Our Adoption Process

CK Animal Rescue makes a lifetime commitment to every animal that passes through our program on their journey to a new beginning. Our rescue animals have often been through so much in their lives. We make a promise to each and every one of them that their future will be nothing less than the wonderful life they deserve, full of love, security, comfort, responsible care, regular vet visits and force-free training methods.

Often times we do not have a complete history and therefore we cannot make any guarantees regarding past handling, breed, temperament or health. We are NOT a shelter, all of our rescue animals are placed in approved foster homes throughout southern Ontario to ensure that they get the very best start to their new lives. Our goal is to secure forever homes where these animals are cherished as family members.

The adoption area is listed on each individual profile.

Our volunteers are trained to do home visits and meet and greets. The ultimate goal is to see a “love connection”.  Our experience since 2011 has shown we get a clear indication from our dogs during the Pre-Meets and Meet ‘n Greets in the potential new home, who they connect with and where they are comfortable and happy.  Not all turn out as “love connections”.  The goal is for everyone, our animals and adopters, to feel this was a match made in heaven!

The volunteers within our rescue are committed to following our thorough processes to ensure that our rescue animals will always be safe, loved and well cared for. The entire process of a successful application typically takes 1 – 2 weeks.

Adoption Steps

The following are the steps involved when adopting from CK Animal Rescue:

  1. Explore Our Adoptables: Read the profiles of our rescue animals and determine which one could be a great fit in your home and that you have the requirements listed for that pet. It’s VERY important to read the requirements which are listed at the top of every profile.
  2. Submit Your Application: Complete and submit the online adoption application answering all questions honestly and with as much detail as possible. All applications received are responded to as soon as possible by one of our volunteers. If you have not received a response, please check your junk folder.
  3. Application Review: The application is carefully reviewed by our team and compared against the specific needs and requirements of the rescue animal to ensure it is the best possible match. The potential adopter will receive a copy of our adoption contract which everyone who would be listed as an adopter must review and reply if you agree with the terms of our contract.
  4. Pre-Meet: A pre-meet is scheduled at our rescue office (270 Inshes Ave., Chatham) for adopters to meet the dog first.  Everyone in the adopter’s family (and dogs if applicable) must attend this pre-meet. As long as there is a positive connection and all parties wish to move forward,  a detailed explanation of our adoption process will be emailed to you. Please review this email carefully as it contains important information.
  5. References & Vet Checks: References, vet clinics and landlords (if applicable) are called by one of our volunteers. Please notify the people you have listed so they are aware that they will be hearing from us.  And notify your vet clinic(s) to avoid delays.
  6. Foster Family Insights: If requested by adopters, the foster family will call to help answer questions about the dog or cat in their care. The foster home has gotten to know the rescue animal very well and can give you some insight into their daily lives, habits, personality etc.
  7. Home Visit: A home visit appointment will be scheduled and ALL persons residing in the home MUST be in attendance, including family pets. Once completed, our Adoptions Team will review the report and notify you of the outcome.
  8. Meet & Greet: Another Meet and Greet will be scheduled where again, all persons residing in the home must attend, including family dogs (if applicable). Upon careful observation during the Meet & Greet where all questions have been clarified, if all parties agree that there is a love connection we may proceed with the adoption at that time, completing the contract and adoption fee.

Many photos will be taken during the Meet & Greet and family photos as well that will be publicly posted on our Facebook page and on our webpage under Happy Endings. There are many volunteers involved in the steps of your adopted pet’s journey to whom this is a huge reward and moment of celebration.

We pride ourselves in responding to and processing applications in a timely manner and do our best to respond to every one of them as quickly as possible.  Our adoption team reviews all applications to find the most suitable match for the needs of the animals in our foster program who are up for adoption.  Please remember, our rescue is 100% volunteer-run.  Many of our volunteers have full-time employment and help our rescue during their time off work.

Please contact our Adoptions Team – adopt@ckanimalrescue.com if you have not received a response to confirm that your application was successfully received or if you have questions at any point during the process.

Adoption Fees

While our main goal is to place our rescue animals into permanent homes, in order to continue that mission we must charge an adoption fee. The adoption fee collected for one successfully adopted pet will help to offset the cost of the vetting of the dog adopted and the next dog that we are able to save. While some may believe the fees to be too high, the fact is the cost involved in vetting these animals on your own would, in most cases, be much higher. We strongly believe that the health and well-being of each of our rescue animals is our responsibility as their guardians while in our care and as such, will not adopt out an animal that has not been vetted. Unless expressly agreed upon by both parties, in writing, all veterinary expenses incurred after the point of adoption are at the adopter’s expense.

Adoption Fees are posted in every profile.

What is included in the adoption fee:

  • Spay/neuter (age appropriate – puppies/kittens adopted will need to be altered by one of our approved veterinary clinics when required at the rescue’s expense)
  • Up-to-date vaccinations
  • Microchip
  • Parasite screening
  • Other medical costs that may have been incurred while in foster care i.e. dental, infection, heartworm treatment
  • Food and supplies while in foster care

Once the adoption is finalized our office volunteers will either leave a copy of the health records or mail any veterinary records that we have on file as well as a copy of the adoption contract to the applicants.