What is involved in adopting a dog from us?
So you are considering adopting or fostering a dog from us and have landed on our FAQ. We at ANML-RESQ Network Of Ontario have a process we follow to ensure we are adopting one of the deserving dogs in our program into the right home and minimize the risk of the dog getting passed around and end up back in the system or worse. To help us achieve that, we strive to secure a ‘Perfect Fit’ home and not to just adopt out to a home without due diligence. Our process has allowed us to succeed for hundreds of dogs and we want to continue to succeed for hundreds more. The process starts by interested person(s) filling out an online application which is located under the ‘Apply To Adopt’ tab listed on our homepage. Depending on the number of applications that come through for a particular dog, our board reviews them as they come in. This could take days to weeks pending how many come in. We discuss the top applicants that apply and narrow it down to the home we feel is the best fit. From there, one of our members conducts a telephone interview which is just a simple discussion to get to know and hear more about the potential adopter(s). From that point, provided the telephone interview goes well, we perform reference checks and veterinary checks. Speaking with references allows us to hear a little more about what your friends and family have to say about you, your situation and whether you are a good fit to take on a new pet. A vet check can be important in determining whether or not an applicant is a responsible pet owner and it is important for us to hear what your vet has to say. From that point, once all checks out, we perform an in home inspection. The number one priority is to ensure the safety of every pet in our care and to ensure the home the dog will be living in is suitable, safe and secure. There are many preventable reasons that pets are surrendered, re-homed or lost. Our team can see potential dangers for the dog and or inconveniences for the family that will make caring for the dog a challenge. Home visits are not conducted for judgement of decorating or housekeeping, they are completed for safety of the pet and to feel out the people that will be adopting the dog. We want to ensure a forever home is secured and this helps us do that. From that point, our board members discuss the adoption, any concerns and if decided to move forward, we work towards a meet and greet with the dog and the adoptive family. This allows the dog to interact with its potential new family and for the family to interact and connect. Should the family want more than 1 meet and greet, so long as we can make this happen with the current foster home, we will. This would be the time where any other dogs in the home meet the potential new comer to see how interactions go. So long as everything works out and the family wants to move forward, we align pick up or transport to the new home and for the dog to start its new life.
What is involved in fostering a dog from us?
You are considering fostering a dog in our program and would like to know what is involved. Our foster homes go through the same screening process that our adopters go through and then we match you up with a foster dog that is suitable to your home, lifestyle and family. You are responsible for providing love, shelter and patience while the dog is in your care and we cover all food and veterinary expenses until the dog is adopted.
You are fostering a dog in our program and do not want to adopt it out.
If you are fostering a dog and are on the verge of what we call a foster fail, the process is clean and simple as you have already been cleared through the adoption and foster process, just let us know and we will provide the adopter contract and it is as simple as completing the forms and submitting your donation.
Adoption Donations
Our dog adoption donations are as follows;
- Puppies (2 years & younger) will require an adoption donation of $700 to be paid to the rescue. Puppies will be spayed or neutered at owners expense, once the puppy is old enough and once we receive confirmation of completion, a $200 reimbursement will be issued to the new owner.
- Young dogs to adult dogs (2 years to 6 years) will require an adoption donation of $700 to be paid to the rescue.
- Adoption donations for seniors, special needs and canines with medical conditions will be case by case based on the situation.
- All other adoption donations will depend on age & health of the dog and will be agreed on by our board members for each case.
All adoption donation amounts will be disclosed to potential adopters during the interview process.
Why is there an adoption donation and what is included in that donation?
Adoption donations are an extremely important source of funds that assist with the continued growing costs of medical care for pets. Across Ontario, the average cost of a vet to spay or neuter a canine is between $800-$1400 and although there are programs out there from government funded vet clinics and or SPCA that cost around $350-$700, wait times are extensive and take several attempts to be able to get on a list let alone have one completed. So this does not always work in favour of the Rescues across Ontario. Vaccinations for dogs typically cost between $150-$400 across Ontario and depends on what is required. After that, the annual cost for vaccinations and vet care remains between $100-$400 annually. So for dogs that remain in our care for more than one year, we continue to keep updated on required vaccinations. We supply food for the dogs in our program and the average cost for a good bag of dog food is between $80-$100 per bag not including any medical or dietary restriction required food which costs more. The minimum average cost to bring a dog into our program that does not have medical issues, does not require surgery and or special care sits at $1100 and upwards towards $1900. As a non government funded rescue that relies solely on donations and fundraising, you can imagine the difficulty in maintaining the continued rise in veterinarian costs and care for canines so the adoption donations help.
Aside from puppies, all of our canines will be spayed, neutered, microchipped and up to date on all required vaccinations prior to going to their adoptive homes. In special cases where we need to delay the spay or neuter due to health issues, wait times or urgent situations, we will cover the cost of the spay or neuter when it is completed. As stated above, puppies, once old enough to be spayed or neutered, will be the adopters responsibility and will receive a $200 reimbursement once the spay or neuter has been completed.
Why can’t I meet a dog before submitting an application?
Often we receive multiple applications for one dog. We prioritize visits with the best matched family. Because our dogs are living in our volunteers homes, out of fairness to not only the foster homes themselves, but also to the dogs that may have multiple families interested in them, we require all interested adopters to complete our adoption application first. Having every interested person coming to the home of our volunteers to meet our dogs is just not feasible.
How long does it take to process your application?
We respect the time you’ve taken to fill it out so we try to do it as quickly as possible for selected applicants (not every applicant that applies will get a dog). However, we are all volunteers so we appreciate your patience with us. Sometimes we receive several applications on the same pets and many applications come in when we post information on new pets. On average it takes 2 – 5 business days but could take up to 2 weeks.
My current pet is not spayed or neutered, is that a problem?
This is a case by case situation. Although we would prefer homes where any other pets in the home are altered, we might consider a home with an unaltered canine pending circumstances. We are aware that medical reasons might affect having your existing pet altered, but do strive to stick with policy that all dogs should be altered and for many reasons.
If I adopt a dog from you, and cannot keep or care for the dog, do you take the dog back?
Yes! If after extensive training, education and communication with us, an adopted dog does not work out in your home, or you are unable to care for the dog, it must be returned to us. You will be asked to sign a contract stating that you will return the dog to us should you be unable to keep or care for the dog.
I’m leery of adopting an adult dog as I don’t know the dog’s history. What do you do to determine if the dog is temperamentally sound?
We take public safety very seriously! Our dogs are observed in many situations and environments, which means we ensure the dog is as safe for adoption as possible. As well, because our dogs are fostered in real homes they are well socialized before we allow them to be adopted. We spend a great deal of time and effort in matching dogs with an appropriate home and ensuring dog and human have met more than once.
We cannot guarantee that a dog will never bite or strive in your home, however, we make every effort to ensure that the dog is a good candidate for adoption and is temperamentally sound.
Considering surrendering your dog, what do you do?
Surrendering a dog should be a last resort once all other options have been exhausted. This is an extremely stressful and confusing experience for all dogs and most issues that a dog would be surrendered for could have easily been resolved through training with a committed owner. If you wish to proceed, please fill out our Owner Surrender form which is available under the ‘Owner Surrender’ section of our home page and one of our volunteers will be in contact with you. Please be completely honest and do not leave any information out as all information is crucial to help us find a suitable home for your dog. Omitting information could put us, the dog and the potential home at risk. Our job as a rescue is to minimize the chance that a dog or home would fail, the dog end up back into the system and in order to do this, we need any and all information.
Why do I have to pay a surrender donation?
Taking a dog into our program is rather costly and pending whether your dog is altered or not, up to date on vaccinations, requires medical care and or is special needs, veterinary bills are a guarantee. We provide food, shelter and medical care for the surrendered dog through our program and a surrender fee helps cover some of the accumulated costs. Surrender donations are a case by case situation and will be discussed with the surrendering owner after the surrender form has been completed and provided we decide to take in the canine. We do not accept all surrenders, this is why the surrender form needs to be completed, we need to assess the situation prior to making a decision.
If our FAQ has not answered a question you might have, please do not hesitate to reach out to is via email at anmlresq@hotmail.com.