Scott Blackwell of Willow Road holds Carmen, a Corgi/German Shepherd mix puppy who gives a dog’s welcome to Erik Johnson of Old Mill Road. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Four-month-old puppy siblings Timmy and Heather get acquainted with Christine, Graham, and Rhein Stelzer.

Puppies and would-be puppy owners overflowed the Harvard Veterinary Clinic on Ayer Road on a recent Saturday when the “puppy bus” came to town. Friendly barks and wagging tails filled the room of kennels, as visitors from all over Massachusetts and neighboring states bonded with the young dogs, who were surprisingly unperturbed by the crowd. Six families took adoptees home with them. Many other families left with wishful thoughts about dogs like Scarlet, a beautiful and demure long-haired mix, or lively Carman, an eager hound mix, rescued from under an old Chevy, thus the name car-man.

Great Dog Rescue New England (www.gdrne.com) brought young dogs, all five months old or younger, from Tennessee to the clinic for a check-up before the Saturday, March 10, adoption open-house there. Great Dog Rescue, a nonprofit, all-breed rescue group based in Massachusetts, works through a network of volunteers to find homes for homeless and abandoned dogs. Their Southern Great Dogs monthly transport via a trucking line brings dogs from Tennessee to New England to be placed in “forever homes.” Volunteers in New England and Tennessee are responsible for the program.

Many dogs are adopted online and taken directly to homes throughout New England. Massachusetts alone requires a minimum 48-hour quarantine in a healthy pet veterinary hospital before adoption. The dogs are up to date on shots and are neutered or spayed. In participating clinics around the state, all dogs receive a temperament checkup to be sure that they are suitable for families and small children. Last week, the Harvard Veterinary Clinic had 27 online-adopted dogs that were going through health and temperament checkups before adoptions were finalized.

After application reviews and a $450 adoption fee, six puppies went to new homes after the March 13 open house. Since 2003, this rescue group has placed more than 3,000 dogs—like Scarlet and Carman—in New England homes.

Sue Dipasquale of Phillipston runs the Great Dog Rescue office and kennel on Ayer Road.	Jana Sweeney of Stoneham holds Tammy, a Feist/Terrier mix that she hopes to adopt.