FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FOSTER AND ADOPTION FAQ’S
General Adoption Questions
Who can adopt from Redemption Paws?
We adopt to homes across Ontario, and occasionally beyond, depending on transport logistics and the needs of the dog. Applicants must be 19+, have stable housing, and be ready for a long-term commitment. We do not adopt out of province.
What is your adoption fee and what does it cover?
Our standard adoption fee is $895 CAD for dogs, and $425 for cats. This fee helps cover the cost of vetting (spay/neuter, vaccines, microchip, heartworm tests), transport, foster supplies, program costs and ongoing care. It also supports our continued rescue efforts. Every dog adopted helps us pull another dog from the shelter.
Why are rescue dogs not free?
Our adoption fee is $895 CAD. While that might seem high at first glance, consider this: the average cost of purchasing a puppy from a breeder is around $3,000, and that often doesn’t include spay/neuter, vaccines, microchipping, or initial vet care. On average, fully vetting a dog (including spay/neuter, vaccinations, deworming, heartworm testing, and microchipping) costs close to $2,000.
When you adopt from Redemption Paws, you’re not only giving a dog a second chance, you’re also receiving a dog that’s been thoroughly vetted, cared for in a home environment, and supported by a rescue that’s committed to responsible placements.
How long does the adoption process take?
On average, the process takes 1–2 weeks from submission of your application. This includes application review, reference checks, a virtual home visit, and (if approved) a meet-and-greet with the dog.
Can I meet the dog before applying?
Due to the high volume of interest and respect for our fosters’ time, we only arrange meet-and-greets once you are approved for adoption.
Can I adopt if I have young children?
We do not adopt to homes with children under 12 years of age due to insurance and regulatory reasons. This does not mean your home is unfit, it’s simply a requirement we have to adhere to.
What happens if the adoption doesn’t work out?
We know that sometimes, even with the best intentions, an adoption may not be the right match. If that happens, we ask that the dog be returned to us so we can ensure their well-being and next steps.
Because we’re a foster-based rescue, all returns require a professional assessment paid by the adopter to help us understand any changes in behavior and protect our foster network. Please note that dogs who develop serious bite histories after adoption may not be eligible for return.
We’re here to support both you and the dog through any transitions with care and transparency.
Are adoption fees refundable?
Please note that adoption fees are non-refundable, as they go toward essential expenses such as vetting, transport, and supplies. These costs are incurred regardless of the outcome of an adoption.
Why do you have an application fee?
The non-refundable applicant fee helps cover the administrative time and resources required to process each application. This includes reviewing your information, contacting references, coordinating virtual home visits, and communicating with our team and fosters.
Because we receive a high volume of applications and each one is reviewed individually, the fee ensures we can dedicate proper time to serious, committed adopters. It also helps us continue supporting the dogs already in our care while maintaining a sustainable rescue model.
While the fee does not guarantee approval, it reflects the real costs behind thoughtful and responsible placements.
Will I receive support post-adoption?
We offer limited post-adoption guidance and support via email as our primary focus is on the dogs currently in the program. We’re happy to point you in the right direction! All adopters are mandated to work with an approved trainer upon adoption.
Foster-to-Adopt & Special Circumstances
Can I foster-to-adopt?
We do offer this but it’s on a case by case basis. This must be discussed with the Redemption Paws team in advance.
I want to adopt my foster dog. What’s the process?
Fosters must complete a formal adoption application and go through the same approval process as any other adopter. Please notify us early if you’re interested in adopting your foster dog.
Can I adopt if I live outside Ontario? Occasionally, we approve out-of-province adoptions if the match is exceptional and transportation can be arranged safely. You must be willing to travel or meet halfway, depending on the situation.
Dog Care, Training & Medical Info
Are your dogs vaccinated and spayed/neutered?
Yes. All dogs are vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed/neutered unless medically exempt or not yet old enough (in which case a contract to spay/neuter later will be required).
Are your dogs housetrained and crate trained?
Most dogs are crate trained, and many are working on housetraining. Behavioral info is updated weekly by fosters and shared transparently with adopters. We do not guarantee behaviour as when dogs change homes they can regress while they adjust to new changes.
Do you temperament test your dogs?
All dogs are observed and evaluated by fosters in home environments and we get assessments from the sending shelters. We rely on daily updates and behavior patterns to assess suitability for each home.
What if the dog develops medical issues post-adoption?
We do our best to ensure each dog is healthy at the time of adoption, but we cannot guarantee their lifelong health. To help protect your new companion, we require all adopters to enroll in pet insurance immediately to avoid any pre-existing condition exclusions.
We are transparent about each dog’s medical history and share all available information prior to adoption. Every dog is examined by a veterinarian at the shelter and again by our own veterinary team upon arrival.
OTHER FAQs
Can I stay in touch or send updates?Absolutely! We love updates. Please tag us on Instagram @redemptionpaws or email us happy tails. Seeing our dogs thriving in their forever homes means everything to us.
How is Redemption Paws transparent as a charity? We have always been committed to transparency, accountability, and ongoing improvement.
As a registered charity since 2018, we operate in compliance with all regulatory bodies, including the Yes. As a registered charity and animal welfare organization, we operate with transparency and are accountable to several regulatory bodies. These include:
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – for charitable status, financial reporting, and compliance.
- Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) – for oversight under Ontario’s Charities Accounting Act.
- Animal Welfare Services (AWS) – for enforcement of the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act and standards of care.
- Ministry of the Solicitor General – which administers AWS in Ontario.
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) – for the legal importation of dogs into Canada.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) – for health certifications and vaccine requirements for animals entering Canada.
- Municipal Animal Control & Bylaw Enforcement – depending on local regulations around fostering, animal transport, and zoning.
- Ontario College of Veterinarians – which oversees all licensed veterinary professionals we partner with.
Our records, financials, and processes are subject to oversight, and we’re proud to have always met those standards through thousands of successful adoptions.
Why do your dogs have such unique names? We give each dog a unique name to keep our records organized, no duplicates allowed in our system! We also group incoming dogs by fun themes (like snacks, plants, or movie characters) to help us track large intakes efficiently.
Most dogs don’t know their names when they arrive in our care, and many adopters choose new names once they bring their dog home. So the names we give are often temporary, practical, and a little playful while the dog waits for their forever name and forever family.
What makes Redemption Paws different from other organizations? Redemption Paws is one of the largest foster-based dog rescues in Canada, with over 4000 dogs rescued since 2017. We operate entirely through a dedicated network of foster homes, allowing us to assess each dog’s personality and needs in real-life environments, not kennels.
We’re open every day of the year. While Redemption Paws is powered by an incredible team of volunteers, we also have a core group of dedicated contractors whose full-time work ensures the rescue runs smoothly and responsibly.
We use a custom-built content management system designed specifically for rescue work, allowing us to efficiently organize our volunteers, team, and operations in one streamlined platform.
We’ve been rescuing dogs consistently every month since September 2017, even during global crises. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we successfully lobbied to change federal import laws, ensuring we could continue bringing dogs to safety when other avenues were closed.
We’re also known for our strong presence on social media and our commitment to transparency. Our process includes in-house vet clinics and private adoption events, which allow us to carefully monitor each step of the journey and provide adopters with clear, honest information about every dog.
At Redemption Paws, rescue isn’t a transaction, it’s a lifelong commitment to both the dogs and the people who love them.
If you have any further questions please contact us directly.
We are foster-based, which means we do not have a physical shelter.
Please check if you are in our adoption radius before applying.
Due to the lack of history on our dogs, we can not place them in homes with children under 12 years of age.
We do not have a contact phone number as we are not a 9 to 5 shelter.
We reserve the right not to respond to applications that do not meet our adoption criteria.
We get a high volume of correspondences, please be patient!
Harassment or bullying of any kind will not be tolerated.