Additional Resources

Next Steps in the Adoption Process

1. Response: Our Adoption Team will reach out within 5 days of the Questionnaire being submitted. Save Our Scruff is entirely volunteer run, so please give our volunteers time to review your questionnaire and respond! If you have immediate questions or want to make changes to your questionnaire, please email: adoption@saveourscruff.org.

2. Conversation: If chosen to move forward in the adoption process, you will meet with a volunteer Scruff Counsellor to discuss your questionnaire and the scruff you are applying for in more detail. Reference checks will be completed alongside this step.

3. Meet & Greet: You and all members of your home will have the chance to meet the dog (in person or virtually). This is a great opportunity to ask the foster any questions you have!

4. Adoption Trial: Each adoption will have a trial period before the adoption is finalized. This is so you can see how your new scruff settles into your home and routine, and so SOS can provide direct support if needed.

5. Post-Adoption Training: As part of our adoption policy, all SOS adopters are required to enrol in and complete formal training with their scruff within 6 months of their adoption being finalized.

Associated Fees

Adoption Fees:

- Puppies up to 1 year: $950

- Dogs 1 year and older: $850

- Seniors: $550 (cases vary depending on age, breed, health)

In 2024, our average price per dog ranged from $1000 - $1800 on average. This includes fees related to intake, supplies, vetting, training, and boarding and varies per dog. If an adopter decides to donate to SOS on top of the required adoption fee, the adopter can receive a tax receipt.

Tractive Tracker Fee:

All dogs will be sent to their foster with a Tractive GPS device. The GPS tracker is provided at no charge and SOS covers the cost of the subscription until adoption. If approved for adoption, adopters are responsible for paying a prorated fee up to $132 to cover the remainder of the annual subscription. This is to keep dogs safe if they were to get away from their new handlers.

Supplies:

All adopters are required to source two leashes, a harness, and a crate before picking up their scruff. SOS will ensure each dog goes home with a fitted martingale collar and Tractive device. Costs for supplies can vary depending on the size of the scruff and brands. For initial costs like crate, leashes, harness, and bowls, you may be looking at a one-time cost of $50 - $100 if you source second hand or from lower-cost brands. Then for things like food, treats, toys, and poop bags, you are looking at a minimum of $50 - $100 per month, plus the monthly Tractive fee. All dogs are also microchipped at SOS' expense.

Veterinary Care Information

Owning a dog can be expensive, and we want you to be prepared for this before adopting! Please ensure you have budgeted for yearly veterinary care. Here are some general vetting fees to help you make an informed decision regarding adoption:

- Young/Adult Dogs: Routine annual vet care can range from about $1000 - $1500, depending on the size of the dog and their general health. This includes an annual exam with vaccines, an annual wellness profile, an annual fecal exam, heartworm, and flea/tick prevention.

- Emergency Vetting: Just walking into an emergency vet clinic can cost $200+, with others costs sitting at around $3000+ for MRIs, $3500 - $5500 for bloat, and $3000 - $4500 for foreign body removal.

Many people choose options like pet insurance, a dedicated savings account, or putting money into a “pet fund” each month.

Training Information

Please ensure you have budgeted for professional training, as it can cost anywhere from $250 - $1,000+ depending on the dog's needs. Training is a lifelong commitment and we encourage adopters to continuously approach training with a beginner’s mindset. You’d be surprised how much both you and your scruff can learn and accomplish together!