How to Adopt a Pomeranian in the United States | PetzLover
To adopt a Pomeranian in the United States, apply to a Pomeranian breed rescue or a local shelter, expect a home check that looks for escape routes and hazards, meet the dog, and pay an adoption fee that usually covers vaccines, a microchip and spay or neuter. Breed rescue fees vary: OC Pom Rescue in California charges $750, while the American Kennel Club (AKC) puts typical shelter fees at $50 to $300.
Adoption suits many people who want a Pom, because foster carers know how the dog behaves with children, other dogs and the grooming table. This guide covers rescue versus shelter, the steps, what rescues look for, the costs, the health questions to ask and the first weeks at home.
Key points
- Pomeranian breed rescues usually place dogs from foster homes and screen adopters closely, often with a video or in-person home check.
- Fees vary widely: about $50 to $300 at shelters (AKC) and $250 to $750 at the two Pom rescues cited here.
- Rescues look for a secure fence, supervision outdoors and children old enough to handle a toy dog gently.
- Ask for vet records on knees, teeth, heart and any cough before you commit.
Should you adopt a Pomeranian from a breed rescue or a shelter?
| Feature | Pomeranian breed rescue | Shelter |
|---|---|---|
| Where dogs live | Volunteer foster homes | Kennels at the shelter |
| Process | Application, interview, home check, meet and greet, sometimes a trial week | Often same day or within days |
| Fee | For example $250 (Pawsitively Pom Rescue, Pennsylvania) or $750 (OC Pom Rescue, California) | Typically $50 to $300 (AKC) |
| What you learn | Behavior in a real home, including grooming and vet visits | Behavior seen by staff |
| Choice | Pomeranians only | All breeds and mixes |
On PetzLover you can browse Pomeranians for adoption near you and save the search to get alerts. Check breed rescues in your region as well: some place only locally so they can visit, while OC Pom Rescue accepts out-of-state applicants who travel to Southern California to meet the dog.
How does the Pomeranian adoption process work?
- Read the bios. Rescues describe each dog's personality and needs. Message the poster with questions about health and behavior.
- Apply. Expect questions about your household, landlord, children, other pets and vet. OC Pom Rescue requires applicants to be 21 or older.
- Home check. OC Pom Rescue asks for a video of the inside and outside of your home, with everyone who lives there, to look for hazards and escape routes. Others visit in person.
- Interview. The foster carer calls approved applicants to talk about the dog.
- Meet and greet. Bring everyone in the household, and your own dog if the rescue agrees.
- Trial. Some rescues use a short trial; OC Pom Rescue's lasts a week.
- Contract and fee. Most contracts require you to return the dog to the rescue rather than pass it on.
Rescuers and owners can read the companion guide on how to list a Pomeranian for adoption.
What do Pomeranian rescues look for in a home?
- A secure fence. The AKC says Poms are notorious for escaping through small gaps or climbing over short fencing.
- Supervision outdoors. Hawks and owls can mistake a small dog for prey, the AKC warns.
- The right children. The AKC suggests children old enough to know the difference between a toy dog and a toy.
- Gentle housemates. Uncontrolled bigger dogs can easily hurt a Pom.
- Time for grooming. Brushing down to the skin weekly and a full groom every four to six weeks (AKC). Brush rather than shave: the AKC's chief veterinary officer says a double coat insulates the dog, and VCA Animal Hospitals notes that clipped Pomeranians can occasionally take up to two years to regrow hair.
- A vet and a budget for dental care, since small breeds like the Pomeranian are especially prone to dental disease (PetMD).
Answer honestly. A rescue that turns down an application is matching the dog, not judging you.
How much does it cost to adopt a Pomeranian?
OC Pom Rescue's $750 fee covers exams, a microchip, bloodwork, medication, spay or neuter, vaccines, dental work, flea treatment and grooming, and it takes $50 off for seniors adopting senior dogs and for veterans and active-duty adopters of adult Poms. Pawsitively Pom Rescue in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania lists a $250 fee covering vaccinations, heartworm and fecal tests, spay or neuter and a microchip. Paid separately, the AKC puts spay or neuter alone at $50 to $300.
After adoption, budget for a harness, a brush and comb, a groomer if you do not groom at home, yearly vet visits and a dog license where your city or county requires one.
Which health questions should you ask before adopting a Pomeranian?
- Has a vet checked the knees? The American Pomeranian Club calls luxating patellas the most common problem in the breed.
- Does the dog cough or honk? A goose-honk cough can mean tracheal collapse, often managed with weight control, medication and a harness.
- Has it had dental cleanings or extractions?
- Is there a heart murmur, or thyroid medication? The breed club says hypothyroidism is very common in Poms.
- Has it had seizures or coat loss? Alopecia X causes hair loss but is mainly cosmetic, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
Do not rule out a senior. With a lifespan of 12 to 16 years (AKC), a Pom adopted at eight can still have many good years ahead.
What should you expect in the first weeks after you adopt a Pomeranian?
Many shelters use a 3-3-3 guideline: about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn your routine and three months to feel at home.
- Give your Pom a quiet space with a bed or crate, and let it come to you.
- Use a harness with an ID tag from day one, and watch doors and gates.
- Expect some house-training setbacks; the AKC says housebreaking a Pom takes consistency and patience.
- Block jumps from sofas and beds, which the AKC says can injure joints or break bones.
- See a vet within the first week or two, and register the microchip in your name using the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup to find the registry.
- Keep the foster carer's grooming and feeding routine at first.
If problems continue, ask the rescue for advice. If you are taking a Pom straight from its owner instead, read taking in a rehomed Pomeranian.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to adopt a Pomeranian?
The AKC puts typical shelter adoption fees at $50 to $300. Pomeranian rescue fees vary with the vet and foster care given; the two cited here charge $250 and $750. Fees usually include vaccines, a microchip and spay or neuter.
Where can I adopt a Pomeranian near me?
Search adoption listings for the breed in your area, contact Pomeranian breed rescues in your region and check local shelters. Save a search so new Poms reach you as alerts.
Why do Pomeranian rescues ask for a home check?
They look for hazards and escape routes, such as gaps in fencing a small dog can slip through. It is also how volunteers get to know you, which helps them match the right dog.
Is a rescued Pomeranian good with children?
It depends on the dog, so ask the foster carer. The AKC rates the breed as good with young children only with supervision, and suggests children old enough to treat a toy dog gently.
Can I adopt a Pomeranian puppy?
Sometimes, but rescues and shelters take in dogs of all ages, and puppies go quickly. If you need a puppy, compare the checks in how to buy a Pomeranian puppy, and look at free Pomeranians with care.
What if my adopted Pomeranian does not work out?
Contact the rescue first. Most adoption contracts require you to return the dog to them, and many offer advice before it comes to that.
Helpful guides
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Pomeranian for Adoption in the United StatesSet criteria and a fee, write an honest profile covering knees, teeth, breathing and temperament, screen adopters with a home check, and use a contract with a return clause.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Pomeranian Puppy in the United StatesAsk for the parents' patella, heart and eye results, meet the puppy with its mother, avoid anyone selling "teacup" Poms, and budget at least $1,500 for a Pomeranian puppy from a breeder in the US.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Pomeranian Puppies in the United StatesHealth-test the parents for knees, heart and eyes, keep puppies until at least eight weeks, price honestly, avoid "teacup" claims and screen every buyer before you sell Pomeranian puppies in the US.
Pet for FreeHow to Get a Free Pomeranian Safely in the United StatesMeet a free Pomeranian and its owner in person, have a vet check its knees, breathing and teeth, and never pay shipping or other fees for a free Pom you have not seen.
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Pomeranian for Free Without Risk in the United StatesGet a vet check, write an honest ad, screen every applicant with the same questions, sign a rehoming agreement and hand over in person when you give away a Pomeranian for free in the US.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Pomeranian in the United StatesAsk the owner about knees, breathing, teeth and behavior, meet the dog at home, check the microchip and leave with records and a signed transfer note when you take in a rehomed Pomeranian.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Pomeranian Responsibly in the United StatesCheck your contract, write an honest listing, disclose knee, breathing, dental and behavior issues, set a modest fee and hand over in person when you rehome your Pomeranian in the US.
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Pomeranian Wanted" Ad in the United StatesMessage first, ask about children, other dogs, fencing and grooming, verify the person, refuse overpayments and shipping, and hand over a Pom with a written agreement and records.
Pet WantedHow to Post a "Pomeranian Wanted" Ad and Get Replies in the United StatesSay what kind of Pom you want, your budget and travel distance, describe your home honestly, avoid asking for a teacup, and never pay before you have seen the dog.
Found PetHow to Find Your Lost Pomeranian Through Found-Pet Ads in the United StatesSearch found-dog ads daily for any small fluffy dog that could be your Pom, save the search, contact finders safely, prove ownership with records and photos, and check shelters fast.
Found PetWhat to Do When You Find a Pomeranian in the United StatesGet the Pom safely off the street, give water and a little food, have it scanned for a microchip, report it to animal control, post a found ad and check the owner's proof.