How to Adopt
Adoption is a commitment of love, care, and companionship to an animal for the duration of their life. We believe that there is a home for each and every animal, and our ultimate goal is to see our resident animals adopted into furr-ever homes!
Adoption Process
Our Adoption Application process is designed to ensure the best fit of animal for your home and lifestyle. Please take time to go through the following steps (click each section for details) to learn more about our adoption process.
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Step 1: View our Adoptable Animals
Online bios of all our adoptable dogs and cats can be found on our website. Click on each animal's profile to learn more about their personality, household compatibility, and behavioural or medical needs.
Bringing a new pet into a home is a big decision, and we want to set them up for success. We encourage you to carefully review the profiles of the animal(s) you may be interested in adopting to ensure they will be a good fit!
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Step 2: Plan Your Visit
Prior to adoption, we ask that all family members and/or housemates meet the animal you are interested in adopting.
- Cat Visitation: Come down to the Adoption Centre during public visiting hours (Wed.-Sat., 12:00-4:00PM) without an appointment to spend time with our cats in our beautiful cage-free cat chalets.
- Dog Visitation: Fill out a Visitation Request Form below and email to adopt@bowvalleyspca.org to request an appointment to visit with one or multiple of our dogs (visits are typically held outdoors in one of our meet and greet pens, so please dress accordingly), or come to one of our Dog Day Open Houses (the first Saturday of every month, 1:00-3:00PM) without an appointment. Unfortunately we cannot facilitate walk-in dog visits without an appointment.
- Foster Visitation: Fill out a Visitation Request Form and email to adopt@bowvalleyspca.org to request an appointment to meet the animal at their foster home.
Foster Visitation Request Form
Please note some of our dogs will require multiple meet-and-greets (scheduled with the Centre Manager) before you can proceed with adoption.
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Step 3: Submit an Application
Once you are ready to apply to adopt, fill out an Adoption Application form and email it to adopt@bowvalleyspca.org or submit it in person at the Centre during public visiting hours (Wed.-Sat. 12:00-4:00PM).
Even if you do not have a specific animal in mind, we encourage you to fill out an Adoption Application if you're considering adopting, so you can be pre-approved for when you make that special connection. We will keep your application on file for 6 months.
Please note we do not do same day adoptions, unless pre-arranged with the Adoption Centre Manager for extenuating circumstances.
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Step 4: Application Review
Once we have received your Application, our Adoption Centre Manager will review it within 2-5 business days. You will receive an email or phone call with an update on your application status, and to discuss further details about the animal(s) you are interested in adopting.
If your application is approved, the Adoption Centre Manager will arrange additional meet-and-greets (if required), and to complete the adoption process and take your new pet home!
Please note that applications are received, reviewed, and approved on a first come, first served basis. This may mean there is a waitlist for some of our animals, especially puppies and kittens.
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Step 5: Heading Home
Once you're approved for adoption and have scheduled an appointment to complete the process, you'll want to start getting your home ready.
If you are in need of supplies, come and check out our Shed Shop. We have a great selection of new and lightly used supplies at affordable prices!
On Adoption Day you will review the adoption paperwork, sign an Adoption Contract, and pay the Adoption Fee. Then starts the exciting journey of a life together with your new pet!
We know that adoption and pet ownership can come with a lot of questions and information. Check out our Before Adoption and Pet Care Resources. We also encourage all adopters to be familiar with our Adoption Policy, so they are comfortable signing the Adoption Contract at the time of adoption.
Adoption Fees
Adoption fees are based on the species (dog or cat) and age of the animal.
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Cat Adoption Fees
- Kitten (>1 year): $285
- Adult (1 - 10 years): $210
- Senior (over 10 years): $160
- Bonded Pair: 50% discount on second cat
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Dog Adoption Fees
- Puppy (less than 1 year): $485
- Adult (1 - 7 years): $385
- Senior (over 7 years): $260
If you are approved to adopt, but cannot take the pet home immediately, you can request to hold the pet. There is no fee for holding less than 7 days, but for over 7 days there is a $50 per week non-refundable hold fee (on top of the adoption fee).
What's Included in the Fee?
When you adopt an animal, the fee includes:
- Starter Kit (food samples, pet history if known, medical records, Centre observations)
- Spay/Neuter
- Microchip
- Complete set of vaccinations to date, including rabies
- SNAP testing for cats to test for FIV and FeLV
- Parasite prevention to date
- LOVE, FOOD, SHELTER, and CARE from the Bow Valley SPCA for the time leading up to your adoption!