Adoption Process
Choosing To Adopt
The choice to adopt an animal and provide it with a Happy Home is one that can bring joy into the lives of both you and your new pet, but it is not one that should be rushed into. You should ensure you have done an analysis of your home, your lifestyle, and what you are looking for in a companion animal.
• How many hours will I be leaving the animal alone for each day, and where will I keep it?
• What energy level am I looking for? Am I looking for an animal to go running with, or one that I just want to cuddle on the couch with?
• Are allergies to specific types of animals a concern?
• What traits are most important to me in a pet? Am I looking for something with the big personality of a Pug, or the playfulness of a Himalayan cat?
• How much time, money, and energy am I able to devote to this new pet?
• Does my building or condo allow pets?
Finding The Right Animal For You
Once you have determined what type of companion animal is the best fit for you, the best thing then is to start looking through the Saskatoon SPCA's adoptable animals. You can do so by clicking on the appropriate category listing to the left, or by visiting the shelter in person.
While at the shelter, the Adoption Counsellors will assist you with spending time socializing with any potential adoptees to find the right one for you. It is a good idea to bring along anyone, such as significant others, spouses, or children, who will also be living with this potential new addition.
The Adoption Counsellors will be happy to go over any questions you may have about the animal. Understandably, some animals will have a much more detailed history than others, depending on how they entered the shelter.
Ready To Adopt
If you think you've found that perfect animal for you, the next step is to fill out an Adoption Application. These forms can vary somewhat depending on the type of animal you are looking to adopt, but in general they will go over your background with animals, the environment into which you would be taking the animal, and your expectations of what adopting him or her will entail. You must be 18 years of age or older to adopt.
A "meet and greet" is an opportunity for any dogs you may already have in your home to meet the dog you are interested in adopting in a neutral setting, to ensure they will be able to cohabitate with one another. This is important, as meeting on neutral ground is a much better way of introducing new dogs, and identifying any issues is much easier on both animals at this point than it would be in your home.
Please note: shelter "meet and greets" are for dogs only; please do not bring cats in for "meet and greets".
If everything to this point has gone positively, and there are no issues to discuss, you might be able to take home your new addition that very day! The Adoption Counsellors will process the adoption, help you pick out some new items from our store, and you can take your new pet to its new Happy Home!
