Adoption Information - FAQ

The Adoption process

1) Fill out our adoption application. Each dog’s profile contains an “apply now” button. Use this to be directed to our application which is a google form.

Please include details in the application - if you answer with only minimal information we have no way of knowing how you would be a good family for the dog. Because of the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to reply to each applicant and only follow up with families we feel would be a good fit for the dog. If you applied for multiple dogs, we will sometimes just contact you for one or two of the dogs who we think would be best suited to your home and lifestyle.

2) We follow up with applicants we feel would be a good fit for the dog, and schedule an interview. All our interviews are conducted online via Zoom. During the Zoom call, we explain in-depth the rest of the adoption process and what to expect when adopting from our organization.

FAQ’s

How much does the adoption cost and what does it include?

• The adoption fee is for all puppies/dogs who are being adopted from Chile/Mexico is $1100.

• For dogs that are being re-homed (when the dog is already in Canada) the fee is $600.

All of our dogs over 6 months arrive spayed/neutered and vaccinated. For dogs under 6 months, the adopting family will be responsible for paying for their spay/neutering in Canada when they are old enough.

Is the dog healthy? Can we see the vet records?

All of our dogs have been medically cleared for adoption by the vets that we work with. Families will receive their dog’s health records upon their arrival in Canada but these can be requested in advance if desired. If there are any medical/health issues that are known to our vets and our team, we will make the families fully aware.

We recommend that families purchase an additional health package through us for $200 at the time of adoption. These checks provide proof of negative results for ehrlichiosis (tick borne disease) as well as anaplasmosis (disease from infected flies). These diseases are silent but deadly and can lie dormant in dogs for years however they are treatable at early stages which is why we want all of our adopting families to opt for this additional testing. If the dog is positive for either of these diseases we will pay for their treatment and redo the testing to ensure they test negative before they fly to Canada.

Chile is not a country with heart worm, this will not be a concern.

TVT is common in South American countries and we’ve had one case in 240 dogs that have been adopted and brought to Canada. In this case the dog was not showing any symptoms while in our care but did shortly after arriving (likely triggered by the stress of travelling). TVT is treatable and will be working with our Chilean team to consider ways we may be able to screen for this without the invasive testing that is usually required.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions.

Can I know more about the dogs history?

We can provide the history of the dog that we know of. However, all of our dogs come from abusive situations or were abandoned. Given their situation, we don’t know the entire history of most of our dogs and do not want to fabricate a history to tell our families.

Can I train my Adopted dog to be a service dog?

All of our dogs have history of abuse or abandonment. As such, our dogs are not suitable for this type of training or life. We will not be adopting dogs to families who intend to have their dog in this role. Please see credible trainers or agencies if this is what you are requiring in a dog.

Can you tell me the breed?

With the exception of a few dogs, we don’t know any of their breeds. Your guess is as good as ours!

How big will the dog (puppy) grow?

Similar to the breed - we don’t know.

How is the dog inside a home?

We don’t know. Please understand that our dogs have never had a loving home before. None of them have had a toy, or been given treats. They’ve never been on a couch or had a bed. We cannot predict how a dog will do inside a home, because that’s a completely new environment for them.

Can we crate our rescued dog?

Absolutely not. None of our dogs are crate trained, and many of them are coming from situations where they were beaten and locked up/confined. This is their second chance at life and first time in loving home - the last thing we want to do is trigger any traumatic memories for them! We are looking for families who will allow their dog to free roam. If you want to crate your dog, please look elsewhere. We do not adopt to people who will crate their dog.

Can we meet the dog before adopting?

Unfortunately, due to the challenges of transporting the dog up here and our lack of a shelter in BC, we only fly up dogs who have already been adopted and have a home. We understand this is not ideal for every family.

Can we see more photos of the dog?

Due to the high volume of inquiries we receive, we typically don’t send additional photos until after the application is submitted. If you proceed to the interview stage, we will share more about the dog including photos. All of our adopting families receive ongoing photos and videos during the waiting period as well.

I applied for a dog in the past but was unsuccessful. Can I apply again for a different dog?

Absolutely! We hold applications for up to three months, and all you need to do is email us to ask about adding another dog to your application file. If it’s been longer than three months, we do require an a new application to be filled out. Sometimes we receive many excellent applications for one dog and have to decide who is the best fit for that specific dog. Unfortunately we don’t have the resources to contact each applicant individually to see if they’re interested in other dogs and have to rely on the applicant to inform us.

Can I put more than one dog in my application?

Yes. We only require one application to be filled out, and applicants are welcome to include multiple dogs in the one application. Alternatively, you are always welcome to email us to add other adoptable dogs to your application file.

What are some ways to help my application stand out?

We receive hundreds of applications and work hard to choose the best applicants for the dogs. First impressions go a long way, and sending an initial email inquiry with details that help us get to know you is a great way to help your application stand out. We are also looking for applicants that include as much detail as possible in their responses. Applications that include minimal information about their home and lifestyle are typically unsuccessful, as we have no way of knowing how the dog will be cared for. Your application is your chance to show us how amazing the dogs life will be with you!

Do you need foster families?

Although we usually only bring up dogs who have been adopted, emergencies can always happen and it’s lovely to have the possibility of having a family foster a dog. If you’re interested in this, please email us and let us know!

Where do the dogs fly in?

Our dogs fly in to YVR (Vancouver International Airport). Our families meet us at the airport to take their dog home!

Can we adopt if we live outside BC?

Although our rescue mainly adopts to BC residents, we’ll consider families from Alberta as well. Our dogs go through a very long journey to arrive in Vancouver and we want to minimize any extra travel while they’re adjusting, such as a multi-day car drive.