General Policies
- We do not adopt out animals as gifts or surprises.
- If you adopt from us and you must rehome the animal for any reason, the animal must come back to Zoe’s. No exceptions – this is part of your signed adoption contract.
- We do not ship our animals. You’d be required to come to their foster home for a meet and greet and to pick up once finalized.
- Kids MUST attend the meet and greets if under 16, if they are over 16 they must attend the homecheck, at least, if they are living at home.
- We only adopt to force free / positive reinforcement training homes. Aversion style training often leads to future behavioral issues.
- Any adults (spouse/partner or roommate) must either be at the Meet ‘n Greet or homecheck to ensure they are 100% onboard with the adoption.
- If you rent or are in a condo, you will need to get an email from the landlord or condo board in order to adopt. This is very important as they can force you to rehome your pet! Unless you have a signed pet policy that states you can have a set number of dogs or cats without written permission.
- We ask for your patience during the adoption process as we are volunteer run so it can take 1-2 weeks to finalize an adoption.
Cats & Kittens
- Our cats can only be allowed outside on a harness/leash or in a catio. We do however have a barn program for feral cats.
- Bonded pairs MUST stay together as they rely on each other for emotional support. If you are unable to take 2 please look at our many other animals that aren’t bonded.
- All kittens under 5 months must be adopted in pairs or go to a home with a young cat who is 5 years and younger. We do not adopt out young kittens to be only cats as they tend to be extremely cat social and can suffer from separation anxiety, and aggression. Adopting two helps them to learn good manners! We do have some older kittens who would be ok, but it will say so in the about their behavior section.
Dogs & Puppies
- A fenced yard isn’t always a requirement for dogs/puppies. Some dogs may require a fenced yard – it’s animal specific.
- We do not adopt out puppies in pairs due to littermate syndrome.
- All puppies MUST attend puppy classes at force free or positive reinforcement places. This is a requirement in order to adopt and you must purchase these classes before you can bring home your new puppy. Ensure you factor in the extra expense for training as part of your budget.
- All dogs/puppies must be indoor only.
- If you have no fence, dogs/puppies must be outside only on a leash, tie out, dog run or supervised.
Process
Step 1 : Apply
Complete our adoption application form online. Once submitted, you will receive an automated email shortly after you submit the form – be sure to check your Junk/Spam folders!
The information you provide on your application will help us determine the best possible match for both you and the animal. Please answer all of the questions with as much detail as possible. If the animal has behavioural or medical concerns, please address them in your application.
Step 2: Screening
Our team reviews your application. If it’s a possible good match, we will be in touch with you within 14 days of the animal becoming available for adoption.
As we are a 100% volunteer-run organization, we unfortunately do not have the bandwidth to respond to all applicants. Only applicants chosen for a Meet ‘n Greet will be contacted. We appreciate your understanding!
Step 3: Meet 'n Greet
You and your family will have a Meet ‘n’ Greet with the rescue animal to see how everyone gets along. Meet ‘n’ Greets usually take place at the foster’s home only. This is where you and the foster home get the opportunity to hang out together with the animal, as well as talk about the animal’s personality, energy level, and quirks.
If, after these Meet ‘n’ Greets, either you or the foster home thinks it’s not a match then the adoption will not proceed. There is no pressure to adopt!
COVID-19 Update
- Dog Meet n’ Greets will be done outside, either in the foster’s backyard or on a long leash.
- Cat Meet n’ Greets will be done virtually over Facetime or Zoom, etc, or in a sanitized private room.
Step 4: Reference and Home Checks
If it’s a match, we move on to checking your references and conducting a home check. Home checks are to assess the house for safety and to offer tips on how to cat or dog proof further.
While the process may seem arduous, this is all done with the animal’s wellbeing in mind. It’s important that we find forever homes for our rescues, which means we need to do our due diligence to ensure adopters are compatible, responsible and ready to take on the responsibility of caring for their new family member!
COVID-19 Update
- Homechecks will be done virtually when possible.
Step 5: Finalize Adoption
Once reference checks and home visits are cleared, you will be asked to sign an adoption contract, pay the adoption fee, then welcome your new family member home! If a kitten(s) or puppy has yet to be fixed, they must remain in the foster’s care until this done.
But that’s not all! If you have any questions or need help with training, you can get in touch with us at any time.
Adoption Fees
Kittens | Under 5 months
$220 for one
$330 for two
$500 for three
Kittens | 5-12 months
$170 for one
$255 for two
Adult Cats | 1-6 years
$170 per cat, including bonded pairs
Senior Cats | 7+ years
$75 for one
$100 for bonded pairs
Puppies | Under 1 year
$425
Adult dogs | 1+ years
$400
Long-term care or special needs dogs and cats
By reasonable donation
Payments
We accept payments via cash or email money transfer (preferred) to info@zoesanimalrescue.org; security answer: rescue
You also have the option to make an additional donation on top of the adoption fee. To receive a tax-receipt for donations over $20, please include your full mailing address and email address in the e-transfer comments.
Adoption fees are non-refundable.
What’s Included
- All ZOE’s rescues are spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, dewormed, and vaccinated – the amount of vaccines depend on length in care – minimum prior to adoption is two vaccines for kittens and one vaccine for puppies.
- One free vet exam from one of our participating vets.
Holding Fees
Our adoption process is typically two weeks long, during which we will put the animal on hold for you. If you require us to have the animal for longer than two weeks, a $25/week holding fee must be paid in addition to their adoption fee, which goes towards food, litter, boarding fees (if necessary) or vaccines if due while still in our care. In cases of multiple kittens, it would still just be $25/week.