Adopt a Lab

Labs4rescue would love to help you find your new family member! We have adopted over 15,000 labs since we began in July 2002. Chances are, we currently have several labs happily living in your community, who along with their "forever family," would be happy to provide a reference.

Labs Ready for Adoption Apply to Adopt

Our Adoption Process

We are a group of individuals from several states throughout the US, who work together to save homeless Labrador Retrievers. We are a Rescue, and not a traditional animal shelter. Our labs are fostered in private homes or sponsored by a shelter volunteer so they can be evaluated in a normal environment.

#1 Review & Apply

Review our current pet listings, then complete our application

#2 Interview

We conduct phone interview to learn more

#3 Match

We strive to make the best match between dogs and applicants

#4 Vet Check

We check to see if your vet recommends you

#5 Home Visit

After a landlord check, a volunteer makes a visit

#6 Adoption!

We arrange safe transit for your new lab

 We encourage potential adopters to read and understand our contract by viewing this Sample Adoption Contract.

Adoption Fees

Our standard $495 non-refundable adoption fee for all vet expenses (spay/neuter, shots, etc.) and transportation to ensure your lab gets to you in a safe, professional manner. Residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New Hampshire are required to pay an additional $125 fee, which defrays the cost of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the New Hamphsire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food mandatory 48 hour isolation and examination by a licensed veterinarian. All adopters must pay their Labs4rescue adoption fee prior to the rescue shipping their dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can fill out your application at any time, but you should begin to look at the site about 2 - 3 weeks prior to when you would like to adopt. Our labs move so quickly, that the ones available today may be adopted next week.
Due to the large volume of emails we receive, we ask that all families check the site often themselves. The site is updated almost daily. Then email the Adoption Coordinator listed on the dog’s Petfinder page.
Unfortunately, this does happen due to the popularity of our labs. If you would like guidance on this, please Contact Us for assistance picking an available dog.
Yes, we require this prior to sending a dog home. Our vets specialize in pediatric spay and neuters because of the pet overpopulation problems we have.
All labs have rabies, bordetella and parvo/distemper shots, a fecal exam for worms and treatment, a heartworm test and treatment if necessary. Puppies under 6 months of age have the appropriate boosters that are needed, although your vet may recommend additional shots. Puppies under 6 months of age will not have a rabies shot as those are done at 6 months. None of our labs originating in the south will have the Lyme vaccine as it is not available in the South.
We recommend you go within 10 days. Your vet should review the paperwork that is sent with your lab and work with you on flea, tick and heartworm prevention. In addition, he/she should do a fecal exam to test for worms as some labs will need treatment in addition to the one given originally.
You pay the adoption fee when you receive your Adoption Contract. You can pay by PayPal, cashier's checks, or money orders. Labs4rescue does not accept personal checks for application and adoption fees. To pay your adoption fee, please click here.

Helpful Guides

We have prepared the following guides to help educate perspective adopters.

Black lab

Adopting a Black Lab

Last adopted and first to be put to sleep...based on coat color alone.

Senior lab

Adopting a Senior Lab

Stories from a few of our senior lab adopters.

Costs of owning a lab

Costs of Owning a Lab

Compilation of articles explaining the costs of dog ownership.

Labs Ready for Adoption

Here are a few of our labs that are currently looking for new homes. For all available labs, please view our complete listings page.

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About Us

Labs4Rescue is a volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing a new life for rescued or displaced Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Mixes.

Our goal is to promote and advance responsible pet ownership.

Useful Links

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Mailing Address

P.O. Box 955
Killingworth, CT 06419

State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture Animal Importer Registration # AIR 000118
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Import License to Operate a Rescue Organization License # 0141
State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Certificate of Registration for Rescue/Category A License # 1596/1247