Chesapeake Area Alaskan Malamute Protection (CHAAMP), formerly Potomac Valley AMR, saves purebred Malamutes of good temperament in DC, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  CHAAMP is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, funded by donations and adoption fees.  Our dogs are either kenneled or fostered in our volunteers' homes.  Our goal is to find loving, suitable homes for our dogs.

Read below to learn why adopting from us is better than buying from a pet store or back yard breeder. 

1. Our dogs are all neutered or spayed, which means you won't have to pay that cost, or alternatively, deal with the many behavioral issues that can arise with intact dogs.

2. We tell you everything we know about our dogs, the good and the bad.  We don't adopt dogs that are aggressive to people. 

3. Our dogs have received all their shots, are heartworm negative, and are in good health.  If a dog has health issues, we tell you what they are. 

4.  We know our dogs: their personalities, their likes and dislikes, and their character. Our knowledge of our dogs makes it easy for us to make a good match for you, and give you a dog that will fit your lifestyle.

5. A back yard breeder or a pet store is much more interested in getting your money than they are making sure your new dog is a good fit for you and your family.

6. We are always available for questions and follow-up of any sort. 

Here's how to adopt one of our dogs:

1.  Fill out our application

2.  Email or mail it to me.  If you do not hear back from me within a few days, please contact me, as that probably means I didn't get your application. 

3.  We will contact you to set up your home visit.

4.  We will contact your vet and your landlord, if applicable.

5.  After your home visit, we'll have a good idea about which of our dogs would be suitable for you and your lifestyle.  We'll discuss them with you and you can visit the dogs.

6.  The dog you choose will not go home with you the day you visit.  We want you to think about it and make a decision without looking at those beautiful brown eyes! 

7.  After you choose your dog, we will arrange a time for you to pick up the dog, sign our adoption contract, and receive the dog's records and additional information.

We require that all potential adopters complete this application before they visit any of our dogs.  It may seem that the application asks a great number of personal questions. Our goal is to find the perfect dog match for you, so please be as specific and lengthy as you like -- the more info we have, the better! 

It allows us to see exactly which of our dogs meet your requirements.  If a suitable one isn't currently available or you aren't interested in any of them, your application will be put in our database and I'll contact you the minute we have a dog we think you'll like. 

Completing our application puts you under no obligation to adopt a Mal from us. Because of the enormous number of emails we receive, CHAAMP will not be able to notify you if we have the perfect dog for you unless you've submitted an application.  When more than one family want the same dog, and all other things being equal, we decide based on the date we receive the application.

Because we feel it is so important that the right dog go to the right home, we make every effort to find out all facets of each dog's personality.  We know who's laid-back, who likes cats, wants lots of tummy rubs, needs lots of activity, chases squirrels, etc. 

All of our Malamutes are spayed or neutered before placement.  They also have been given medical care as necessary, including shots, rabies, and de-worming.  We will tell you everything we know about our dogs, both good and bad, including their health (mental and physical), their behavior, and their personality.  All dogs we place are heartworm negative. 

Since our goal is to find the right home for our dogs, CHAAMP requires a home inspection prior to any adoption. We visit your home at a time convenient to you, usually on a weekend. This helps us determine any potential security or safety issues at your home.

Our adoption fee is usually $225.  If you adopt one of our older dogs (eight years old or over) or a dog whom we know to not be in good health, the adoption fee is less.  Puppies under 6 months old are $400.  Puppies between 6 months and 1 year are $325.

Our interest in our Malamutes doesn't end with their adoption . . . these dogs have become a part of our "family".  We will always be available for you to talk with or to ask us any questions you may have.  And if you ever are in a position where you can no longer keep the dog, we will always take it back.

We have placed many wonderful dogs in new homes, and I'm really looking forward to helping you find a great dog. 

Lezlie Crosswhite
CHAAMP  Director