How to Adopt a Maltese in the United States | PetzLover
To adopt a Maltese in the United States, apply to a Maltese breed rescue, a shelter or an owner listing a dog for adoption, then expect an application, a phone interview, vet and groomer references, a home visit and a meeting with the dog before you sign a contract and pay the fee. Northcentral Maltese Rescue, for example, asks an adoption donation of $150 to $550 depending on the dog's age and circumstances.
Many Maltese in rescue are adults or seniors whose owners died, fell ill or lost their homes. They are often calm, affectionate and already house-trained, but breed rescues are careful about where they place such a small dog. This guide covers where to look, how the process works, fees, the rules you may meet, health questions and the first weeks.
Key points
- Breed rescues place Maltese through foster homes, so fosters can tell you how the dog lives day to day.
- Expect vet and groomer references, a home visit and a meeting with every member of your household.
- Some Maltese rescues do not adopt to homes with children under 10 and will not ship a dog.
- Ask about knees, teeth, heart and any medication, since many rescued Maltese are older dogs.
Where can you adopt a Maltese?
- American Maltese Association Rescue, a national volunteer nonprofit linked to the breed's AKC parent club. It places Maltese through approved foster homes, and its dogs tend to be in areas with active volunteers.
- Regional Maltese rescues, such as Northcentral Maltese Rescue in southeastern Wisconsin, which takes in dogs from owner surrenders and shelters.
- Local shelters, where small dogs, including Maltese and Maltese mixes, turn up too.
- Owners and rescuers listing a dog. You can browse Maltese for adoption, filter by location and save the search to get alerts.
An owner placing a dog directly is another route; see our guide to taking in a rehomed Maltese.
How does Maltese rescue adoption work?
American Maltese Association Rescue describes a ten-step process, and other breed rescues work in a similar way:
- Fill in the online application.
- The rescue reviews it against the dogs in its care.
- One or two phone interviews.
- Reference checks with a personal reference, your vet and your groomer; tell your vet they may share information.
- A home visit, with or without the dog.
- A meeting between the dog and every member of the family, two- and four-legged.
- A decision based on the best home for the dog, not first come, first served.
- You sign the adoption contract and pay the fee.
- The dog goes home with you.
- Follow-up support, which at this rescue includes a free positive reinforcement training session.
Volunteers run these steps around their own jobs, so expect weeks rather than days. Rescuers and owners placing a dog can read the companion guide on how to list a Maltese for adoption, which shows the checks good groups use.
How much does it cost to adopt a Maltese?
| Route | Typical cost | What is usually included |
|---|---|---|
| Northcentral Maltese Rescue | $150 to $550 donation, plus a $10 application fee | Vaccinations, spay or neuter and microchip |
| American Maltese Association Rescue | Fee set by the rescue; no fixed amount published | The rescue pays vet care, spay or neuter, dental care and microchip |
| Shelter | Typically $50 to $300 (AKC, all dogs) | Often vaccines, microchip and spay or neuter |
| Breeder puppy | Typically $600 to $2,000 (PetMD) | First vaccines; tests on the parents if the breeder screens |
Northcentral Maltese Rescue says a young, healthy puppy costs no more than $550 and seniors can cost $150 or less. American Maltese Association Rescue says its fees do not fully cover the cost of rescuing and fostering a dog. Real rescues publish their process and never ask for payment by gift card, wire or cash app before you meet the dog.
Who can adopt a Maltese from a rescue?
Breed rescues set rules to protect a fragile toy dog. Read each group's terms before you apply:
- Children. American Maltese Association Rescue does not adopt to homes with children or grandchildren under 10, and Northcentral Maltese Rescue normally does not either.
- Age. Northcentral normally requires adopters to be at least 25, and does not usually place puppies with older applicants, who can adopt a mature dog instead.
- Distance. American Maltese Association Rescue usually adopts within about four hours of the foster home, and both groups expect you to collect the dog in person; neither will ship a dog to you.
- Indoor life. Northcentral's application states that a Maltese is an indoor dog and must never be left outside unattended.
What health questions should you ask about an adopted Maltese?
VCA lists dental disease, tracheal collapse and heart valve disease among adult Maltese problems, and cataracts and glaucoma in seniors. Ask the foster or rescue:
- What did the vet find in the knees, heart and mouth, and were any teeth removed?
- Is the dog on medication or a special diet, and what does that cost each month?
- Has it had a bile acid test or bloodwork?
- Any tremors, seizures, coughing or changes in vision?
- How does it cope alone, with visitors and when groomed?
American Maltese Association Rescue keeps some dogs, which it calls Special Angels or Forever Fosters, in foster care for life, so not every dog on a rescue's pages is up for adoption. Ask which dogs are available before you fall for one.
What should you expect in the first weeks after you adopt a Maltese?
Many shelters use a 3-3-3 guideline: about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the routine and three months to feel at home. A Maltese that has lost its owner may cling to you, so build short absences gradually; PetMD notes the breed can develop separation anxiety.
- Use a harness rather than a collar, and an ID tag from day one.
- Block stairs and high furniture until you know how the dog's knees cope.
- Brush a little every day and keep the face clean and dry to limit tear staining.
- Expect a few house-training accidents and go back to basics with praise.
- Book a vet visit within two weeks and register the microchip in your name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to adopt a Maltese?
It depends on the group and the dog. Northcentral Maltese Rescue asks a donation of $150 to $550 plus a $10 application fee, while shelter fees for dogs in general are typically $50 to $300. Fees usually include vaccines, a microchip and spay or neuter.
Why do Maltese rescues turn down families with young children?
A Maltese weighs only a few pounds and is easily injured if dropped, squeezed or stepped on. American Maltese Association Rescue does not place dogs in homes with children or grandchildren under 10, and Northcentral Maltese Rescue normally follows the same rule.
Can a Maltese rescue ship a dog to me?
Usually not. American Maltese Association Rescue does not ship dogs and usually adopts within about four hours of the foster home, and Northcentral Maltese Rescue requires you to collect the dog in person.
Is it a good idea to adopt a senior Maltese?
Often, yes. Maltese can live 12 to 15 years, and older dogs are usually calm and house-trained. Ask about dental work, heart and eye problems and the cost of any medication before you commit.
How long does it take to adopt a Maltese?
Expect several weeks. Applications, phone interviews, references and a home visit are handled by volunteers, and rescues match each dog to the best home rather than the first applicant.
Should I adopt a Maltese or buy a puppy?
Adoption suits most households, especially those happy with an adult dog. A puppy from a health-testing breeder suits people who want to raise a dog from 12 weeks. Our guide to buying a Maltese puppy covers that route, and free Maltese are another option.
Helpful guides
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Maltese for Adoption in the United StatesSet adopter criteria suited to a fragile toy dog, price the fee by age and vet work, describe the dog's health honestly, check references and the home, and sign a contract with a return clause.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Maltese Puppy in the United StatesBuy a Maltese puppy from a breeder who tests the parents' knees, heart and liver, keeps puppies until 12 weeks, gives a written contract and never sells teacup Maltese.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Maltese Puppies in the United StatesCheck federal, state and local rules, screen the parents' knees, heart and liver, keep Maltese puppies until 12 weeks, price honestly without teacup labels, and hand over in person with a contract.
Pet for FreeHow to Get a Free Maltese Safely in the United StatesMeet a free Maltese and its owner at home, ask about knees, teeth, heart and liver, never pay shipping or fees up front, and book a vet check within days.
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Maltese for Free Without Risk in the United StatesContact your breeder first, list your Maltese honestly, screen every applicant on children, time alone and coat care, then hand over in person with records and a signed agreement.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Maltese in the United StatesAsk a rehoming owner about the Maltese's history, knees, teeth, heart and habits, meet it at home, pay any fee only at collection, and give it a calm routine while it settles.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Maltese Responsibly in the United StatesAsk your breeder or a Maltese rescue first, then list your dog honestly, disclose every health and behavior issue, set a modest fee, screen applicants and hand over in person with records.
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Maltese Wanted" Ad in the United StatesMessage the person behind a Maltese wanted ad, ask about their home, children, time alone and grooming plans, verify them by video and a vet reference, and never accept overpayments or shipping.
Pet WantedHow to Post a "Maltese Wanted" Ad and Get Replies in the United StatesDescribe the Maltese you want, your home and your timeline, set a budget from real price ranges, ask for tested parents rather than a teacup size, and check every reply before you pay anything.