Adoption Process & Fees

Adopting a SCARS animal involves a few steps

If you have any questions or concerns you can contact us at: adoptions@scarscare.ca

Are you new to dog guardianship? Please read this article: Life with dogs: 10 Things to Know Before You Adopt

Note: We receive many phonecalls and emails daily, so please allow a couple of days for SCARS to respond to you. We thank you for your patience.

1. If you see a SCARS animal on the website that you are interested in adopting, click the “Adopt Me!” button on the animal’s profile to fill out an application. See a list of adoptable animals here.
   You can also fill out an application without a specific animal in mind — please see “Adoption Forms” tab on this page.
2. Once we receive the application one of our volunteer screeners will contact you by phone or email to review your application. The application allows us to help you find a pet that is the right match for your family. This is especially important for people who are new to pet guardianship.
3. The screeener will then forward your application to a foster home supervisor. The foster home supervisor will phone you to provide more information, and to answer your questions.
4. The foster home supervisor will approve the application if they believe the adoptable animal is a good match for your home or might give suggestions on other SCARS animals to consider.
5. If approved, we can arrange a “meet and greet”. Because SCARS animals are cared-for in private foster homes, meeting times are dependent on matching your availability with that of the foster home.

What if more than one family is interested in the same animal?

SCARS matches the animal to a family that most suits the needs of that animal. Many animals generate a number of inquiries and a home is chosen based on what we believe to be best for that particular animal.

If you are denied, this is not to imply that you would not provide a proper home; we always place the animal in the home that we deem to be most appropriate for the needs of that animal.

SCARS reserves the right to refuse any adoption request for reasons to be kept private and confidential within the administration of the organization.

Do my current pets have to be spayed or neutered?

Yes. If other cats/dogs in your home are not spayed/neutered, we may deny your application.

SCARS exists due to lack of spaying/neutering and it is our goal to end this cycle. If there is a documented medical reason for your animal to not be spayed/neutered, we will work with you. If you are interested in having your current pet spayed/neutered so that you may adopt one of our pets, we will happily reconsider your application once proof of spay is provided.

Intact pets are the cause of Alberta’s pet overpopulation crisis. Even when owners feel they are being cautious with intact pets, breeding accidents can and do happen. As well, Many territorial and behaviour issues are related to intact pets, and it can cause issues when a new pet is brought into the home. For information on the many benefits of spay/neuter, click here.

 Adoption Costs

Our guarantee: Once a SCARS pet, always a SCARS pet. If you adopt from us but can no longer keep your pet for any reason, please contact us and we will accept the animal back into our care – no questions asked. We always accept the return of animals adopted from SCARS.

The nominal adoption fee charged is put towards the animal’s medical expenses and food while it is in our care. Note that this fee is charged at a deficit. That is, the adoption fee does not cover the actual cost of spay/neuter, first vaccinations, and microchippping (plus whatever other medical fees were required — most are injured).

Our largest expenses are medical bills, which include emergency procedures, medications, and spay and neuter procedures.

There are cases where the animal is adopted before being spayed/neutered. Included in the adoption contract is a clause requiring that the new owners spay or neuter their animal before a specified date. We will follow up to ensure that this procedure has been completed by this date.

Dogs

• Puppies under 6 months: $525
• Dogs over 6 months: $425
• Bonded pair of adult dogs: $615
• Senior dogs (over 8 years): $300

Cats

• Kittens (under 6 months): $215
• Pair of kittens: $350
• Cats (over 6 months): $165
• Bonded pairs of cats: $265

Price includes

• Vet visit / health check
• First vaccinations (rabies and bordetella not included)
• Microchip
• Spay / Neuter
• Any Veterinary care the animal received while in our care

SCARS Intake Process

Upon intake, SCARS animals are taken licensed veterinarians at one of the multiple clinics who work with us for assessment. Procedures and all medical decisions are made on the advice of professional veterinarians. We always follow licensed Veterinary advice and base our decisions on that advice. We do not do our own procedures and we do not have our own private veterinarian.

Special note on age of spay/neuters: SCARS, like other rescues and humane shelters, ensures that all animals are spayed or neutered prior to leaving our care. This includes juvenile spays and neuters. All rescues work with licensed veterinarians, who provide recommended care. Animals must reach weight and age milestones to be eligible for surgery. Your kitten or puppy was fully examined by a licensed veterinarian and received a clean bill of health from the vet, who performed the surgery.

There are cases where the animal is adopted before being spayed/neutered. Included in the adoption contract is a clause requiring that the new owners spay or neuter their animal before a specified date. We will follow up to ensure that this procedure has been completed by this date. We pay for the procedure if animal is taken to one of our Approved Veterinarians.

Our intake process is as follows:

• Animal is collected
• Each animal is carefully diagnosed by a third-party vet clinic and the animal is given whatever medical procedures are necessary, based on veterinary assessment. We do not have our own private vet and do not complete our own medical procedures.
• Each animal is spayed or neutered and micro-chipped. Again, this is completed through licensed veterinarians at clinics who we work with regularly.
• Animal is assigned to a foster home (sometimes it’s the foster home that sends the animal to the vet for spay/neuter/medical procedures).

FAQ

Q: How does SCARS determine acceptable age for spay/neuters?

A: SCARS, like other rescues and humane shelters, ensures that all animals are spayed or neutered prior to leaving our care. This includes juvenile spays and neuters. All rescues work with licensed veterinarians, who provide recommended care. Animals must reach weight and age milestones to be eligible for surgery. Each kitten or puppy is fully examined by a veterinarian and received a clean bill of health from the vet, who performed the surgery.

There are cases where the animal is adopted before being spayed/neutered. Included in the adoption contract is a clause requiring that the new owners spay or neuter their animal before a specified date. We will follow up to ensure that this procedure has been completed by this date. We pay for the procedure if animal is taken to one of our Approved Veterinarians.

Q: Does SCARS perform their own Spay/Neuters?

A: No, SCARS uses the services of professional Veterinarians from local clinics who work with us. We do not do our own procedures and we do not have a private Veterinarian.

Q: Why do some SCARS Spayed/Neutered animals have a tattoo?

A: Some Veterinarians use a tattoo when they do a spay/neuter to indicate to other future Veterinarians that the animal’s reproductive organs have been removed, thus avoiding unneccesary procedures. For a good overview of the logic behind this, please see this third-party article: https://wwwypetsdoctor.com/tattoos-indicate-spay-neuter

Q: What if more than one family is interested in the same animal?

A: SCARS matches the animal to a family that most suits the needs of that animal. Many animals generate a number of inquiries and a home is chosen based on what we believe to be best for that particular animal. If you are denied, this is not to imply that you would not provide a proper home; we always place the animal in the home that we deem to be most appropriate for the needs of that animal.

SCARS reserves the right to refuse any adoption request for reasons to be kept private and confidential within the administration of the organization.

Q: Do my current pets have to be spayed or neutered if I want to adopt from SCARS?

A: Yes. If other cats/dogs in your home are not spayed/neutered, we may deny your application. SCARS exists due to lack of spaying/neutering and it is our goal to end this cycle. If there is a documented medical reason for your animal to not be spayed/neutered, we will work with you. If you are interested in having your current pet spayed/neutered so that you may adopt one of our pets, we will happily reconsider your application once proof of spay is provided.

Intact pets are the cause of Alberta’s pet overpopulation crisis. Even when owners feel they are being cautious with intact pets, breeding accidents can and do happen. As well, Many territorial and behaviour issues are related to intact pets, and it can cause issues when a new pet is brought into the home. For information on the many benefits of spay/neuter, click here.

Participating Vets

SCARS thanks the following veterinary clinics

These clinics have gone above and beyond to support our rescue efforts by providing SCARS with discounts on some procedures. If you are a veterinarian who would like to assist us in our mission, please contact us for more information.