Wolf Trap Animal Rescue (WTAR) focuses efforts on rescuing high-risk animals from euthanasia, neglect, and abuse. These animals primarily come from Mississippi, where young animals are euthanized by the hundreds each and every day due to overpopulation. Lack of spay-neuter laws and large sections of rural land allow for free-roaming animals to reproduce, leading to a surplus of neglected, homeless, and starving puppies and kittens. These animals are then found and brought to local animal shelters, which simply cannot provide the care or homes these pets need in order to survive. Ultimately, they get euthanized for space or for illnesses contracted at the shelter.
There simply are not enough people to adopt.
We rescue these animals by operating a life-saving transport, foster, and adoption program. WTAR finds the pets who need us the most by employing a full-time transport coordinator on the ground in Mississippi (WTAR South), with the goal of working directly with these shelters and communities to be a resource when they cannot accept any more animals or find enough homes. These transports operate nearly weekly, relieving the shelters and communities from overcrowding and needless euthanasia. Redirecting the intake of young, at-risk animals from the shelter to WTAR allows additional time and resources to be spent on the older, less adoptable residents of the shelter that would otherwise be euthanized for space. Rescued animals are then scheduled and placed on emergency transport with WTAR to Northern Virginia. Upon arrival, they undergo an extensive veterinary intake evaluation and then are placed in foster homes until they find their forever homes through private Meet & Greets.
Create an alert, and we'll notify you every time a new pet comes in who meets your criteria.
PO BOX 2753
Merrifield, VA 22116
Create an alert, and we'll notify you every time a new pet comes in who meets your criteria.
The Wolf Trap Animal Rescue serves all of the DC-MD-VA areas. All potential adopters are welcome to apply for adoption, including those from out of state.
Additional adoption info
Adoption information and applications can be found here: https://www.wtarescue.com/adoption-process-2
If you are chosen to adopt after the Meet & Greet process (https://www.wtarescue.com/meet-and-greets), be aware that all of our pets stay in foster care for a minimum of 3 weeks, and adoption finalization and Transfer Day will take place at the end of that foster period.
What are the requirements to adopt? There are no situational requirements other than that your current pet/pets need to be up-to-date on their vaccinations, as well as spay/neutered. This demonstrates responsible pet ownership.
Adopters must submit proof of visit with a veterinarian within 14 days of adoption.
If an adopted puppy is under 4 months of age, you must be in a situation where the puppy is not left unattended for >5 hours at a time.
Do you require home visits? No. Potential adopters are screened by their application, interviews by the foster, and the requirement of a Veterinary visit within 14 days. If you do not submit proof of a veterinary health visit within 14 days of adoption, your ownership of the animal is forfeited back to Wolf Trap Animal Rescue.
How can I see pictures of the puppies available? You can view them on our website at https://www.wtarescue.com/adopt-a-dog or https://www.wtarescue.com/adopt-a-cat.
How much is the adoption fee? The current adoption fee for puppies (under 2 years old) is $525. For adult dogs (over 2 years old), the fee is $485. The adoption fee for cats/kittens is $225. Adoption fees are payable by credit card only. This fee covers the cost of spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip, deworming, flea/tick control, transport, food, and foster supplies - and it includes 30 days of pet insurance upon immediate activation.
You can see what is included with a WTAR adoption here: https://www.wtarescue.com/adoption-fees.
We can be reached via phone or email, depending on the nature of your inquiry. You can find our contact information here: https://www.wtarescue.com/contact-us.
Adoption application
Rockville, MD 20853
Rockville, MD 20850
Mount Airy, MD 21771
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