Once you have found that special animal, you can book an Adoption Counselling Appointment by clicking on the calendar linked below. While booking the appointment, you’ll see a questionnaire that asks for:
This questionnaire helps us match you with the right animal based on your lifestyle and expectations. It also helps us to identify if there are any aspects of care or behaviour that we can provide more information about.
For more information about the animals in our care, please check their individual profiles. If the animal you’re interested in does not have any photos or a biography, the Adoption Counsellor you speak to will be able to speak with you in more detail and provide more information on the animal during your session.
If you see that an animal is “on hold” and their profile is greyed out, this means someone has shown interest in the animal and they are going through the adoption process – YAY!. If for some reason the adoption doesn’t go through, the Adoption Team will move on to the next application. Animals without a hold are all still looking for their forever home.
Need to cancel your appointment? Just click on the cancellation link in your appointment confirmation email.
Adoption Counselling Appointments are released on a rolling calendar day, with new slots opening up every morning for the next 48 hours. These slotsoften fill up quickly as we are fortunate to have a high number of individuals looking to adopt.
We recommend downloading the applications below and saving your responses for current and future use in advance so that you don’t lose yourappointment slot.
Once you have registered for an Adoption Counselling Appointment, you will receive an email with a Microsoft Teams Video Meeting Link* – please use this link to access the virtual meeting.
An Adoption Counsellor will meet with you at your chosen appointment time and will conduct the counselling session to learn more about your lifestyle and what you are looking for in a companion.
We will use this time to discuss animal care and training, as well as detailed information about the animal you are interested in. This conversation is a good opportunity to get a sense of whether the animal is a good match for you and to ensure that both you and the animal will be happy together.
You will be asked to provide Government issued photo ID that includes name and address (and a photo of your cage/enclosure for small mammals,birds and reptiles if you are interested in adopting one of these animals) during the call.
If you are late to your virtual Adoption Counselling Appointment, we will get in touch with the number you provided on your questionnaire. Please keep in mind that we have a high number of individuals looking to adopt. If 15 minutes have passed, we will have to move onto our next appointment.If you miss your appointment, you can re-book another appointment.*Learn how to prepare for your virtual adoption counselling appointment using Microsoft Teams:
For now, our Meet and Greets are conducted virtually by a Toronto HumaneSociety Adoption Counsellor for up to a one hour period. This gives you plenty of time to meet the pet and get to know more about them.
The Meet and Greet will include: a Toronto Humane Society Adoption Counsellor; the animal’s Foster Parent, if the animal is in a Foster home; or,if the animal is at our location, an additional Toronto Humane Society staff member.Additional questions may include exposure of adopters to COVID-19.
Virtual meet and greets are scheduled for a date and time following the initial Adoption Counselling appointment.
Adopters will discuss a date and time for the meet and greet during the adoption counselling session, or may alternatively receive an email notifying them when the video call will be conducted.
We will always attempt to conduct the meet and greet directly after your adoption counseling session, however from time to time, this may be scheduled for a different time or day, depending on foster parent and staff availability.
We will do our best to work with you to find a time that fits your schedule.
If everything goes well at the Meet and Greet, and both you and the adoption counsellor feel that the animal is a good match for your home, it is time to finalize the adoption. This will include instructions concerning adoption fees, pick-up times, and continuing care for your new animal companion.
Payment will be done with one of our Pet Support Agents via video call while using our online Toronto Humane Society payment portal. Please note at this time we can only accept credit card payments from Amex, Visa and Mastercard.
* Prices include Tax
Some of the dogs in our care have been transferred in from other organizations and rescue partners. These animals may have a higher adoption fee to help offset the cost of transferring them to us.
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