Adopt

Adopt a Dog

Are You Ready to Adopt a Dog?

ARF works hard to ensure that the dogs we rescue will be placed into a suitable permanent home. Here are some requirements for potential adopters:

  • 18 years or older
  • Your current pets are spayed/neutered
  • Plan to adopt the dog into your own home ?
  • Have never neglected or abused an animal, or surrendered a pet to a shelter, rescue organization or Humane Society
  • Compassionate, with realistic expectations of newly adopted pets ?
  • You have read, understand and agree with our position on dog training ?
  • You are prepared to enroll in the heavily discounted training classes with one of our partnered, reward-based training facilities ?
  • Financially able to care for your pet  ?
  • Abide by relevant municipal bylaws ?
  • Time for your pet, including for training and socializing ?
  • Crate suitable for the size of dog you will be adopting ?
  • Permission for animals in your home ?
  • Willingness to supervise children and animals at all times ?
  • Consent of all household members ?
  • Up-to-date vaccinations for current pets ?
  • Panoramic photos of yard (for out-of-town applicants) ?
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Adoption Process

Every ARF adoption begins with an online application. But what happens after you apply?

  1. Screening Interview: Pre-approved applicants are contacted by email to arrange a phone interview with one of our volunteer Adoption Screeners. This interview will take at least 30 minutes.
  2. Foster Home Match: If the screening interview is successful, ARF will contact the foster home. If the foster home feels there might be a match, the foster home will contact the applicant to schedule a meeting in their home.
  3. Foster Home Interview: The applicant and all members of the applicant’s household (of all ages, including non-related members, such as boarders or renters) must attend an interview in the foster family’s home. The applicant will be asked to bring any other dogs living in the home as well.
  4. 24 Hour Wait Period: 24 hours after the initial meeting, the applicant contacts the foster home to advise if they are still interested in pursuing the adoption.
  5. Day Visit: If the foster home agrees that the dog and applicant are a potential match, a day visit will be arranged for the dog to spend a day (no overnights) in the applicant’s home.
  6. Permanent Adoption: When the dog is returned to the foster home, permanent adoption can be discussed. Applicants will be asked to go home and think about it overnight. Final approval of adoptions is at the sole discretion of the foster homes and is based primarily on the best possible match for both the dog and the adopter. We ask that all potential adopters respect the foster homes’ decision.
  7. Training: When you adopt a dog from ARF, you are required to attend training classes with one of our partnered reward-based training facilities. We have partnered with several local reward-based trainers to offer all adopters heavily discounted training classes to help set the entire family up for success.
  8. Follow-Up: In order to ensure your relationship with your ARF dog is a successful one, an adopter can expect a follow-up email within 3-6 weeks of adoption. You will be asked to fill out a short, post-adoption questionnaire and email it back to us. This email is not intended to interfere or disrupt the new family, but to offer support to ensure the transition with the new pet is a smooth one.
  9. Out-of-Town Adoptions: We do facilitate out-of-town adoptions and have modified our process a little to accommodate. The initial visit and the day visit will be scheduled for the same day, with a brief break between to allow both adopter and foster home time to decide if this is a good match. There will still be an overnight wait period before final adoption can be discussed, so we will ask adopters to either spend the night in Calgary or come back into Calgary the next day. We do not ship our animals. Please research training facilities near you and be prepared to discuss them with the telephone screener or foster home.

Please note: We cannot guarantee the size or breed of our dogs.

Sibling dogs and multi-dog adoptions:

ARF does not adopt sibling dogs or young dogs who have been in the same foster home for an extensive period of time into the same home. Additionally, we do not recommend adding a second (or third) dog to your home within a short period of time. We encourage all adopters to take the time to bond and form a strong relationship with their current dog(s) and ensure that their training is at a satisfactory level. Without this bonding opportunity dogs may learn to rely on and take cues from the other dogs instead of their humans, which can potentially lead to behaviour problems in the future. In regards to sibling dogs or young dogs who have been fostered together for a period of time, research shows that young pups who continue to reside together have increased incidents of behavioural problems as their bond to each other may interfere with the proper hierarchy within the household.

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Adoption Fees

What’s Included

Your adoption fee includes:

  • spay/neuter surgery
  • a microchip or tattoo
  • up to date DA2PP vaccination
  • rabies vaccination
  • de-worming
  • mandatory, discounted training sessions with one of our partnered reward-based training facilities
  • 6-week trial of pet insurance through Petsecure
  • Dogs 7 months and under: $550
  • Dogs 8 months – 5 years: $475
  • Dogs over 5 years: $375

Please note: Adoption fees are non-refundable. Should an adopter become unable to keep an animal, they must contact ARF who will endeavour to remove the animal as soon as possible; however, no refund will be issued.

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ARF does not allow its animals to be adopted as gifts. Instead, we encourage people to review the animals available for adoption on ARF's website with family and friends so that the potential adopters can choose their own animal and begin the adoption process. ARF does not issue Gift Certificates; therefore, monetary gifts towards a potential adoption should be made to the potential adopter.While certain animals are suited to do certain things by nature or by training, all ARF animals are adopted as family members and companions only, not as working animals or outside animals.ARF believes that dog friendly, reward based training methods (positive, positive reinforcement or clicker training) are the most efficient and effective. We are committed to modern, scientifically-based dog training as it promotes teamwork, mutual respect and a harmonious relationship between dogs and humans.ARF believes that enrolling in training soon after adoption will give adopters and their new companion the best opportunity for bonding and learning together. Our partnered training facilities have been carefully selected based on our position on dog training. These classes are no cost to our adopters.Adopting a pet is a long-term commitment. You will need to be able to pay for expenses that arise over the life of your pet, including potential expensive surgeries, illnesses or accidents.The City of Calgary has a number of bylaws pertaining to the control of dogs and cats. Other municipalities may have similar bylaws. Potential adopters must be familiar with these legal requirements and prepared to abide by them.The time spent at home by the potential adopter or family will be considered, especially when adopting a dog or puppy that is not housebroken. ARF does not support or condone leaving dogs outside unsupervised for extended periods of time as all dogs are social animals who thrive in a healthy family setting and who may become bored and problematic (e.g. barking, digging) if left unsupervised.Not only does a crate provide safety when transporting the adopted dog, it is a safe place for the dog to go should it become stressed. All ARF dogs are crated while in foster care, and we strongly recommend using the crate until the adopter can trust the dog to be left alone in the home unsupervised.If you rent, you will be required to provide written proof from the landlord that pets are permitted in the residence. Owners of townhouses/condominiums will be required to provide proof that their bylaws allow pets. Note that many condo boards require an 'Application for Pet Approval' which may impose restrictions on weight, maximum length of a leash and/or size and breed exclusions. These documents must be uploaded with your application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by our Adoption Team.Parents must show they are willing to supervise children in the care and handling of an animal. It is unreasonable to expect a child to have full responsibility for the animal. ARF may discourage the adoption of certain animals, breeds or temperaments to families with young children.All household members, related or unrelated, including boarders or renters, must be informed and must consent to the adoption of the pet. They must also all be present during the initial interview by the foster family.All animals owned by the potential adopter must be up-to-date on vaccinations before the person may adopt another pet. In addition, if you have an unaltered animal at home, the reason the animal is unaltered is an important factor that must be considered before you can adopt an ARF animal.Because we can not complete a yard check for applicants who live out-of-town, all applicants must upload panoramic photos of their entire yard with their application. Please note that incomplete applications will not be reviewed by our Adoption Team.