I'm interested in adopting through petfinder.com, but having very limited luck with any responses. I've completed several applications, even paid for one to be sent  out, but no one calls me. I dont want to seem burdensome to the people I'm emailing or calling, but I dont want to be "forgotten" either.

I dont know how it should be... but I'm dealing with dogs in fostered homes, not shelters.

So should I expect a long delay?   I"m even willing to drive to pick them up within the New England area.

I waited 3 and 1/2 months for my newest addition to the family but that was because she was part of the Pups Up for Parole program at the local penitentiary.  Find out which shelter s/he is listed with and call them.  Ask to speak to the Director of Adoptions and find out what is taking so long particularly if you have spent money.

It actually took me a month of phone calls then going down to look for my dog before I got a straight answer.  That is when I found out that even though she was up for adoption she was not really available.

It was at that point that I took a dog for fostering for a few months.  When the dog I wanted became available 3-1/2 months later I took in the foster dog and got the dog I originally wanted for free.  It became a win-win situation because 9 days later my foster dog was adopted into his forever home.

If the dog is in a rescue program please be patient.  Rescues are run by volunteers, most of whom have full time jobs, families, dogs of their own.  Speaking for a foster home and active rescue participant, sometimes it takes long than we hope. An application may go through a couple levels of review before a volunteer gets back to you.  Many people just expect it to happen overnight.  It doesn't always work that way.

Be persistent, and it will all work out just as it's meant to be.

its too bad you dont live closer to nj- i found my babies through petfinder, with eleventh hour rescue (ehrdogs.org).  maybe they can hook you up with something in your area, dunno.  but they were (& are) very good to me- and i didnt have any delays or anything- if anything, i delayed them because i was moving to an apt that takes dogs.   good luck- like it was already said- what is meant to be will be, in perfect time, maybe they havent rescued your dog yet

Can't tell you how many times a prospective adopter submits an application and then does not respond when the rescue replies.  Sometimes they find a dog locally, sometimes they just vanish off the face of the earth.

Also, we want the best possible home for our fosters, so we are particular - like Dobelvr said.  Phone screening, vet references, home visit all take time.  The right dog is worth waiting for though.

I would call them.  I volunteer with a shelter and we list on Petfinder.  I know that the shelter can receive many many emails with just general questions about the pets listed and that can take a while to get back to everyone. (some shelters use dial up because of price, so it takes a lot longer to answer email).  If you call, you should get an immediate response.  No shelter or rescue would get irritated with you - after all, we are all in it to save lives!

I have posted my strays on Petfinder.  I got multiple crazy responses about shipping the dog overseas into a 'love home'.  The post-ers have to weed through so much junky responses!  I would contact them by phone if you can.