Adoption FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why adopt a rescue?

Due to overpopulation, there are a staggering number of dogs and cats that are euthanized every year.  By choosing to adopt from a rescue, you are choosing to save a life.  The reality is many of these animals that are sitting in crowded shelters; were once living as strays; have been surrendered by their families; or come from abusive homes.  By choosing to adopt, you are giving these animals a chance to thrive in a safe and loving home - what could be more rewarding than that?

What is the cost of adoption?

To be determined…

What does the adoption fee cover?

Upon arrival, all vetting costs are paid for by New Collar Collective.  We have partnerships with several vet clinics in the GTA and every foster animal is required to see a vet within 2 weeks of coming into our care.  All rescues will be microchipped, receive necessary vaccinations, and be spayed/neutered before they are adopted to prevent further homeless animals. 

Where are you located?

Many of our volunteers are located in Southern Ontario, Canada. We do not have a central facility or shelter where our animals are kept.  We are a foster-home based rescue, which means that each rescue is fostered within the private home of one of our volunteer fosters.

Where do your animals come from?

The objective of our rescue is to go where we are needed, so our animals may come from other places in Canada, another country, or even from the GTA!  We work to form partnerships with rescues in high need areas who need a little extra help finding homes for their animals. 

I’m a bit nervous about adopting a rescue animal, as I don’t know their history. What do you do to determine if the animal is temperamentally sound?

Just like when you adopt a puppy or kitten, a rescue dog or cat will need to learn proper manners and how to behave in your home. We do our best to learn about our rescues and their behaviours and personalities, but just like a human, they may act differently in a new situation and change over time.  It's important to learn how to work with your dog or cat to ensure you both have a successful life-long friendship. 

What vaccinations will my rescue animal come with? And will they be spayed/neutered?

Dogs are vaccinated and spayed/neutered prior to adoption. Dogs are vaccinated with DA2LP + PV (Canine Distemper – Adenovirus 2 – Para influenza – Parvo Virus Vaccine) and the Rabies vaccination (if old enough upon adoption). Puppies will not be adopted out before the age of 8 weeks, and will have their first vaccines. We do not vaccinate for Bordatella (kennel cough), or any other vaccinations not listed above. However, there may be certain situations where a foster dog needs to be boarded temporarily in order to remove them from a harmful situation, and in that case the dog may be vaccinated for Bordatella (kennel cough). These situations, however, are not common.

If I adopt a rescue animal from you, and cannot keep or care for it, do you take them back?

While we always do our best to ensure a compatible match, there may be circumstances that arise where you have to make the difficult decision to give up your rescue.  We will always welcome them back into our program. In fact, we require that they are returned back to our care so we can ensure their wellbeing and that they end up in another loving home. 

I don’t have a fenced yard – am I going to be automatically denied?

Definitely not!  You can adopt a rescue dog or cat whether you live in a house, condo, or apartment.  Adopters, however, need to be committed to providing their dogs with regular opportunities for exercise depending on the dog’s energy level regardless of their living situation.  In fact, people who live in condos/apartments can't rely on a back yard to let their dogs out for bathroom breaks, so their pets often receive more of the physical exercise and mental stimulation that keeps them healthy and content.

I live in an apartment/condo, will that restrict the size of dog that I can adopt?

Small condo/apartment?  No problem!  A dog bouncing off the walls of an apartment doesn’t need a bigger house; they just need more exercise! There are, however, certain dogs that may require a bit more space, but don't worry, we will help you find the right dog to match your living situation.

How long will the adoption process take?

We work very hard to try to find suitable homes for our rescues. Once a match is made and you are contacted, the adoption process should take about two weeks to finalize so long as all the required documentation is returned in a timely manner. 

Why is the screening process so extensive?

To ensure that our rescue animals are set up for success, it is that we do our due diligence to ensure each match is right - for you and for our dogs or cats. We want to make sure all adoptive homes are ready to welcome their new family member and are available to help them transition into their new life. 

I recently submitted an application.  Why have I not yet received a response?

We are committed to responding promptly to our applicants and will do our best to get back to you in a timely manner.  Please note that we are 100% volunteer-based and our team works hard to review and communicate to interested applicants.  Also, please check your junk folders as our responses sometimes end up there. 

Why do we suggest training for all adopted dogs?

We want your new dog to be set up for success, and training is a great place to start!  Training classes create great bonding experiences between owners and their dogs. In group classes, your new dog learns to focus on you in a high-distraction environment, with other dogs and people around. For dogs with behavioural concerns, talking to a trainer one on one is a great way to get some pointers and expert advice on how to help solve challenges and make your new dog more comfortable. Please note training sessions may be mandatory for some of our dogs.  Rescue animals have a history that we don't always know about, and they will sometimes to come to us with additional needs.  We want to make sure we set both you and our dogs up for success, and ensure that the transition period is as seamless as possible. 

Why do I need home/Tenant insurance?

While we hope this situation never arises, it's important to have home/tenant insurance in the case that your dog or cat bites someone. Under provincial law an animal is considered "property" and reputable insurance companies should cover the liability in such a case.

I'm looking for an emotional support animal, would one of your rescues be a good fit for me?

While your adopted rescue animal may very well provide you with love and companionship, we want to ensure that they are not solely depended on for this purpose.  Many of our rescues have come from abusive and negligent situations, and we want to ensure they are receiving the support they need from their adoptive families. Thanks for your understanding. 

Can I meet the dog or cat before I submit an application?

Unfortunately not, however, many of our adoptable animals attend NCC events, so there's a chance you just might! 

How did you choose your adoption radius? 

Since we are a grassroots rescue based in the Greater Toronto Area, we can only go as far as our volunteers go. But we hope to eventually grow out further, so keep checking back!

Why won't you adopt to homes with babies? 

While we think all kids should have the opportunity to grow up with a pet, there are certain things that babies just aren't able to learn about proper pet etiquette at such a young age. We would love to consider you as an adoptive family once your baby turns four though! 

I want to adopt from you, but my dog/cat is unspayed/unneutered. Why won't you adopt to me? 

There are so many unwanted animals living on the streets and in shelters due to overpopulation, that we, as a rescue, strongly believe that pet owners should spay and neuter their pets.  Research also shows that there can be some behavioural issues that arise in cats/dogs that are unspayed/unneutered.

Can I adopt a pet as a gift for someone else? 

NCC discourages people from adopting pets as gifts for others.  The pet you choose for someone may not be the pet they would choose for themselves.  A pet is a long term commitment and a decision that shouldn't be made lighly.  Adopters must be 100% ready to welcome a pet into their homes, and all members of the household must be on board with the adoption.