Our mission is to adopt all our rescued dogs into loving and permanent homes. Although we do not adopt on a first-come, first-served basis, we do accept a group of applications from prospective adopters. We arrange for applicants to meet and greet the dog and then we select the best match for both the dog and the individual or family, their home, and their lifestyle. Our goal always is to ensure a forever home for our dogs. Our process is as follows:

  • You complete and submit our easy online Adoption Application.
  • Our adoption coordinator will contact you to arrange a meet-up with the dog you have applied for.
  • If you are still interested after meeting the dog, we will arrange for a home visit.
  • If you make the decision to adopt, a minimum 3-week trial period begins during which either you or we can change course and cancel the adoption decision. During the trial period, Bonaparte’s Retreat is committed to doing everything possible to assist you and your adopted dog with adjusting to a new home and living environment.
  • When the trial period ends, you will submit an Adoption Agreement & Release and pay the adoption fee to finalize the adoption. Our adoption fees are $175 OR $125 for a senior or special needs dog. A senior dog is 7 years of age or older 

All our adoptable dogs have been fully vetted, received vaccinations, been spayed or neutered, tested for heartworms and either treated or started on prevention, and are current on flea and tick prevention.


Because of our adoption process, we do not adopt out of state and typically adopt only in the middle-Tennessee area. The reasons are our home-visit requirement and that we work closely with adopters during the trial period to ensure a permanent adoption. We do make exceptions for dogs who have been with us a very long time or who have proven difficult to adopt for any number of reasons. In those cases, we will do anything possible to find a forever home, regardless of location.


2019 INTAKES AND ADOPTIONS

Could you keep your pet with the assistance of a trainer or behavioral veterinarian? 

  • If so, we recommend Julie Farris, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Nashville’s only professional dog trainer certified in both dog training and behavior consulting through the Certified Council for Professional Dog Trainers, with over 18 years’ experience training dogs and counseling owners while specializing in behavior modification for shelter and rescue dogs for adoption. We also recommend Dr. Beth Strickler, MS, DVM, DACVB, a board certified veterinary behaviorist with Veterinary Behavior Solutions.

[If you need help with pet food costs, veterinary costs, or low-cost spay/neuter, please see resources listed on another of our FAQs pages.]


If you do  not need training or behaviorial counseling or other resources and still wish to re-home your pet, here are options:

  • If a family member, good friend, or neighbor is willing take in your dog or help, that may be the best outcome for your pet.
  • Contact the Nashville Humane Association about their in-take or owner surrender program. Contact Metro Nashville Animal Care & Control about their owner surrender program. In both cases, you may be placed on a waiting list. And both may help provide other resources.
  • Contact other rescue groups—locally, in the southeast region, and beyond. Do a search for rescue groups on Petfinder.com.
  • Google search breed-specific rescue groups, if your dog is a specific breed or breed mix. These groups focus solely on the breed and breed mixes.
  • Use social media, such as Facebook, to post good photos and videos—along with a compelling story—to help your pet find a new home.
  • And we recommend a program called Rehome, from Adopt-a-Pet and The Petco Foundation, at this link:  https://rehome.adoptapet.com/.
  • Do everything possible to find the rightful owners of the dog, if there are any.
  • Preferably, take the dog directly to Metro Animal Care & Control (if you’re in Davidson County). Many dog owners go there first searching for their lost animal.
  • If you keep the dog, take him/her to the vet to check for a microchip. Veterinarians do this free of charge and without appointments.
  • Give owners at least 2 weeks to come forward and claim their pet. Ask for proof of ownership (pictures, vet records, knowledge of unique markings/traits, etc.) before returning the animal. Encourage the owners to put a tag on their pet’s collar (or have one made for them) or even get their pet microchipped.
  • Post to as many Lost & Found Facebook pages as you can find, especially ones specific to your area, but also these:

Skippy Lou's Lost & Found Pets – Nashville, TN http://www.facebook.com/groups/ teamskippylou

East Nashville and Inglewood Lost & Found Pets https://www.facebook.com/ groups/683193988370183/

Madison and Rivergate Lost and Found Pets https://www.facebook.com/groups/ madisonrivergatepets/

Lost & Found Pets of Nolensville https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 564538370222919/

Nashville's Lost & Found Pets http://www.facebook.com/groups/ NashvillesLostAndFoundPets

Lost & Found Pets of Wilson County, TN https://www.facebook.com/groups/wilsoncountytnlostfoundpets/

Lost & Found Pets in Lavergne, TN  https://www.facebook.com/LaVergnepets/

Missing Animals in Middle Tennessee  www.facebook.com/groups/540891672631441

Tennessee's Missing Pets  www.facebook.com/Tennesseesmissingpet

Lost and Found Pets of the Mid-South  www.facebook.com/lostandfoundmidsouth


  • Post to community or neighborhood webpages, list-servs, Bulletin Boards, NextDoor app, and Facebook pages. Especially post on the NextDoor app:  https://nextdoor.com/city/nashville--tn/  Include the neighborhood where the dog was found as well as all surrounding neighborhoods.
  • You can also post on Craigslist but be very careful that anyone from Craigslist can prove ownership of the dog.  
  • Post flyers with minimal information (location/date found, picture, and your contact information.) throughout the neighborhood (coffee shops, bars, grocery stores, the dog park, libraries, etc.).  Many people still don’t use the internet, and neighborhood mail carriers are very helpful with lost-and-found pets.  
  • People often first contact Metro Nashville Animal Care & Control and the Nashville Humane Association when they have lost a dog.  Contact both:  Metro Animal Care and Control.  615-862-7928; 5125 Harding Pl  37211; www.nashville.gov/Health-Department/Animal-Control.aspx  OR Nashville Humane Association.  615-352-1010; 213 Oceola Ave  37209; www.nashvillehumane.org
  • Contact local veterinarians and animal-friendly businesses.  They may recognize the animal as a client, and many of them post lost-and-found pet information.
  • Search online for websites dedicated to lost and found pets and post:

Petharbor  petharbor.com

Lost my Doggie  lostmydoggie.com

Pet Amber Alert  https://www.petamberalert.com/lost-pet-list/

Pet FBI  https://petfbi.org/


Read these tips from the Petfinder website:  http://www.petfinder.com/dogs/lost-and-found-dogs/find-lost-dog/.

  • Contact Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control (MACC) to report your missing dog. (615-862-7928; 5125 Harding Pl 37211; www.nashville.gov/Health-Department/Animal-Control.aspx).  Contact or visit MACC regularly to look for your dog. 
  • Contact the Nashville Humane Association. (615-352-1010; 213 Oceola Ave 37209; www.nashvillehumane.org). 
  • Post to BOTH the lost-and-found AND the pets sections on Craigslist. (www.craigslist.com). Check Craigslist postings daily.
  • Post fliers throughout the neighborhood (coffee shops, bars, grocery stores, the dog park, etc.). Remember, not everyone uses the Internet. Deliver a flyer to animal control and the humane association.
  • Check with local veterinary clinics and emergency vets. 
  • Contact local animal-friendly businesses. Many of them post lost-and-found pet information.
  • Post to websites dedicated to lost and found pets:

Petharbor  petharbor.com

Lost my Doggie  lostmydoggie.com

Pet Amber Alert  https://www.petamberalert.com/lost-pet-list/

Pet FBI  https://petfbi.org/

  • Post your lost dog to Facebook lost and found pages. These are just a few of the lost & found pages. Search Facebook for more:

Skippy Lou's Lost & Found Pets – Nashville, TN  http://www.facebook.com/groups/teamskippylou

East Nashville and Inglewood Lost & Found Pets  https://www.facebook.com/groups/683193988370183/

Madison and Rivergate Lost and Found Pets  https://www.facebook.com/groups/madisonrivergatepets/

Lost & Found Pets of Nolensville  https://www.facebook.com/groups/564538370222919/

Nashville's Lost & Found Pets  http://www.facebook.com/groups/NashvillesLostAndFoundPets

  • Post to community or neighborhood webpages, list-servs, Bulletin Boards, NextDoor app, and Facebook pages. Especially post on the NextDoor app:  https://nextdoor.com/city/nashville--tn/ Include the neighborhood where the dog was found as well as all surrounding neighborhoods.

Lost & Found Pets Facebook Pages

Lost & Found Pets Websites (National)


Animal Emergency Hospitals


Nashville Vet Specialists and Pet Emergency 

2971 Sidco Drive, Nashville, TN

(615) 386-0107


Blue Pearl Pet Emergency After-Hours Hospital

(formerly Nashville Pet Emergency Clinic)

2000 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37204

(615) 383-2600


Blue Pearl Rivergate Pet Emergency Clinic

910 Meadowlark Ln, Goodlettsville, TN 37072

(615) 859-3778


BluePearl Pet Emergency Clinic Brentwood-Franklin

1668 Mallory Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027

615-333-1212


Blue Pearl Pet Emergency Hospital-Murfreesboro

2223 Northwest Broad Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

(615) 890-1259



Other Vet Clinics Open on Sundays


Banfield at PetSmart

719 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN

(615) 385-9034


Banfield at PetSmart

6622 Charlotte Pike #108, Nashville, TN

(615) 353-3800


Banfield at PetSmart

2201 Gallatin Pike North, Madison, TN 37115

(615) 859-1468


Financial Assistance with Veterinary Costs


These organizations may be able to provide financial assistance if you meet their criteria.  Visit the websites to see if you qualify.


Pet Food Assistance


Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Programs


Other Nashville Resource Agencies



Metro Nashville & Davidson County’s Pet Tethering Ordinance


8.12.030

D. Pet tethering. For purposes of this subsection, "tether" means a cable, cord, or similar device used to attach an animal to a stationary device, but does not include chains. No person shall allow any animal to remain confined in such a manner as to unreasonably restrict the animal's ability to move. No person shall allow any dog to remain tethered unless all of the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The tether is not unreasonably heavy in proportion to the weight of the animal.

2. A swivel is located at both ends of the tether and the tether is free of tangles.

3. The collar or harness on the animal to which the swivel is attached is properly fitted and is a collar or harness that is commonly recognized as a pet collar or harness (choke and pinch collars are not permitted).

4. The tether is not less than fifteen feet in length.

5. Chains shall be prohibited for use as a tethering device.

6. The animal is not outside during a period of extreme weather, including without limitation a heat index of ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit (95° F) or above as determined by the National Weather Service, freezing temperatures, thunderstorms, or tornados.

7. The animal has access to water, shelter, and dry ground at all times, and has access to adequate food.

8. The animal is at least six months of age and has a current rabies vaccination.

9. The animal is not sick, injured, or in heat (estrus).

10. Pulley, running line, or trolley systems are at least fifteen feet in length and are not less than six feet above the ground.

11. If there are multiple animals, each animal must be tethered separately.

12. The tethering device shall allow the tethered dog to lie down comfortably at all positions of tether.


Other Resources


Wildlife Resources


Local veterinarians who provide end-of-life care and at-home euthanasia.


Metro Government of Nashville & Davidson County Code of Ordinances for Animals:  

https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT8AN


Information About Davidson County Animal Control, Cruelty, and Complaints:

https://www.nashville.gov/Health-Department/Animal-Care-and-Control/Animal-Control.aspx


Information about the Tennessee Animal Abuse Registry and the Animal Abuse Registry Law:  https://www.tn.gov/tbi/tennessee-animal-abuse-registry.html