Adopt a pet

Are you ready to adopt a pet?

All animals need attention, interaction, and adequate exercise. Recognize the impact of bringing a pet into your home.

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  Lifestyle

  • Prepare for a long-term emotional and financial commitment.
  • Make time to interact with your pet.
  • Consider the allergies and health conditions of people in your home.
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  Living situation

  • Check for restrictions on pets at your home.
  • Ensure you have enough space.
  • Consider your surrounding outdoor areas.
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  Selecting your pet

  • Choose the right pet for your personality and circumstances.
  • Research the behaviours and characteristics of the pet you're considering.
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  Adopting a dog

  If you adopt a dog, you'll need to:

  • Licence it
  • Make sure it wears its collar and licence tag
  • Teach it basic obedience
  • Use a leash
  • Pick up its waste

How to adopt a pet

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  Step 1: View the pets available online and book an appointment to meet the pet in person

  Email animal.services@vancouver.ca to book an appointment to view our small animals available for adoption.

  Our kennels are not open for the public to walk through. By keeping the kennels less busy it has reduced the overall stress level of all the dogs. If you're interested in adopting a dog you can:

  • View their bio on Petfinder External website, opens in new tab
  • Book an appointment to come to the shelter enquire about them

  When you visit

  • Bring everyone who lives in the home.
  • Our kennel staff will discuss with you if the pet will be a good fit for your whole family.
  • You'll get take the dog for a walk to see how it behaves outside of the shelter.
  • If you already own a dog, you'll need to bring your dog to meet the one you want to adopt.
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  Step 2: Complete application

  Complete our adoption application and tell us about your:

  • Family
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • Experience with past pets
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  Step 3: Application reviewed

  We will:

  • Review your application based on what's best for your family and the pet you want to adopt, rather than on a first-come, first-served basis
  • Contact your references and landlord or property manager to make sure your pet will meet any housing requirements

  Note It usually takes us 4 to 5 days to decide on your application. This process may take longer if the adoptable animal needs to be seen by our veterinarian, or has other medical issues that need to be dealt with before adopting.

Adoption fees

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  Dogs

  Category	Fee
  Regular dog	$353
  Senior dog (age 7 years and older)	$108
  Dog with ongoing medical conditions	$108

  Note  Taxes are extra.

  What the adoption fee for dogs includes

  • Neutering or spaying
  • Micro-chipping
  • The first set of vaccinations
  • The first vet check-up
  • A free bag of dog food

  Note If you are a Vancouver resident, you also need to buy a dog licence for the dog you adopt.

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  Other animals

  Category	Fee
  Budgies and finches	$12
  Chinchillas, hedgehogs, and rabbits	$39
  Ferrets	$71
  Gerbils, hamsters, mice, and rats	$6
  Guinea pigs	$19
  Lovebirds and parakeets	$19

  Note  Taxes are extra.