Part of our responsibility as members of the AARCS adoption team is to our rescued dogs and puppies with forever families. We want to ensure that the animal you wish to adopt is well suited for you, your home, and lifestyle and we are looking for the best possible conditions for each canine friend.

Please note that the animals in our care have uncertain pasts. We do our best to guess at age/breed/size, but we can never be certain.

Step 1:

First, complete our adoption application form, which can be found here. If you have troubles with the online form please contact Tracey at (403) 335-4841 or by email.

Step 2:

The adoption committee will then review the application and contact the family as quickly as possible (usually within two days) to discuss your application and conduct a telephone interview. Please note we do have the right to decline your application for any reason we feel will not match with the needs of our animals.

Step 3:

Once your application is approved we will put the prospective adoptive family in touch with the foster family to arrange a “meet and greet” session.

Step 4:

Once you have met the dog/puppy we ask you take a day to think about it. Discuss the adoption openly and fully with all members of the household. Ensure that the dog matches what your family is looking for. If after you have slept on it for a night and still feel it is the right match, please contact the adoption coordinator with your decision.

Step 5:

In some cases we will require a home visit or pictures of your house and yard. Please be prepared to have an AARCS volunteer visit your home should this be requested.

Step 6:

If all parties are in favor of the adoption (adoption committee, foster family and prospective adoptive family) you can pick up your new family member the next day.

Please be prepared for the puppy/dog, with food, bed, toys, and bowls before he/she comes home.

AARCS Adoption Policies

• Adoption fees:

  Adoption fees for dogs and puppies is $250.00 and is not negotiable. We ONLY accept cash, certified cheque or money order, payable to the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society. Unfortunately, we will no longer will accept personal cheques. The fee can be paid to the foster family when you complete the adoption. All adoption fees are non-refundable.

• Adoptions are not a first come, first serve basis.

  We will match our dogs with the most appropriate fit, therefore if there is more than one person interested in the same dog please understand that it may be that you are a good adoptive family, but not the best match for that specific dog.

• Vaccinations:

  All AARCS dogs and puppies receive their first check up and vaccinations prior to adoption with a licensed veterinarian. All other vaccinations due while in our care will be updated, and the adoptive family is responsible for vaccinations that come due after the adoption is completed, which can include on-going treatment for minor ailments such as worms.

• Spay/Neuter Policy:

  All of our dogs and puppies are spayed or neutered prior to adoption, this cost is included in our adoption fee. The dogs need to stay in their foster homes until they are recovering well from this surgery (usually 2-3 days later). In cases when adoptive families take their new dog home within two weeks after spay / neuter surgery, we ask that the dog be exercised on leash only, and kept relatively calm for a period of two weeks after surgery, to aid the healing process. The surgical incision should also be checked daily during this time, to be sure it is healing well.

• Adoption Area:

  Our policy is to facilitate adoptions in Alberta. Some exceptions have been made when the applicants are within reasonable driving distance of the Calgary area. We do not do adoptions outside of Canada, and will not ship dogs. All applicants are required to visit with the pups prior to adoption – every dog and puppy has her own unique personality and we want to see how the dog and applicant interact. This is an important part of our screening process.

• long-Distance Adoptions:

  At the discretion of the board, we may agree in the event of a long distance adoption, that the dog or puppy can go home the same day, but applicants are asked to leave the foster family for a minimum of 1 hour, then return to the foster home to complete the adoption.

• Over nights/Trial Periods:

  We do not allow over night or trial periods. We hope that when a family makes a decision to adopt a pet that it will be a life time commitment. There are often many challenges in the first few days and weeks following an adoption. In addition, it is traumatic for a dog to be bounced around from one home to another.

• Return Policy:

  In the event that the family is unable or unwilling to keep a dog that was adopted from us, the dog MUST be returned to our care to be re-homed. We do not take owner surrenders when the dog wasn’t adopted from our organization.

• Gifts:

  Under no circumstances will we adopt a dog for a gift for someone else.

• Renters:

  All renters must have written permission from their landlord prior to a dog going home.