Adoption Process

STEP 1 · Adoption Application

Complete the adoption application at the bottom of the animal’s profile, or on our adoption application page. For pet store cats, please ensure you get the animal’s name and AARCS ID from the pet store as the animal may not be listed on our website.

• Use this form for cats: Cat Adoption Application
• Use this form for dogs: Dog Adoption Application
• Use this form for critters: Critter Adoption Application

If you have any issues with our online forms, please contact the appropriate Adoption Team:

• Dogs: [email protected]
• Cats: [email protected]
• Critters: [email protected]

STEP 2 · Application Review

An adoption coordinator will review your application and email you within 24-48 hours to arrange an over-the-phone adoption call before meeting the animal. The team will share with you the history of the animal as well as any known medical care required. For pet store cats, although we hope to expedite our pet store adoptions, we may not have an adoption team member available while you are at the store.

*Please check your spam folder if you haven’t heard from us – we will always reply!

STEP 3 · Application Approval

Following the adoption phone call, we will have the foster family contact you within 48 hours to arrange a meet and greet. We ask that these meetings be arranged as soon as possible, and no later than the upcoming weekend.

For dog meet and greets:  If you have another dog in the home, we recommend arranging a neutral location where the dogs can meet.

STEP 4 · Waiting Period (Dogs Only)

Once you have met the dog/puppy you would like to potentially adopt, we ask that you take a day to think about it. Discuss the adoption openly and fully with all members of the household. Ensure that the dog matches what your family is looking for. If after this time you feel the animal is the right match, please contact the adoption coordinator no later than 24 hours after the meeting.

We will waive the waiting period for out-of-town adoptions on a case-by-case basis but still ask that you leave the foster family for a minimum of one hour to discuss with your household, process the adoption application, and give the foster family a chance to say goodbye.

STEP 5 · Finalizing Adoption

If you, the adoption team, and foster family are in favour of the adoption match, you can take home your new family member or arrange a mutually beneficial time within one week.

At the time of adoption, you will be provided with an adoption package, including a small bag of the Hills Science Diet food that we feed while in care (except for critters.)

For cats, please come prepared with an appropriate pet carrier if you wish to complete a same-day adoption, or you can purchase one in-store for pet store cats.

In all cases, the adoption agreement and adoption fees must be paid before the animal is released. The agreement form and payment processing are available online and both are mobile friendly.

All of AARCS’ cats, dogs and rabbits are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. This cost is included in our adoption fee.

Other critters may not be spayed or neutered due to the high risks of surgery.

AARCS provides scheduled vaccinations for all animals while in our care. The adoptive family is responsible for vaccinations and any ongoing veterinary care that becomes due after the adoption is completed. The timing for the next scheduled vaccines will be included in the provided medical records.

Renters/Condo owners need to confirm with their landlord/condo board that they are allowed a pet and check if there are any restrictions including size, specific dog breeds and pet-related damage deposits. Please keep in mind that adoption fees are non-refundable, and it is your responsibility to ensure you are fulfilling your tenancy agreement.

We do not adopt animals as gifts for someone else. All members of the household must be in favour of the adoption.

We require that adoptive families come to us to meet with the animals in person. Most animals are located in the Calgary or Edmonton, Alberta areas. We do not facilitate adoptions outside of Canada, and will not ship animals.

We allow for same-day adoptions for cats and critters, but do require that you come prepared, including having a carrier, should you wish to take your new pet home the same day. For dogs, we ask that the family take time after the meet and greet to consider if it is the right fit and to prepare for your new addition. At the discretion of the dog adoption team, we may agree to a same-day adoption. This may be appropriate for someone driving more than one hour to meet a dog. All parties must still be in favour of the adoption, including the adoption team, the foster family and the prospective adoptive family.

AARCS accepts all adoption returns barring unusual circumstances. Returns cannot be dropped off at the shelter unannounced and need to be coordinated through a member of our team. If you need to return a pet adopted from AARCS, please fill out the appropriate intake request form here. Please note that sometimes the placement of a returning animal may take several weeks to accommodate depending on shelter/foster space and the individual needs of a returning animal. We understand that adoptions do not always work out and do not automatically disqualify anyone who re-homes an animal from adopting in the future. We encourage adopters to reach out for help if they are having any issues with their newly adopted pet as we can often assist by recommending resources for training and offering advice.

Tami Rambow

Dog Program Coordinator

[email protected]

Kim Sutherland

Dog Shelter Coordinator

[email protected]

Jen Coghlan + Patrick Chu

Animal Behaviour Coordinators

[email protected]

Judy Bergevin

Dog Adoption Coordinator

[email protected]

Brianna Ellchuk

Cat Shelter Supervisor

[email protected]

Teal Knox

Cat Shelter Operations

[email protected]

Sam Ruttan

Cat Foster Home Coordinator

[email protected] 

Cat Adoption Coordinators

[email protected]

Barn Buddies Coordinator

[email protected]

Amy Corpe

Director of Animal Health

[email protected]

Critter Adoptions

[email protected]