Save Our Scruff Dog Rescue FAQs
+ Where is your shelter located?
SOS does not have a facility. We prefer to see dogs in foster homes to adjust to their new surroundings as we learn what a suitable furever home looks like. Our dogs are fostered throughout cities in Southern Ontario.
+ What's your phone number?
We run mostly through email! Please email info@saveourscruff.org to get help with anything you didn't get answered from our website. Our website is broken into sections to help navigate you with the help that you need! If you email us and we feel a call is best, we will set one up!
+ I emailed last week but haven't heard back
Our rescue is run mostly by volunteers. Please allow up to 5 days for someone to get back to you, and if you still don't hear back, please feel free to send a little nudge our way just in case we didn't receive it. We try to reply as quickly as we can. Please also make sure to check your junk mail folder! In our experience this has been a common issue.
+ Do you adopt outside of Ontario?
It is currently uncommon for us to adopt out of province. We recommend looking for organizations in your local area, and screening them to your values. We do however appreciate your desire to help us from afar, and if anything changes with our ability to be Canada-wide, we will present that on our website.
+ Where do you get your dogs? Do you help local dogs?
Most of our dogs arrive from our trusted partner rescues. Our organization is international, so we have dogs coming in from a variety of countries as well as Canada. Some of those countries include Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, the US, India and the Middle East.
We absolutely rescue dogs locally as well. We assist with local surrenders, as well as intaking dogs from Northern Ontario or from our partner rescue in Manitoba.
For more information, check out our Partner Rescues.
+ Can I get a tax receipt?
Yes! When you put in a donation through our website, you will automatically be issued a tax receipt for any donation denomination. If you need help securing a tax receipt for a cheque, or other type of donation, please email erica@saveourscruff.org
+ Do you ever get THIS specific breed?
The breeds we see vary a lot and most of our dogs are mixes. We do see some specific breeds from time to time, but we very rarely see hypoallergenic dogs. And even still, the dogs that arrive with a hypo appearance are usually mixed and we would have no way to confirm that they are truly hypoallergenic.
If you’ve got a specific look in mind, keep an eye on our available dogs, as you might just see one that steals your heart. You can also put in an application on our General Waitlist and if we have an opportunity to rescue a dog that you’re looking for, it will help us open up space for them to come into care.
+ I have dog supplies to donate. Where can I bring them?
That’s super thoughtful. To know if we are in need of the items you have, please email supplies@saveourscruff.org. Include your location as if we do need the items, we will send you the closest drop location. Our supplies wishlist can also be found here.
+ Do you accept food or old medicine?
We do. We accept unopened bags of good. Please email supplies@saveourscruff.org to connect. We typically prefer larger quantities of the same food in order to keep our foster dogs on the same diet, so 1 off bags may be less desired. Depending on the type, we may deny the food offer.
We also accept all sorts of medication, including opened & expired. To discuss more, please send notes on what you have to Robyncross@saveourscruff.org. We will likely ask you to ship it to us.
+ Can I meet the dog before applying?
In some cases, fosters for specific dogs may be open to doing informal meetups with potential applicants interested in the dog. If the dog you’re interested in applying for is not taking part in informal meetups, there is an opportunity to meet with the dog and foster after applying as part of our adoption process. At the meet & greet, your family will have the chance to meet the dog and ask the foster any questions you may have.
*If a dog is doing informal meets, it will mention this in your adoption profile.
Also note, our adoption process includes a trial period where the dog comes into your home for a week or longer to test out compatibility.
+ I'm currently travelling and fell in love with a local dog. Can you help me rescue it (bring it back to Canada)?
We highly recommend getting into contact with local to your location dog rescue advocates. Dogs in different areas live different, and it’s important to contextually understand the needs of dogs in different communities. Asking for local advice is important, and if aid is required & an organization gets involved, we highly recommend finding ways to support through donation, time, and/or asking them how you can be supportive.
If you google “dog rescue in (add your location), usually facilities and groups will come up. Also try on Facebook or other social media platforms for local community groups to help find resources.
+ How accurate are Age/Breed?
We aren't there from the beginning but have a great team of knowledgeable people, including vets, to help make an educated guess on age and breed. For breed, we recommend doing a DNA test post adoption to determine their breed best in order to learn how to best support their needs. We do our best to utilize personality traits & looks to determine breeds & needs, and promote specific needs in adoption profiles & through our adoption process.
Some vets, trainers, and other knowledgeable dog experts may have varying opinions on breeds or age, so there may be discrepancy based on who you ask.
+ Will my scruff be spayed or neutered before I foster or adopt?
To prevent further homeless scruffs we spay and neuter the dogs that come into our care. Scruffs who are 6 months or younger are in our opinion not old enough to be altered, therefore if they are adopted before they are of age it will be the financial responsibility of the adopter to spay and neuter their scruff. We require a deposit be made at adoption, which will be given back once you provide proof of sterilization.
+ Are there fees for adoption?
You can find our adoption fees & other important adoption info here! Our adult adoption fee is $720. Puppy adoption fees are $890, with a $100 deposit if not sterilized.
Senior adoption fees are evaluated case by case.
+ I have kids. Will you still adopt to us?
Yes, but it is important to us that we match your family with a dog that would thrive living with children, so it’s the best fit for both the dog and the kids. Some of our dogs are kid-tested and we make sure to offer as much information as we possibly can in the dog’s bio. Please read bios carefully before applying. We’ll state whether we think the dog could co-exist/engage with kids based on the dog’s known experiences, and often we’ll specify if a dog would be better suited to a home with older, calmer and more dog-aware children. You know your kids best.
It’s important to guide & monitor interactions with dogs & children, as both parties may not be able to read each other’s body language or know how to engage respectfully together on their own.
+ I travel for work. Will you still adopt to us?
We do. It’s important to have a thoughtful plan on how to support your dog if you have a varying routine. Dogs thrive with consistency, so it’s important to consider their needs when moving forward if your lifestyle is not. There may be instances we may not feel it’s the best step to move forward with adoption if traveling will impede on the particular dog's success.
+ What’s a flight parent, and how can I get involved?
As a flight parent, you act as an escort for a rescue dog from one airport to the other. It’s a great way for us to rescue dogs from around the world. If you’re travelling in the near future, or are interested in learning more about being a flight parent, take a look at our Flight Parent page. Please note we pay for fees associated with the dog’s journey to SOS care, but not the humans’. Please think of us for when you’re already heading away, and consider adding a dog pick-up to your itinerary. Only certain airlines, planes & countries allow dogs to travel. Check our flight parent page for more.
+ I saw a cute dog on Instagram. How do I apply?
Not all dogs posted on Instagram are currently available for adoption, so be sure to check our list of Available Dogs to see if the pooch you have your sight set on is looking for a home. We often share photos of alumni or recent intakes that aren’t yet available for adoption. You can read the post for clarity on if the dog being posted is in fact up for adoption.
+ A friend/family member is fostering a scruff, and I’d like to adopt! Do I have an advantage?
Awesome! Let your contact know you are interested in applying to adopt, and make sure they refer you when they fill out their foster dog information profile which we call a “pupdate”. This way, we can be aware of your interest. We always take our foster referrals into consideration, but you will still need to submit an application for the dog and we’ll still follow through with our standard adoption process. It’s important we take every step to ensure the home is the right fit for the dog’s personality.
Each dog & foster human have a counsellor supporting their journey. Have your friend who is fostering connect with their counsellor for helping with steps forward in your interest adopting.
+ I haven't heard back from my application. How do I know it was received?
When you submit, a notice should appear on your screen that the application has gone through. You will not receive an email confirmation.
We will receive your application and reply within 5 days. If you do not receive a reply, and have also checked your junk mail with no luck there either, send us an email to check in at adoption@saveourscruff.org.
+ If I've submitted an application for a scruff that is no longer available for adoption, do I have to complete another one if I see another scruff I'm interested in?
Absolutely not. We keep all applications on file. We may just double check that everything on your application is still applicable (in case you've moved, have a new roommate, job hours change, etc). You can email adoption@saveourscruff.org to apply your application to a new dog! If any significant changes have occured since you last applied, please inform us in your email about the new scruff, as it will fast track the process.
We may ask for a new application if your last application was received longer than one year ago.
+ I have a talent and I’d love to partner with SOS! Are you open to creative partnerships (i.e. writing, merch, events)?
Sure are, send an email to jenna@saveourscruff.org to connect.
+ I read a dog’s adoption profile on the website and I liked what I read! How can I learn more about the dog?
Thank you for reading the adoption profile carefully, we put a lot of thought and consideration into our dog’s bios in order to match them with the best home for their individual needs. We typically include everything we know about the dog in the adoption profile. Once you put in an application, our adoption team will connect with you to ask some follow up questions, and you can utilize that communication period to ask questions. As well, once you are connected to the adoption counsellor & foster through various stages of the adoption process, you’ll get to learn more.
+ Do you have admin fees associated to run your organization??
We absolutely do. We have 3 staff members that help run Save Our Scruff. We also at times need to pay for expenses to keep our dogs well cared for, our volunteer team supported, and our organization running. We believe these fees help us further our impact & depth of support.
+ Where does the money from the adoption fee go?
We solely rely on donations to run our charity. The funds we collect from the adoption fee covers the intake cost of bringing scruffs into our care and their vetting costs. Some of our scruffs have more vetting needs than others (for example teeth extractions, spay and neuter surgery, medication, surgeries and more). Any funds not utilized for the specific scruff you’re adopting, will be utilized for another dog in need, or for helping our organization stay running.
In 2021, our costs to rescue each dog were on average more than the adoption fee.
+ I’ve read these questions and still feel I want to talk to someone, how do I do that?
Visit our Contact Us page to find the various emails for specific support needs.