ALBERTA HERDING DOG RESCUE

ADOPTION  INFORMATION

COVID-19

We have been receiving more requests for information on the dogs in our program than usual during this shut down due to the pandemic.  We really appreciate your interest in adopting one of our dogs, especially now if, like many, you are self-isolating and currently have the time to devote to training and bonding with a new four-legged companion. 

Thankfully, we have not seen a similar increase of new dogs coming in over the past few months.  However, with non-essential workers self-isolating, that means there are no extra hands to help with the manual labour (such as kennels to clean, dogs to feed & exercise & clean up after) at the Retreat, where the majority of our fosters are currently residing.  So we thank you for your patience while we work to update our website listings, answer emails and create online fundraising endeavours during the few (& far between) moments of down time.

ADOPTION PROCESS

Hopefully you will understand that our animals' best interests are at the heart of what we do and our ultimate goal is to find perfect matches!  We are looking for active pet homes that are engaged with their dogs regularly or for working/herding homes that know how to train them for the job they need and who have a safe place for them when they are not working.

We do not have an adoption quota or a timeline to meet and our foster families are always given the option to adopt the dog, for all the work they put into making them adoptable, before we consider an application.   We look for the BEST match for each dog but we can only consider applications if, & when, we receive them.  We do not keep a list of interested adopters but completed & approved applications are kept on file.

Applications are reviewed & considered on a first-come basis BUT, even if it is the only application received, it may not be approved if it is not a good match to the dog's needs.

• Fill out the adoption application attached to the available dog you are interested in and wait for a response from our volunteers.
• If there are any questions or concerns about the application, we will contact you for clarification.
• Once we can line up a volunteer to do the home visit, we will introduce you to them by email so that you can arrange a time convenient to you both.  Generally, except during high vacation seasons (summer & Christmas), this step can be done within a week of receiving your application.
  
  • During Covid restrictions, where an in person home visit is not recommended, we can do a virtual home visit if the adopters are comfortable sending photos or videos of the home and yard where the dog will be living & playing.
• Once the home visit is complete, arrangements are then made with the foster home for a Meet'n'Greet. At that point, if it goes well, we transfer the dog over to you.
• Adoption fees are due upon the transfer of the dog to the adopter for the 30 day trial period. If the adopter requests a delay in the transfer to a later date of their convenience, a $100 deposit is required.  The deposit will be forfeited if the adopter abandons the process prior to the trial adoption period. 
  • If, during the 30 day trial adoption period, the dog is not a good match, the entire adoption fee will be returned upon the dog's return to our rescue.

If the adopter can no longer keep or care for a dog they adopted from us, we will ALWAYS take them back as long as we continue to operate.

We do consider long distance applications but we very rarely ship our dogs to people or places unknown, as the Meet n Greet is a very important part of the process.  However, we would not ask you to make the trip for a Meet n Greet if your application was not approved & the chances of taking the dog home the same day were not high.

ADOPTION FEES