Potomac Valley Pekingese Club

Adopting from the Potomac Valley Pekingese Club

Thank you for your interest in adopting a rescued Pekingese.  Pekingese enter our rescue system from a variety of sources: shelters, private give-ups, etc.  The average age of the dogs we see in rescue is two to five years old, with puppies under a year old being very rare. (A note about age: Pekes given appropriate care can live well into their teens.) Males are much more common than females.  All dogs are spayed/neutered prior to placement, are current on routine inoculations, and tested for heart worm. A medical history accompanies every placement.

All our dogs are pure-bred Pekingese.  However, they may exhibit some characteristics different from those Pekingese you may have seen in the show ring, such as shorter coats, more length of nose and legs, etc.  Regardless of the physical appearance, the wonderful Pekingese character is always true.

Our rescued Pekingese can be adopted out in Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, and surrounding areas. 

*Please Note: Given the temperament of Pekingese towards very young children, we typically DO NOT adopt to families with children under the age of 8.

Our Adoption Process

Our requirements for adoption are simple, but, are not negotiable.  We require a veterinary reference, a fenced-in yard or other form of protected exercise area.  Potential adopters must be willing to submit to a home visit prior to the adoption, must complete an adoption application, an adoption contract, and pay an adoption fee at the time the dog is turned over to their care.  As Pekingese fall into the category of brachycephalic dogs (flat faces) and are, therefore, heat sensitive, air-conditioned environments are strongly recommended for the summer months.  Although Pekingese can be a great family pet, they are not recommended for homes with small children. 

How Long Does the Adoption Process Take?

The adoption process can take several days and sometimes several weeks, so your patience is greatly appreciated.  If during that time, you have questions, feel free to contact us.

Who Is In Charge of the Decision Process?

All applications are reviewed by the PVPC Rescue Committee and placements are made at the discretion of the Committee and of the particular dog's foster care giver.  
Once your application is sent to us, we will share information with you on Pekingese available for adoption at the time.  Using our expertise gained from placing hundreds of Pekingese over the years, we make our best judgment in matching the needs of individual dogs with those of our adopters; therefore at times, we will offer an applicant a different dog than the one he/she has applied for.  All applicants must submit to a home visit and a veterinary reference check.
As the welfare of the dogs in our care is our number one priority, PVPC reserves the right to deny any application.  

Are the Rescued Dogs in Good Health?

All of our dogs available for adoption have received veterinary care and have been spayed or neutered, are current on their vaccinations, and are micro chipped.  We treat our rescued Pekingese for all the medical needs of which we are aware.  If there are any chronic or ongoing health issues, they will be explained to potential adopters prior to the adoption.

What About "Not So Young" Pekingese?

Senior Dogs Need Love Too!

What Are the Fees for Adopting a Dog?

As of April 12, 2009, our adoption fee structure is as follows: for dogs up to 2 years of age the fee is $350; for dogs 3 to 7 years of age the fee is $300, and for dogs over 8 years of age and for special needs cases, the fee is $250.  Our organization is entirely funded by contributions from the public and by the adoption fee we receive for the dogs we adopt out.  These funds help us defray all of the costs we incur while the dogs are in our care.