Adopt Love. Change Your Life.
Life is everchanging, but the one thing that is constant, loyal, and true is the love of a pet.
When we find ourselves drawn to the idea of adding a four-legged family member to our home, there is a certain excitement that builds, but being prepared is crucial when choosing the perfect match. You may be getting ready for your very first dog, or perhaps you’re deciding to add a playmate for your cat or dog. In any case, we want to help you on your journey.
How do you choose the right dog or cat for your household? The main points to consider first are as follows:
How big is your space, inside and out?
Do you have other pets in your home already?
Do you have a child or children?
What is your current daily routine, and your plan for care?
We can help discuss these points and make selecting the right pet much easier. At both of our shelter locations, Riverhead Town in Aquebogue and Southold Town in Peconic, we have dogs of all sizes, both young and adult (puppies at certain times also - keep an eye on social channels and email for those); and we also have kittens and cats. Each of these animals has its own backstory, but no matter what those details are, each of them is ready to find their forever home. It is then our job to be sure that your home is a good fit.
We recommend viewing our Adoption Process & Policies page. Then, familiarize yourself with our Adoption Application, or get the process started by filling out an inquiry online for a specific dog or cat that you’re interested in. Find out more by clicking here.
Ultimately, we need to know some key information about you, your family, your home (rented or owned), and if you are able to care for your chosen animal. The entire process is quite smooth and goes very quickly. Remember, we want to help you and the animals in our care as best we can.
To share more about NFAWL Adoptions, we know that hearing stories and advice from a couple of alumni families will be a valuable resource for you.
Abby & The Johnson Girls
They love their doggie!
Lisa Johnson and her family adopted their dog from the North Fork Animal Welfare League in November of 2022. Her three daughters had been asking for a long time to get a dog. Lisa follows The League on Facebook and had been looking for about a year for a dog that would be the perfect fit for her family.
After seeing Elise’s picture on Facebook (the family later renamed her Abby), Lisa visited the Aquebogue shelter to meet this adorable girl.
“If I went to the shelter and looked at all of the dogs, I would want to adopt them all,” explained Lisa, “I stayed away until I saw a post with one that I thought would be the perfect dog for us.”
The Johnson family was looking for a medium to large dog who was good with kids and other animals, was house-trained, and had an easygoing personality. They found all of these qualities in Abby.
The family has had an amazing response to their newest member.
“My girls and husband love her, but I probably fell the hardest. She relaxes me,” Lisa said, “ I swore I would never get attached to another dog after losing mine seven years ago, but I failed at that. I’m in love!”
Lisa’s advice to those preparing to adopt is to be 100% sure you want to adopt. “Once you do, they are part of your family. Pets are not disposable. They are a 10-15 year commitment, longer if you get lucky. Also, be patient. It doesn’t come naturally or easy at first.” She shares, “The animal has to adjust to their new home and family, and the family has to adjust to their new addition. Each dog, like people, is different. It takes a while to find your groove, but it’s so worth it!”
Many thanks to Lisa for sharing her family’s adoption story.
Legend Loves His Lounge Chair
He particularly loves the cold, but will settle for Long Island summers as long as he has a place to chill.
Another adopter with a heartwarming story is Andrea Modugno of Ronkonkoma. She and her husband adopted Legend, a purebred Siberian Huskey from the Aquebogue NFAWL location about four years ago.
“Finding Legend at NFAWL was very special to me. I had just lost a Siberian Husky due to old age and was very upset over this,” Andrea shared, “When I saw a picture of Legend posted on The League’s Facebook page, I was drawn to him because he looked exactly like the Husky I had lost.”
Andrea explained that the adoption process was very easy. “They instructed me to bring in the other dog I had in our home and they got along instantly,” said Andrea, “The next thing you know, Legend belonged to us. He is the smartest and most precious dog I've ever had!”
The Modugnos shared that Legend was a great fit right away in their home. The fenced-in yard, accommodations, and the space in their home worked well for Legend. Teo, his "brother," were in love and got along perfectly from the start.
Andrea’s advice is to have an open mind when adopting. To meet the dog, and if you have another dog, consider them 100% in the process.
Thank you for sharing your story about adopting Legend, Andrea!
Their advice shares great points that we recommend as well. Please reach out to us if you would like help planning for your pet adoption. We welcome your call at 631-765-1811. We also encourage you to visit anytime daily during our operating hours of 10 am to 3 pm. No appointment is necessary.
We hope to see you soon!
#AdoptLoveNFAWL