Adopt a dog in Los Angeles through VIDA and help save lives while building families. We rescue dogs from immigration-related crises and overcrowded shelters, giving them love, medical care, and a second chance. Every adoption opens space for another dog in need bringing hope, healing, and a new best friend home.
1. Why Adopt a Dog Through VIDA’s Network of Compassion
Families experiencing deportation in Los Angeles and the greater Southern California area are facing one of the worst crises imaginable- separation from their beloved family members. VIDA has been created to help in the only way we know how: to advocate for the final family members left behind- family pets- and to advocate for the shelters and organizations already on the ground serving them. Area shelters and rescues are already experiencing the highest volume of intakes in recent memory, and euthanasia rates are up over 70%.
Their resources are simply overburdened. VIDA is the first foundation dedicated exclusively to the adoption of dogs of the deported. Our first goal is always family reunification (see our Foster page for how to help). When this is deemed no longer possible, VIDA seeks permanent loving homes for these loved and wanted animals who have created a new category of unhoused pet.
By adopting a VIDA pet, you not only create a new loving home for a family member in need, you can be a part of providing some measure of consolation to those facing deportation, and help alleviate the need for all shelter and rescue pets.
2. The Impact of Adoption: Saving Lives and Building Families
I’ve witnessed countless moments that remind me why VIDA exists. As the founder, I’ve seen dogs left behind when families are forced to leave the United States, scared and waiting for the people they love. Every time one of these dogs finds a new home, it feels like a piece of healing in a world that can be so harsh.
When you adopt through VIDA, you don’t just change one life. You give a dog a second chance at love and open space for another waiting in the shelter. Every adoption is a ripple of hope — one life healed, another life saved.
3. Meet the Dogs Available for Adoption
Looking to adopt a dog in Los Angeles? VIDA’s network rescues loving pets from immigration-related situations and local shelters, helping them find safe, forever homes. While our adoptable pet gallery is coming soon to view adoptable pets, you can still view available dogs and cats or start the process by contacting us directly at info@vidaallianceinitiative.org. Your new best friend could be waiting — reach out today to meet your future family member.
4. Understanding VIDA’s Adoption Process
Adopting through VIDA is simple, caring, and life-changing for you and your new best friend. We partner with shelters across Los Angeles and Southern California to rescue dogs from families being immigrated or deported out of the United States, as well as dogs turned in due to immigration crises. Every VIDA adoption gives these pets a second chance at safety, care, and love.
Start by viewing our adoptable pets online or through our partner shelters. When a dog catches your heart, complete a short application so we can learn about your home and lifestyle. A VIDA coordinator will contact you to set an appointment to meet your potential match — the start of meeting your new family member.
During the visit, we’ll review your experience, activity level, and home setup to ensure the right fit. Each dog is evaluated for behavior, health, and temperament. All VIDA dogs receive age-appropriate vaccines, including rabies, and necessary medical care such as spay or neuter surgery while in foster care. Our team provides full medical and behavior details so you know exactly how to support your pet’s adjustment.
When you adopt a VIDA dog, you gain more than a companion — you experience the benefit of saving a life, supporting families in crisis, and welcoming a healthy, well-cared-for friend into your home.
5. What Makes VIDA Adoptions Different
At VIDA Adoptions, we believe every dog deserves more than a home — they deserve a fair chance, a voice, and a community that cares. What makes us different is our integrated approach that combines legal aid, community care, and foster partnerships to create lasting change for dogs and the people who love them.
Legal Aid That Protects Every Life
VIDA works with legal advocates, shelters, and local authorities to ensure that every animal’s journey to adoption is safe, documented, and lawful. We assist in cases involving neglect, abandonment, or confiscation, making sure that each rescue is handled with integrity and transparency.
By prioritizing legal compliance and animal welfare, we protect both adopters and the dogs they welcome into their lives.
Community Care Beyond the Shelter
We believe rescue does not end when a dog leaves our facility. VIDA builds community connections that support adopters and their pets long after the adoption day.
Our team provides educational resources, training guidance, and low-cost clinics to help families succeed. We stay engaged with our adopters to ensure that each placement remains stable, healthy, and fulfilling for both the dog and their new family.
Foster Partnerships That Save More Lives
Fostering is the foundation of VIDA’s work. Through our network of dedicated foster homes, we are able to rescue more dogs from overcrowded shelters and urgent situations.
We equip every foster with the supplies, veterinary care, and training support they need to help dogs recover and prepare for adoption. This partnership model creates a nurturing bridge from rescue to forever home.
A Mission Rooted in Care and Responsibility
What sets VIDA Adoptions apart is our belief that animal rescue is a collective effort — one that blends compassion with accountability. By uniting legal advocacy, community involvement, and strong foster relationships, VIDA ensures that every dog receives not only safety, but the opportunity to thrive.
6. Preparing Your Home for a Rescue Dog
Will your VIDA adoption be your first time as a pet parent? Congratulations, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for choosing a dog in need. VIDA will work with you to prepare your home for your new arrival.
Pet-proofing:
In our experience, the more expensive your shoes, the harder they are for new dogs and especially puppies to resist. Now is the time to begin placing items out of reach that your new dog may find chewable. Instead, keep a variety of dog chew toys scattered around your home for your new dog to gnaw on. Secure any long extension cords and plants. Check under the bed, sofa, and desk for any lost or unsecured items.
Remove any toxic insect or rodent traps; these can be lethal for dogs. Make sure any sugarless gum or breath mints are put away- xylitol, also called birch sugar, can also be deadly. Cover any valuable furniture and pillows with blankets or drop cloths until your dog has settled in.
Check your yard or patio for any unsecured gates, and alert your gardner to the presence of your new family member. Do not leave your dog unattended outside while gardeners, pool cleaners, or delivery persons do their work.
Supplies: Have fun with this! A dog crate large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in will provide them a secure place for feedings and for being left alone, and a secure place for sleeping and being left alone for short periods until they’ve adjusted. Puppy pads will give your puppy or adjusting dog a place to relieve themselves while you establish housebreaking if your dog needs an adjustment period. A dedicated dog bed that can fit inside their crate will make their crate extra comfy, and can be placed in other areas of the house to give your dog their own special place to relax in any room. For toys, every dog has different preferences.
Start with a solid Kong toy, especially for serious chewers (dogs need to chew!), a rope toy for gentle tugging, and some fluffy squeakies. Speaking from heartbreak, don’t include dog toys that too closely resemble objects you wouldn’t want them to chew normally (for example, a fluffy slipper)- it’s too confusing for dogs to know which objects are toys and which aren’t. We want to set them up for success!
Introductions:
Introduce your new dog to other dogs and family members in a neutral location, such as a park or a neighboring lawn a few blocks away from your home. When introducing them to your other dog(s) should you have any, keep the nose-to-nose meeting friendly and brief, and then have the dogs take a walk together a few feet apart to begin with. Have the dogs enter your home together, with your new dog entering behind the other(s), and keep either the lightest tension on their leash or keep it attached to their collar/harness but drop the leash to the ground to grab if needed.
Give the dogs space! When introducing to children, encourage your younger children to pet the dog carefully- watch for any signs of your adopted dog stiffening their body language- that’s their sign that to too much too soon. Watch their tail- only a low and slowly wagging tail indicates comfort.
Don’t crowd or hover around your new dog. And remember to pick up any children’s toys and place them out of reach; there’s no heartbreak like a favorite teddy that was mistaken for a chew toy.
While it’s exciting to bring home a new family member, just like when bringing a new baby home, give everyone in your home a chance to settle in a few days before inviting friends and family over to meet the newest addition; too much stimulation and high energy can be stressful for both your dog and for people.
7. How We Match You With the Right Dog
VIDA’s network of rescue workers will work with you in-depth to find the right pet to suit your level of experience, pet history, activity level, current housing situation, work environment, and pets and other household members. We know that people seeking to rescue a deportation pet are a special breed, and are excited to find the right match for you and your family.
8. Adoption Fees and What’s Included
All VIDA dogs, at the time of their forever adoption, will be currently vaccinated according to their medical ability. Microchips may be provided. In cases of dogs previously microchipped to their families of origin, transfer of info may not be possible- this is to be determined by VIDA. If information transfer is not possible, VIDA dogs may be provided an additional collar tag with VIDA contact information attached, as a backup contact should your dog become separated from you.
VIDA will provide all known medical information at the time of adoption, and your dog will come with all current medications if any are given. After your adoption is formalized, the responsibility for all medical care will transfer to the new owner. We will provide you with information regarding your dog’s current diet. Should you choose to change your dog’s diet to one you prefer, we recommend that you gradually introduce your new food over the course of a week to minimize discomfort and gastrointestinal distress.
9. What to Expect in the First 30 Days After Adoption
Remember the 3/3/3 rule of adoption: three days, three weeks, and three months. Different aspects of your adopted pet’s personality will begin to show at each of these milestones as your pet settles into their new home, and love and patience are key. Remember that the vast majority of VIDA placements are coming from loving homes, and will need to learn the new routines and personalities of your home. Your pet may be experiencing sadness, anxiety or depression at first and will need a gentle hand to ease them into their new home. Shyness, inappetite, listlessness, housebreaking accidents or resource guarding might appear during the adjustment period. Give it time. This is a new experience for everyone involved. When and if possible, VIDA will supply you with all the information possible from your pet’s family of origin.
10. Post-Adoption Support From VIDA
As we build our community of trainers, legal aid, veterinarians, and fellow fosters and adopters, VIDA will be with you to provide social and emotional support as you and your adopted pet go through the acclimation process. Your dog will have a special story that may inspire others to get involved- we know that your new pet, and you, are our greatest ambassadors.
11. How to Stay Involved After Adoption
Would you consider creating a dedicated social media page documenting your journey with your deportation pet? Highlighting their stories, your individual process, the learning curves, and the successes will not only help us stay in touch with you and your pet, but also help inform and educate others about the deportation crisis and the unhoused pet crisis overall. Every adoption is a win!
12. Adopting a Dog in Los Angeles: Local Partner Shelters
Don’t see a potential soul mate at VIDA? Our friends at area shelters may have your match- every adopted pet makes space for another in need. Look for adoptable pets at our local city shelters here: Pet Search | LA Animal Services and county shelters here: DACC Search – LA County Animal Care & Control.
FAQs About Adopting a Dog From VIDA
Q: How long will the adoption process take?
A: Depending upon compatibility and current need, those specifically moved to adopt a deportation dog should expect anywhere from a few days to a few months to find the right fit.
Q: What breeds does VIDA have available for adoption?
A: Deportations have affected every type of family, and every type of dog.
Q.Can I adopt a dog or Puppy?
Yes, Vida works with ages oages of dogs for adoption.
Q.Are adoptable dogs from animal shelters?
Yes, we rescue a dogs from shelters that are over crowded and rehomed dogs.
Q: Can I re-home my VIDA pet?
A: VIDA is a adoption center and is committed to finding the right, permanent home for every animal. Should you need to rehome your VIDA adoption, we would like to be notified and it be a part of the rehoming process. We hope to be a forever part of your pet’s extended family.
Q:What available pets for adoption are at Vida?
Currently we have only dogs, but in the furture we will be resucing both dogs and cats.If you would like to adopt a dog, please contact us.
15.Adopt a dog
Start Your Adoption Journey Today for available dogs.
The need has never been greater to adopt a pet in need. To adopt a VIDA pet, or to receive advice on adopting any pet, reach out to us at info@vidaallianceinitiative.org