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Adopting a Rescue with New Collar Collective

Thank you for considering New Collar Collective in your search for a new family member.  During the screening process, we are looking to match our rescues with the best possible applicant. If we don’t feel that we have the right animal for you, we reserve the right to refuse your application or suggest a more suitable rescue. 

Before applying, please review our policies and procedures, as well as our FAQ’s to see if we are the right rescue for you.   

Adoption Process 

  1. Complete and submit an adoption application. 

    All applications will be reviewed and applicants will receive an email response letting you know whether your application has been approved to move to the next step in our process or not within about two weeks.  If you have not received a response from us, first check your spam/junk folder before sending us an email.  

  2. You will be asked to submit two personal references, and a vet reference where applicable, as part of our process.

    Please make sure to let them know that they may be contacted by one of our volunteers.  Veterinarian clinics will require your permission to share any information with our team.  

  3. A phone interview will be scheduled with one of our adoption coordinators via email or phone.  

  4. Your adoption coordinator will connect with one of our volunteers to schedule a home visit. 

    Home visits will be completed virtually or in-person, depending on available resources.  If a virtual home visit is completed and there are any outstanding questions or concerns, New Collar Collective reserves the right to do a follow up home visit.  Volunteers conducting virtual home visits will be required to direct the home visit so we are assured they have seen all areas of the home.  Volunteers conducting in-person home visits will be encouraged to bring a friend along for their safety. In this case, you will be notified in advance. All members of the household will be required to participate in the home visit.

  5. A meet & greet will be coordinated with the animal’s foster. 

    All members of the household (including dogs) will be required to attend the meet and greet.

  6. Post meet & greet

    If there are no further questions or concerns, applicants will contact their adoption’s coordinator to let them know if they would like to move forward with the adoption.  Adopters will be contacted to provide all contract requirements.  

ADOPTION Policies 

The policies outlined below are guidelines and there may be instances where an exception may be made if approved by the Adoption Management Team and/or the Board of Directors. Periodically, New Collar Collective will revisit these guidance policies to ensure they still meet the intended needs of the rescue.  If you have any further questions, please check out our FAQs below.

  • We do not adopt to applicants who live outside of our adoption radius.   

  • We do not ship dogs.  Adopters are responsible for picking up their newly adopted pet. 

  • All pets in your household must be spayed/neutered. 

  • All pets in your household must be up to date with mandatory vaccinations. 

  • We do not allow applicants to test out a cat/dog before adoption. We expect that applicants will take the necessary time to meet with the dog or cat, talk with the foster, and ask lots of questions.  Our rescues have already been through so much, we feel it is in their best interest that trials do not occur. 

  • All members of the household must be present during the Home Visit and the Meet and Greet. 

  • There is no lower age restriction for families with young children wishing to adopt. 

  • Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age to adopt one of our animals.

  • The full adoption fee is due at the time of adoption.  We do not offer payment plans.  

Frequently asked questions

What is your adoption radius, and why do you have one?

We adopt to families within 2 hours of Toronto. Since we are a grassroots rescue based in the GTA, we can only go as far as our volunteers go. But we hope to eventually grow out further, so keep checking back!

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. 

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 well-being and that they end up in another loving home. 

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.

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.

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 our events, so there's a chance you just might! 

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.

What’s your policy on declawing cats?

New Collar Collective does not declaw our rescue cats and we do not advocate or condone this unnecessary procedure.  It is painful for the cats and can result in significant long-term health risks.  Occasionally, we may receive rescue cats that have been declawed prior to coming into our care.  Adopters need to be willing to be attentive and redirect their adopted cat(s) and understand there is a likelihood that some damage to property may occur.

What is the adoption fee?

Effective September 18, 2023, our adoption fees are as follows (all prices include HST) :

  • Puppy (2-5 months) - $950

  • Puppy (6-12 months) - $925

  • Adult dog - $850

  • Mature dog (9 years and older) - $550

  • Kitten (10 months and under) - $350

  • Adult cat (11 months and older) - $300

  • Mature Cat (9 years and older) - $225

  • Bonded pair of cats (11 months and older) - $425

  • Bonded mature pair of cats (9 years and older) - $300

These fees cover the cost of transport, supplies and vetting.  Medical costs for our incoming rescues will vary depending on their individual needs, and sometimes there are costs that are unforeseen until after they are in our care. Your adoption fee provides us with the opportunity to rescue more animals and save more lives.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

Can I adopt a pet for someone else? 

New Collar Collective 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.

I saw an animal on your social media I’m interested in, but they didn’t get posted for adoption.. why not?

As our organization is so fortunate to have wonderful foster homes to care for the animals in our program, our foster volunteers are given the opportunity to adopt their foster animal at the end of their two week decompression period.