Dog & Puppy
Adoption Application

Just start by filling out our Adoption Application Form ↓ . Once we receive it, our adoption manager will get in touch to talk about next steps and answer any questions you might have.

If you don’t hear back within 24–36 hours, feel free to follow up via WhatsApp at +506 8325 2514 or email tania@charlies-angels-rescue.org. Sometimes messages get missed, and we don’t want to keep you waiting!

The adoption fee is $150 USD or 78,000 CRC per dog / puppy. This helps cover part of the vet care each animal receives—like spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick prevention, and any other medical treatment they’ve needed.

We almost never break even, as the total cost is usually much higher. That’s why we’re incredibly grateful when adopters are willing to chip in a little extra to support our work.

We aren’t able to offer reduced fees for puppies who haven’t yet been spayed/neutered or finished their vaccination series. But we have lots of sweet adult dogs who are fully vetted and ready to find their forever home.

The adoption fee helps us continue our rescue efforts and cover the essential care every animal receives before adoption. Things like vaccines, surgeries, and treatments add up fast. Your fee helps us keep going—and saves more lives.

All animals are spayed or neutered (if over 4 months of age), vaccinated, dewormed, and treated for fleas and ticks before adoption. If they needed extra medical care (which many do), we take care of that too before they go to their new homes.

So the fee includes the following:
- A wellness exam
- Vaccinations like rabies, distemper, parvovirus.
- Flea and tick preventative treatment
- Deworming
- Spaying or neutering
- Collar

Yes. Once the adoption is finalized, vet costs are the responsibility of the adopter. Our animals are fully up to date on vaccines and preventatives when they’re adopted. That said, puppies still need follow-up vaccines to build full immunity, and adult dogs may be due for a booster shot a few weeks later. We’ll let you know what’s needed so you can keep them protected.

Absolutely, once the adoption application is filled out and received. If you live nearby, we’ll arrange an in-person visit with the foster home. If you're farther away or adopting from abroad, we’re happy to set up a virtual meet and greet via video call.Please note that we’re unable to transport animals over long distances just for a meet and greet. If visiting the foster home isn’t possible, a video call is a great way to get to know the animal and ask the foster any questions before moving forward.

Because organizing a meet-and-greet takes time and planning—and our foster families and volunteers are all busy people doing this out of love.

We want to make sure it’s a good fit first. The adoption form gives us a chance to understand your lifestyle and what kind of home you can offer. It’s not binding in any way—it just helps us get to know you so we can make the best possible match for both you and the animal.

It really depends, but typically it takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. It all depends on how quickly we can check your references, do a home check (virtually or in person), and set up the meet and greet.

Yes—we’ve successfully placed many of our rescue dogs in loving homes in Canada and the US. We’ll help coordinate all travel logistics and work with flight volunteers to make the process smooth for both you and the animal.For details about costs and options, please contact us directly at tania@charlies-angels-rescue.org.
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Please note: we do not adopt to Europe. The process can take up to five months, which is too long for most of our foster homes to accommodate, and it's not fair to the animal. It's also very expensive and complicated. If you're based in Europe—especially in countries like Portugal, Romania, Spain, Greece, or the Balkans—we recommend connecting with rescue organizations who do the same work as us in Europe. Many of these countries are facing stray dog crises just like we are, and there are plenty of amazing animals already looking for homes nearby.

If things don’t go as planned, that’s okay. We’ll always take the animal back—no judgment. Under no circumstances may the adopted dog be re-homed to any third party, including other rescue organizations or shelters, without CAARCR's involvement and approval.

We do ask all our adopters to give the animal a real chance to adjust. Bringing a rescue into your home can take time and patience. We follow the “3-3-3 rule”: it can take 3 days for a dog or cat to decompress, 3 weeks to start feeling comfortable, and 3 months to truly settle in. Some animals may need more time—or even help from a trainer—to fully integrate into a new environment.

If rehoming becomes necessary, we’ll need a reasonable amount of time to find the right foster placement before taking the animal back. However, if there are any safety or health concerns (like unexpected allergies or anything that makes the situation unsafe for either the animal or adopter), we’ll address it immediately and take the necessary steps to ensure everyone’s well-being.  

We're here to support you through the adjustment process, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help along the way. Please understand that adoption fees are non-refundable unless the issue is clearly due to an oversight on our part.

Yes! We’re happy to adopt out bonded pairs or help you find a second animal that gets along well with your current pet. That said, we generally don’t adopt out siblings from the same puppy litter to the same home due to something called “littermate syndrome” —which can lead to behavioral issues down the line. However, we do make exceptions in certain cases when it feels right for the animals involved.

This does not apply to kittens—we actually love seeing them go home in pairs, especially if they’ve grown up together.

Absolutely. Just fill out the adoption application and select "not sure yet" under which dog or cat you’re interested in. Tell us a little about your lifestyle, household, and experience with pets, and we’ll help match you with the animal that best fits your home and heart.

Our Foster-to-Adopt program gives you the chance to foster a dog or cat for a trial period, allowing you to see how the animal fits into your home and lifestyle before making a final decision. This trial period lasts up to 3 weeks, giving both you and the animal time to adjust and see if it's a good match.
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During the trial period, the animal is not available for any other interested parties, we cover all veterinary costs, and you provide the daily care and love. After the 3 weeks, we’ll decide together if the adoption feels like the right fit. If everything goes well, we’ll finalize the adoption with the adoption fee and contract, and the animal becomes a permanent part of your family!

If it’s not the right fit, we’ll work closely with you to find the best solution. Ideally, the animal will stay with the foster family until we find a perfect match (all costs covered by us). However, if there are any safety or health concerns (like unexpected allergies or anything that makes the situation unsafe for either the animal or adopter), we’ll address it immediately and take the necessary steps to ensure everyone’s well-being.

Please note that this Foster-to-Adopt program is only available for adoptions within Costa Rica.

We actually don’t have a physical rescue center anymore. In 2021, we closed our shelter and transitioned to working entirely with foster homes—and it’s been a great success!

All of our animals now live in loving foster homes where they receive personalized care, socialization, and a safe space to recover and grow.

Because of this, we don’t have one central location to visit, but once you’ve submitted an adoption application, we’re happy to arrange a meet-and-greet with the foster family—either in person if you’re nearby, or virtually if you’re not.This foster-based model has allowed us to save more lives, offer better individual care, and ensure that every animal is truly ready for a home like yours.

Charlie’s Angels Costa Rica is based in the southern zone of the country. Most of our foster homes and volunteers are located in and around San Isidro del General, in the Pérez Zeledón area.
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We don’t have a physical shelter—since summer 2021, we’ve been working entirely through a network of foster homes. This allows our animals to receive personalized care and helps us get to know them well, which makes for better adoption matches.
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While most of our fosters are in Pérez Zeledón, we sometimes have animals in foster homes in other parts of Costa Rica too.
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All of our adoption posts clearly mention where each animal is currently being fostered, so you’ll always know their location before applying.

You can either come pick up the animal yourself or we’ll help arrange transport. We work with a trusted professional driver who uses an air-conditioned van equipped with secure crates to ensure the animals travel safely and comfortably.

The cost of transport has to be covered by the adopter. Whenever possible, we try to coordinate shared transport with other adopted animals heading in the same direction to help split the cost—but that’s not always guaranteed. Our adoption manager will let you know how much the transport to your location will be.

Yes, it’s possible! If you're living in Canada or the US and your flight allows dogs, and if we have enough time to prepare the animal, arrange the logistics, and get all the necessary paperwork ready (we require a minimum of one week's notice), we can help you with the adoption.

To start, please fill out our adoption application here and we’ll guide you through the rest of the process.

If you're located in the US or Canada and would like to adopt a dog from us, contact us directly to discuss the international adoption process. We'll provide you with all the details, including:
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* Additional costs
* Timeline
* Necessary documentation
* Travel arrangements
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Contact Tania at: tania@charlies-angels-rescue.org