We are a non-profit organization and are run exclusively through volunteers and donations. May 1, 2021
All information we know about the dogs/cats has been included with their Facebook profile.
1. We are a registered, non-profit rescue society with very high standards.
2. 100% volunteer-run; we have no paid staff.
3. Every dollar we receive from adoption fees goes immediately back into support
ing the dogs and cats, including medical, transportation and care.
4. If a dog/cat is not working out for any reason, our legal contract states the dog/cat must be returned to us, regardless of time.
5. No exceptions, no negotiations. We’ve tried this in the past; two of our dogs placed in separate homes died from dashing out a front or back door into the road. A fenced yard is extra protection for the safety of our dogs. End of discussion.
6. Please note that with very few exceptions, it is our policy not to adopt any dog/cat into a home with younger children. Even if a dog/cat has been tested with children, we cannot be 100% sure how the dog/cat will react to all children in all circumstances. Therefore, for the safety of your children (and the dog/cat) we will not process applications where there are young children living in the home. We understand that this policy may frustrate some people, especially those who are very dog/cat experienced and/or have children who are used to being around dogs/cats but we hope you will appreciate our position.
7. An application must be submitted. Phone interviews and home visits are mandatory.
8. There may be multiple applications for a single dog/cat. Please keep in mind that even if your phone interview and home visit are successful, there is no guarantee you will be matched with the dog you have applied for. We place dogs/cats based on their best fit.
9. We do not have a physical location. We are a group of volunteers who foster dogs/cats in our homes on Vancouver Island. Our dogs/cats come into our care from Canada. THE ADOPTION PROCESS:
STEP 1 – FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FORM
Please understand we do not hand over dogs/cats like a bag of chips! The full application process is to protect our dogs/cats for their lifetime. The first step in the application process is filling out the application form. The application may seem rather long but the questions are all important in helping us determine the suitability of bringing a rescue into your home. As a result, we recommend you take time to fill out each question fully and thoughtfully. If questions are not answered or an answer indicates that your home may not be suitable for one of our dogs, your application will be declined. Please understand that denial is not necessarily a reflection on your ability to provide for a dog/cat, just that we are not confident that a match would be successful for one of our dogs/cat. Should your application be declined we suggest perhaps applying with a different rescue group. STEP 2 – COMPLETE THE PHONE INTERVIEW
The next step is a Phone Interview conducted by one of our volunteers at a time that is convenient for you both. Our volunteer will be in contact with you. The purpose of the phone interview is to discuss answers on your application and ask any clarifying questions. We want to hear about your past dog/cat experience, your lifestyle and what you are looking for in a dog/cat. The average call takes about 15 minutes and will mostly be about you, not the dog/cat you are applying for. Our volunteers are adopters themselves so the phone interview is also a great opportunity for you to chat about their adoption experience too! Upon completion, the volunteer will report back to the Adoption Team who will determine if your application qualifies to go to the next step. STEP 3 – COMPLETE THE HOME CHECK
Once the phone interview notes have been reviewed and approved, you will be contacted (generally within three to five days, time permitting) with regards to setting up a time to do a Home Check. Our dogs/cats won’t care if the dishes are done or the laundry is folded and neither do we! Instead, we will be looking for things like possible escape areas and potential safety hazards. If we see any areas of concern we will discuss these with you so that changes can be made prior to the dog’s/cats arrival. Upon completion, the volunteer will report back to one of our Adoption Facilitators who will determine if your application qualifies to go to the next step. STEP 4 – THE APPROVAL EMAIL/CALL
Assuming you have met all the requirements and it seems likely that an adoption would be successful, you should hear good news from our Adoption Team that your application has been approved! Approval notification is done via email within approximately three to five days of completing your home check. You will also be notified at that time whether a match has been made with the dog(s)/cat you applied for OR if we feel that you would be better suited for a different dog. We will do our best to offer alternative suggestions whenever possible.**Please keep in mind that there may be multiple applications for a single dog and that even if your Phone Interview and Home Check are successful, that is no guarantee that you will be matched with the dog/cat you have applied for.**
ADDITIONAL NOTE: If you have applied for a dog/cat that is being fostered on the island, once you have received the approval email, we will connect you directly with the foster family so that you can arrange to meet the dog/cat. The meeting is typically done in a socially-distanced fashion at a mutually agreed upon location. It is possible that either you or the foster may request that additional meeting(s) take place before a final decision is made.
