dog and the younger members of the family.  This is particularly important with active, energetic breeds that require the kind of exercise and training that pit bulls do.

Please understand that because of the regular abuse, neglect, discrimination, and public misperceptions experienced by pit bulls and other bully breed dogs, we are highly selective and thorough in our adoption screening.  We do not wish to have you disappointed or overwhelmed with your new dog once you've brought them home, nor do we want to put a dog through a stressful transition, only to have them unwanted and returned to us.

Applications can be mailed to:  info@busterdogs.com.  If you prefer to send your application by U.S. Mail, please address it to:  The Buster Foundation, P.O. Box 233, Belleville, MI,  48112.

Be sure to call or email that your application is in the mail.

Start Your Pit Bull and Bully Breed Education Now!

In the meantime, we strongly recommend that anyone interested in adopting a pit bull or bully breed dog visit the following websites for more information on the breed and what owning these active, loveable dogs entails.

www.pbrc.net

www.animalfarmfoundation.org

www.understand-a-bull.com

www.savingamericasdog.com

www.lawdogsusa.org

www.forpitssake.org

www.badrap.org

 Please download an adoption application below:

(All electronic applications must insert typed name and initials in all sections requiring handwritten initials and signatures.)

Adoption Application -MS Word Format 

Adoption Application - PDF (Adobe Acrobat) Format