Adoption FAQ

What is the adoption process?

  • View Our Rescues Available for Adoption

  • Submit an Application

  • Application Review

    • Adoption coordinators (volunteers) will review your application and complete reference checks.

    • Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. We do our best to work as quickly as possible but have no set timeline due to volunteer limitations.

  • Phone Interview

    • If shortlisted, you'll be contacted to complete a phone interview to discuss your application and potential matches.

  • Home Check (Dogs Only)

    • To ensure your home meets the needs of the pup you’re applying for, you’ll be requested to provide a quick video tour of your home.

  • Meet & Greet

    • If moving forward, you'll connect with the foster family to set up a meet and greet. This will just be a meeting and you will not be able to bring them home directly from the meet and greet.

  • Decision Time

    • You have 24 hours after the meet & greet to decide if it’s the right match for your family. Your adoption coordinator will be available to help answer any questions!

  • Final Steps

    • If a match is approved, you’ll receive by email:

      • Adoption contract

      • Payment instructions (eTransfer only)

    • Both are to be returned within 2 days to finalize the adoption.

  • Pick-Up

    • We will let the foster know everything has been finalized and you can coordinate with them for pick-up. Pick up must be within 5 days or boarding fees apply.

    • You will receive important veterinary information by email within a few days after adoption.

How much is your adoption fee?

Cats: $350* for kittens/young cats and $300* for adults. Fees may differ for specific adoptable kitties.
Dogs: Young dogs and puppies: $850*. Other dogs depend on age and breed. Please inquire about the specific rescue you are interested in.

A $100 refundable deposit is requested for rescues that are too young to be fixed, returned after their appointment at our vet when they are old enough (fix at our vet is included in the adoption).

Adoption fees do not cover our expenses and discounts are not available.

*Adoption fees include 7% PST

How do I pay the adoption fee?

We accept payment by eTransfer only. The instructions for payment will be provided to you at the time of adoption.

What does my adoption fee cover?

All of our adoptions include:

  • health check

  • spay/neuter (at our partner vet when old enough, if not completed before adoption)

  • microchip

  • basic vaccination(s) up to date at the time of adoption

  • initial flea and deworming treatment

  • exclusive rescue pricing for Embark DNA test (dogs only)

  • plus any other care the rescue may need to get them ready for adoption!

I haven’t heard back about my application…

We are a small, 100% volunteer-run rescue and only shortlisted applicants are contacted. Applications stay open until you're either shortlisted or the pet is adopted.

To ensure you receive our messages, please add our domain to your safe sender list and check your voicemail regularly. If we do not hear back from you, we will proceed to the next applicant.

I changed my mind about adoption…

Please let us know so your application can be removed.

Do you adopt single kittens?

To prevent “single kitten syndrome”, kittens are adopted in pairs or to homes with other friendly kitties. Consider a young adult cat if you are only looking to adopt one!

Can I adopt two puppies?

Puppies are a lot of work, and managing two at once can be particularly challenging. However, the primary reason we do no adopt littermates is due to “littermate syndrome”.

I’m looking for a dog/cat with a specific trait…

Our foster families do a pretty great job helping us put together profiles for each of our rescues. You can review the profiles for our Available Cats & Dogs here.

Do you have a waitlist?

No. We accept applications for currently available rescues only as we believe it’s important for individuals to apply for rescues they feel a connection to and that match their needs based on their profile.

Can I meet the rescue first?

Yes, as a foster-based rescue meet and greets are set up with shortlisted applicants. Entire household participation is recommended.

Do you have a hypoallergenic rescues?

Given the nature of rescue work, no guarantees on breed or allergy-friendliness. Fostering is recommended for allergic households as having a full-time fur-friend can set off allergies that may not come up with a short meeting.

My pet has never lived with another animal...

Understanding your pet's basic temperament is crucial in determining if they will benefit from having a furry friend. Proper, slow introductions are key and be ready to keep animals separate for a while (weeks to months). While we are here to offer advice, we expect adopters to have researched and prepared a plan for introductions. It’s important to manage expectations: animals can live happily together in the same home without necessarily being inseparable.

Can I speed up my application?

Yes! Complete all sections of the application thoroughly and ensure your vet has consent to speak with us. We are a small volunteer run organization and do our best to review and contact shortlist applicants as soon as possible.

I live outside of Metro Vancouver, can I apply to adopt?

We will consider strong, reference-backed applications from within BC outside of the Metro Vancouver area. We do not adopt out of province or country. The s e c r e t w o r d to paste into your application is cheese.

I want to adopt for someone else...

We only adopt directly to the future pet owner. You can assist with the application, but they must be involved.