+ Where are you located?

Fetch + Releash Dog Rescue was founded in Mississauga, Ontario, however we are foster-based rescue which means we do not have a physical shelter. Our dogs stay in private homes in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Guelph, Milton Brampton and surrounding areas.

+ What are your adoption fees?

Adoption fees are as follows:

• A puppy 16 weeks and under is $1,000 (includes spay/neuter if done at our partner clinic in Mississauga). Families will also be required to enroll puppies in a basic obedience class at their own cost. Proof of basic obedience training and spay/neuter is required to finalize the adoption.
• A puppy between 17 weeks and 10 months is $900 (includes spay/neuter if done at our partner clinic in Mississauga). Families will also be required to enroll puppies in a basic obedience class at their own cost. Proof of basic obedience training and spay/neuter is required to finalize the adoption.
• A dog 11 months and older is $850.
• A senior dog (depending on breed) is $550.
• Bonded pair - varies, please refer to the adoption bio.

Other Cost Considerations:

Fetch + Releash takes lost dog prevention very seriously! The transition into a new home can be a stressful and scary experience for even the most well-adjusted dog. During this time, your dog is more likely to be a flight risk and extra caution should be taken to secure them at all times.

In addition to the adoption fee, families must arrive to their scheduled pick-up day with the following safety supplies:

• 1 Martingale (not flat) Collar - When fitted correctly, a martingale collar is comfortable and virtually impossible to slip out of.
• Harness & Seat Belt for car - One of the top ways people lose pets is during car travel. You can purchase the seat belt at most pet stores for around $15. NEVER attach the seat belt to a collar as this could result in fatal injury in the event of an accident. It should be used with a harness only. Never let your dog ride in the front seat. An airbag deployment can result in fatal injury.
• 2 Nylon Leashes - NO retractable leashes; they are dangerous and can result in avoidable lost dogs scenarios, serious injury and even death.
• 1 ID Tag for Collar - these can be purchased at any pet store and should be engraved with your phone number and the dog’s chosen name.
• Some families (i.e. for flight risk dogs or out-of-town adopters) will be required to purchase and activate (proof required) a Tractive GPS for their dog’s collar.

+ What is the adoption process?

If you are interested in adopting one of our dogs, you may start by filling out an application here. Although we do our best to reply to all inquiries within 72 hours, please remember we are a volunteer and many of us have full-time jobs outside of rescue. We appreciate your patience!

If after reviewing your application, we think it may be a potential match, a Fetch + Releash volunteer will contact you to set up a time to speak over the phone. The phone call usually takes about 60 minutes. Our priority is to ensure the fit is right for both you and the dog so feel free to ask as many questions as you would like! Please note that all members of the household must be present during this time including roommates, child care workers or tenants.

As part of the interview process, we also conduct personal, veterinarian and landlord reference checks (if applicable), as well as a home visit.

After the phone interview, reference check and home visit, you will then be granted a private meet and greet with the dog. Resident dogs will be required to attend.

The adoption committee will then review your completed application and make a final decision.

Approved adopters will have 72 hours to provide the paperwork & adoption fee, purchase your mandatory supplies and pick up your new family member before a $20/day dog sitting fee begins.

Please note we do NOT hold dogs to accommodate vacation plans, moving, renovations etc.

+ How does your foster-to-adopt program work??

Sometimes we will make our dogs available for foster-to-adopt. Typically, this program only applies to dogs coming in internationally, but occasionally we may decide to list a dog as foster-to-adopt for other reasons.

Foster-to-adopt families will have two weeks to get to know their new furry house guest before committing to adoption. At the end of the two-week trial period, families will be asked to complete an online bio for their dog. Provided that it’s an appropriate match for both the dog and the family, foster-to-adopt families will then have first right of adoption.

If the family chooses not to move forward with adoption at the end of those two weeks, we simply ask that they continue to provide a safe and loving home until the dog’s new forever family can be found.

During the two-week foster-to-adopt trial, families will receive the support of a Fetch + Releash mentor to help them through the transition and answer any questions or concerns they may have. All vetting expenses will be covered by F+R during the trial period as well so long as they have been approved by us and are done at our partner vets.

Foster-to-adopt families will be expected to provide their own supplies. Please click here for more info on adoption fees and mandatory supplies.

Foster-to-adopt families will be required to pay a $200 deposit on the adoption fee and sign our foster waiver in advance of the dog’s arrival. The remaining portion of the fee will be due at adoption time.If the family chooses not to adopt, the $200 deposit will be refunded to them within 30 days of the dog being adopted IF they see their pup through to adoption. If they choose to surrender the dog before he or she is adopted into another family, the $200 deposit will be forfeited.

+ How does COVID-19 affect the adoption process?

As an essesntial service, F+R continues to operate however, however we take the saftey of our dogs, our volunteers and the surrounding community very seriously. Throughout the organization, many of our processes and policies have been modificed to ensure we are following provincial guideliens and minimizing potential exposure.

For example, where possible, we are now hosting virtual meet and greets versus in-person meetings. In cases where a virtual meet and greet may not be appropriate, meet and greets must happen outdoors in a large, fully fenced area. Adopters and volunteers are expected to wear masks and maintain social distancing during the meet.

In all scenarios, we expect our volunteers and potential adopters to exercise good judgement when arranging any in-person contact (i.e. meet and greet, transfer of ownership etc.) If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please speak up. Your application will NOT be affected.

+ What does "Adoption Pending" mean? Can I still submit an application?

To avoid disappointing families, F+R interviews one applicant at a time. Adoption pending indicates that we have selected an application and we are in the process of interviewing that family. When you see the "Adoption Pending" tag, it means we are no longer acepting applications for the dog, however please check the website often as this status can change.

+ Do you pre-screen families?

As a volunteer run organization, unfortunately we do not have the resources to screen generic applications. Although we do keep applications on file for 6 months, we recommend waiting until you find a match to apply.

+ Why can't I meet the dog before I submit an application?

To minimize the disruption to the lives of the dogs and our foster families, and to ensure their safety, only applicants that have completed the interview process will be granted a private meet and greet with the dog. Occasionally, we will host adoption events in which anybody is welcome to come by and meet the dogs, but please note that you may not take a dog home from one of these events. All adopters must submit an application online and go through our screening process.

+ Do you adopt to families with young children?

In most cases, yes. Caring for a pet is a great way to teach children responsibility and compassion for animals.

When reviewing applications, Fetch + Releash looks for families who understand that respect is a two-way street. Did you know that the majority of dog bites are preventable? Even the most easy-going dog can be pushed too far and should never be expected to tolerate rude or inappropriate behavior, even in little ones. It is the grown up’s responsibility to teach their child(ren) proper dog etiquette and to ensure adequate supervision at all times.

Before applying to adopt a dog, we encourage you to sit down as a family to discuss how each member will contribute to a safe environment for both the dog and the child(ren). Use a white board or construction paper to document your safety rules and display them in a high traffic area such as the kitchen.

For some great age appropriate videos and posters on kid and dog safety, please visit www.thefamilydog.com/stop-the-77/.

Application Tip! Come to your adoption interview prepared to share what rules and boundaries you’ve set in place to ensure a safe space for the dog and your kids.

+ Why do you ask for so much personal information?

Our number one priority is to ensure the best possible fit for both you and the dog. Our adoption success rate is due in large part to the rigor we take in screening each family. Some of the top reasons dogs end up in shelters are lack of training, lifestyle changes (i.e. new baby, marriage), relocation, cost of dog ownership, not enough time for the pet etc. Our goal is to ensure our adoptive families are well versed in the realities of dog ownership and ready to make a lifetime commitment. Your patience during our screening process is greatly appreciated.

+ What support will I receive post-adoption?

The move to a new home can be a stressful experience for even the most well-adjusted dog and it’s important that adopters set their expectations before bringing a new dog home. It is not unusual for a dog to regress or develop new unwanted behaviours in the first weeks of the transition and you should be prepared to deal with some challenges.

While we are happy to support you to the best of our ability, it is important to note that we are not professional dog trainers. Our business is pairing dogs with appropriate families and not providing free behavioral advice.

Through our collective experience, we can offer a lot of really great advice, however we expect our adopters to take FULL OWNERSHIP for consulting with a professional animal behaviorist in an effort to correct and mitigate the unwanted behaviours. We’re happy to recommend one in your area.

Occasionally, we also offer in person or virtual training seminars. Follow us on social media to be the first to know!

+ I live outside of Ontario/Canada, can I still adopt?

In general, our adoption radius is 3 – 5 hours outside of the Greater Toronto Area. We do (at our discretion) make occasional exceptions for homes located slightly outside this range for qualified applications.

Please review our out-of-town adoption policies before submitting an application:

• You must be willing to travel to the foster home to meet the dog within 1 week of the phone interview. If you are unable to travel within this time frame, we will move on to the next suitable applicant.
• A private meet and greet does not guarantee that your application will be approved and/or that you will be going home with the dog same day (will depend on how successful the meeting was).
• Out-of-town adopters are required to purchase and activate (proof required) a Tractive GPS for their pup's collar.
• If you are approved to adopt after the meet and greet, you will have 72 hours to complete the paperwork, pay the adoption fee, purchase your mandatory supplies and pick up your new pup before we move on to the next suitable applicant.
• If for any reason the adoption does not work out, the applicant is required by way of our adoption contract to personally drive the dog back to the designated foster home in GTA within a reasonable amount of time. This is non-negotiable.

Note: We do not adopt to the United States.

+ If you are a not-for-profit organization, why do you charge an adoption fee?

Our adoption fees are used to pay for things like vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, unexpected/emergency vet bills, specialist appointments, behavioural modification training and supplies such as food, collars, leashes, toys and beds for dogs living with foster families. At adoption time, oftentimes, we only receive back a small portion of what we have invested in the dog’s care (if anything at all). These funds are then reinvested back into the organization to help us save more dogs. There is no profit to be made in rescue!

+ Where does Fetch + Releash get their funding from?

As a volunteer run not-for-profit dog rescue, we rely on adoption fees and donations from the community to operate. Often, our adoption fees barely cover our operating expenses. If you would like to donate your time, professional services, goods or money, we’d gladly accept!

+ Do you provide official tax receipts?

Yes, we are a registered charity and provide tax receipts for donations of $20 or more.

+ Do you guarantee the health & temperament of the dog?

Although Fetch + Releash cannot guarantee a dog’s temperament or wellness, our policy is to disclose everything we know about the dog during the adoption process. Our priority is to set both the dog and family up for lifelong success, and we will never intentionally withhold any pertinent information regarding a dog’s health or temperament.

All dogs will receive basic vet care before being adopted out, including up-to-date vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery if applicable. Copies of these records will be shared with you.

+ Aren't there enough dogs in Canada that need homes?

We believe that compassion has no borders. Although we work with Canadian shelters too, many of our dogs come from high kill international shelters. Oftentimes, these shelters are so overcrowded that the dogs have only a matter of days before they are euthanized to make room for the next dog.

We also work with shelters in places such as Mexico and India where overpopulation of street dogs is a serious problem. We assist by providing funds for vaccinations, spay & neuter clinics and flights to Canada. Once in our care, we work to find the dogs a loving forever family.

It’s also important to note that adoption fees from dogs we bring in internationally help to fund the rescue and rehabilitation of local dogs facing euthanisia due to extensive behavioral or health concerns.

Every dog deserves a loving forever home and our mission extends Canada-wide and beyond!

+ Does Fetch + Releash agree with reputable breeding programs??*

NO! Millions upon millions of adoptable animals are destroyed in shelters every year due to overcrowding. The need is endless and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for the exhausted shelter workers. When shelters are full, dogs are gassed or taken out back and shot to make room for the next group of strays. When shelters and rescues are closed for intake, people abandon their domesticated dogs in remote areas to fend for themselves. Northern dogs are left outside in frigid temperatures where it's only a matter of time before they starve or freeze to death. Their bodies are then eaten by those still living. In places like Texas, stray dogs are used for target practice.

These are perfectly healthy, social, friendly, innocent, lovely dogs that do not deserve to die. There is absolutely no need or justification for bringing more animals into this world.

We encourage everyone thinking about purchasing a dog from a breeder, reputable or not, to spend a week in a high kill shelter. If you still want to buy a dog from a breeder, we strongly encourage you to do your homework beforehand. Sadly, backyard breeders and puppy mills are all too common in North America. Not only do over-bred bloodlines contribute to health issues and shorter life spans, but the breeding pair often live very sad and miserable lives. They spend their entire lives in a filthy cage, devoid of comfortable bedding, exercise, proper nutrition, vet care, socialization or affection. When they are no longer good for breeding, they are destroyed.

A responsible breeder typically does not breed for financial gain, but does it for the love of the breed. They produce only a handful of litters, carefully select a forever family, and treat the breeding pair like members of their family. Ask to see the living conditions and/or tour the facility where the breeding pair is kept. Be suspicious of breeders that decline to show you their living quarters or make excuses for why you cannot see the breeding pair. Request vet references for the breeding pair, and of past clients. Google online reviews! Report suspicious findings.

Better yet, be a part of the solution, not the problem. Adopt from a reputable rescue or shelter.

+ Why become a foster parent with Fetch + Releash?

Fostering is one of the most important jobs in rescue. Without a physical shelter, we rely on our many wonderful volunteer foster families to help us carry out our work. Fetch + Releash covers all expenses related to the care of the dog; you just provide the love!

To learn more about our foster program, click here.