Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Foundation is a foster based rescue that also utilizes homes throughout Central Alberta that provides loving, temporary homes for stray and neglected animals.
DOGS AND PUPPIES
1. What are you looking for?
The first step in the adoption process is taking a look through our adoptable dog/puppy albums to see if we have any dogs that may be options for you.
2. Application
The next step in the adoption process is for you to fill out the appropriate application here on our website. We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. If you don't hear back, it is possible that animal has already been adopted, we received ultiple applications and a different applicant has been selected, or that our adoption team is working as quickly as they can to get back to everyone! While we do our best to respond to applicants whether or not they are selected, it is not guaranteed that we will be able to. ***Please note: it is NOT recommended to fill out an application for an animal we have not posted as accepting applications. If you are unsure as to whether or not we are accepting applications for a dog or puppy, please feel free to private message us on Facebook or send an email.
3. Set up a meet and greet
Once your application has been approved/selected, we will contact you to arrange a meet and greet. We do not hold dogs for extended periods of time, so if the meet and greet is more than a couple days in advance, we will set it up with you tentatively, or ask that you check in on the day before you plan to come out to ensure that the dog(s) you were wanting to look at is/are still available. In this case, we may move to another application is there is another one that is approved. Whether or not you will be able to meet more than one dog or puppy with depend on multiple factors and cannot be guaranteed, as many of our animals are in foster homes so we have to take the fosters time into account as well.Please note that meet and greets are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at this time and we are not accepting walk in adopters.
4. What to bring
Before we can place a dog into a home, we need to meet every person who lives in the home. In order to speed up the process, and increase your chance of being matched with the right dog, it is best to plan for everyone to come out. If you would prefer not to bring everyone to the first meeting, it is important to ensure that the rest of the house hold can come out in a timely manner(ie within the next 1-2 days).
We also need to meet any other dogs that live in the home to ensure they are compatible. This meeting happens here at the shelter. This step is not optional because it helps to ensure the safety of our adoptable dogs, your dog(s) and your family.
If you rent your home or reside in a condo, we need to see proof that you are allowed to own a dog where you currently reside. If you already have 1 or more dogs, we need to see proof that you are allowed another one. Proof needs to be specific to the dog you are applying for (ie. *permitted to adopt a large breed puppy*).
**We strongly urge you to consider the addition of a dog (especially a large breed dog) carefully if you are a renter. It can be extremely difficult in Alberta to find pet friendly rentals. By adopting one of our dogs, you are agreeing that you will do EVERYTHING possible to offer said dog a forever home. That is not always easy, so if you are a frequent mover a dog may not be the best idea until you are more settled.
5. Existing dogs
We require that any dogs who currently live in the home are up to date on vaccinations and are spayed or neutered (unless too young to do so, but then there must be plans to alter as soon as they are old enough. Exceptions may also be made for medical reasons).
6. What comes with your adopted dog
All dogs adopted through our program are altered, have at least one set of vaccinations, and a form of permanent ID (either a tattoo or a microchip). Our dogs will come with their vet records, and a free, 6 week pet insurance trial.7.
Adoption fees
Adoption fees may vary depending on the individual dog, but the standard fees are as follows:
- Adult dogs- $400
- Senior dogs-$275
- Puppies- $525
Foster-to-adopt program
Our adoption counsellors number one goal is to facilitate a successful adoption experience. In certain circumstances, when adopting an adult dog, you may have the option to do a foster-to-adopt trial. Once the adoption process has been completed, and the dog appears to be a good match, we will allow you a one week trial period to ensure the dog is the right fit for your home. Most often this will be utilized for our behavioural dogs or dogs with unknown backgrounds, but it will be up to the adoption teams discretion. If it turns out that the dogs is not a good fit for any reason, you will be able to return it into our care within the week. We will refund the adoption fee minus a $100 administration fee.
9. Returns - What happens if I have to bring my dog back?
While we understand that not every dog fits into every home after the adoption, we do put in a lot of time and energy selecting candidates, arranging meet and greets and coordinating with foster homes. In the event of a serious, unforeseen behavioural issue (e.g., concern for safety of yourself, your family or your other pets) the dog may be returned within 72 hours for a full refund. In the event of a return due to other circumstances(e.g. separation anxiety, barking, house training issues, incompatibility with other pets or family members, change in living situation or time availability, etc), an adoption counsellor may choose to give you a 50% refund within 72 hours based on their assessment of the situation. After 72 hours, any returns will not receive a refund and they may be subject to a surrender fee. We want everyone to take the adoption of a pet as seriously as we do and have a thorough adoption process for this reason.
CATS AND KITTENS
1. What are you looking for?
If you are looking for a specific color/age/breed/gender of cat, please make sure you contact us first to make sure we have options for you before you come out. If you have a specific cat in mind, please contact us to make sure it is still available. To book an appointment to meet adoptable cats, please private message us or email!
2. Indoor adoption policy
Our policy is that friendly cats go to indoor homes. This is for adult cats and kittens alike. We do not adopt out friendly cats as barn, shop or outside cats unless there is a behavioural reason they cannot live in a home. See: barn cat program. If you live in a town or city (especially one that has a cat bylaw), we require that cats are kept strictly indoors.
3. Existing cats
We require that any other cats in your home be up to date on vaccinations, as well as spayed or neutered.
4. What to bring
If you would like to do a same day adoption, please be sure to bring a carrying crate with you (boxes are not ideal, especially for adult cats). If you rent or live in a condo, we need to see written proof that you are allowed to have a cat (or another cat). We do not need to introduce your other pets to adoptable cats here at the shelter, as cats need time to adjust and first time meetings are not usually a good indication as to how they will get along with each other. We provide an informational package on the best way to introduce cats to other animals gradually.
We need to meet any children who live in the home, and if all adults are not present, we need to make contact with anyone who is not here to ensure all parties are in agreement about the adoption of a new pet.
5. What comes with your adopted cat
All cats adopted through our program are altered, have at least one set of vaccinations, and are microchipped. Our cats will come with their vet records, and a free, 6 week pet insurance trial.
6. Adoption fees for friendly cats
- Adult cats - $125
-Kittens(under a year)- $200
- Senior cats- $80
- Pair of kittens- $350
- Pair of cats- $200
8. Returns - What happens if I have to bring my cat back?
While we understand that sometimes people realize a cat is not the right fit for their household after the adoption, we do put in a lot of time and energy selecting candidates, arranging meet and greets and coordinating with foster homes. In the event of a serious, unforeseen behavioural issue (e.g., concern for safety of yourself, your family or your other pets) the cat may be returned within 72 hours for a full refund. In the event of a return due to other circumstances, you may receive a 50% refund within 72 hours. After 72 hours, any returns will not receive a refund and they may be subject to a surrender fee. We want everyone to take the adoption of a pet as seriously as we do and have a thorough adoption process for this reason.
PLEASE NOTE:
Cats can live to be 15-20 years old. Before deciding to adopt, please consider the many life changes you may experience between now and then, and how a cat may fit into them. Also be aware that cats require regular vet care (vaccines, check-ups, dental work, illness, emergency etc), and that it is not always cheap. Please have a plan BEFORE bringing your new pet home as to how you will pay for vet costs are they to arise, be it pet insurance or a dedicated savings account.
Barn Cat Program
Paws and Claws receives feral cats at times (more so in the spring/summer). These cats are altered, vaccinated, de-wormed, and become part of our barn cat program. Feral cats are great for rodent control and are typically very easy to have around. They stay out of the way, do their job, and when adopted from us, don’t reproduce and add to the overpopulation crisis. We require that our barn cats have access to an insulated barn, shop or outbuilding, and have access to food and water. Our feral barn cats are adoptable by a monetary donation of your choice. The donation helps to cover a portion of the vet costs so we can continue to help more cats.We also occasionally have friendly or semi-feral cats that can be handled/like people come through that are better suited to an outdoor home, be it for behavioural reasons, preference or litter box issues. These cats may have a small fee attached to them but will come altered and vaccinated as well.
Bunnies
On occasion, we have rabbits come into care that require loving, forever homes. We spay or neuter all of the rabbits we get, and our standard adoption fee is $80. This fee only helps us cover a portion of the surgery cost, so nothing else is included in the adoption unless otherwise stated.
Rabbits can live to be 10 years old, and have complex social, dietary and enviromental needs. We require that our rabbits are adopted into homes that are going to allow them a substantional amount of space to roam(a typical "pet store" rabbit cage set up is NOT sufficient for full time living). We reccomend either a tall X-pen set up or free roaming when possible. We will consider outside homes BUT we require that they have a temperature controlled building to live in.
Rabbits require unlimted hay, and daily leafy greens to have optimal health. A diet of strictly pellets is not reccomended.Rabbits are social creatures, and do tend to do best in pairs, so we always recommend adopting two rabbits that are already familiar with each other if you are able. If you have a rabbit currently, and are looking to adopt a companion for it, please do lots of reaserch on what is needed to properly introduce and bond rabbits to each other, and ensure you have a back up plan if cohabitation proves to not be possible.
Additionally, we request that your current rabbit is spayed or neutered as it makes them more likely to get along. You can find out if we have any rabbits currently available by visiting our "Adopt a Smaller Animal" page here on our website, and either sending us an email or contacting us on Facebook if you would like to arrange a meet and greet.