Dogs for Adoption
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Adoption Fees
What's Included?
Every dog adopted from the OHS has been spayed or neutered, received their core vaccinations, has had their health and behaviour assessed, screened for parasites and disease and has permanent microchip identification.
It's the best deal you'll find for your new best friend.
Adult dog (6 months +) $500
Puppy (under 6 months) $590
Small dogs (under 15kg, except beagles/JRT) $615
Didn't Find the Right Dog?
Concierge Program
The Adoption Concierge Program is an exciting matching program that will help interested adopters find the perfect canine companions to match their home and lifestyle. Clients interested in adopting a specific type of animal, where “type” refers to general characteristics of an animal (i.e. age, size, coat length) and willing to take on behaviour and/or medical needs may join the Adoption Concierge Program to allow the OHS to find a suitable match for them.
Once a questionnaire has been submitted, OHS adoption counselors will begin the search for a match. After a match has been made, potential adopters will have their very own meet and greet with the animal and decide if their home will be this pet’s forever home.
Why do We Assess a Dog's Behaviour?
Assessing a dog’s behaviour helps us to understand its needs in an adoptive home. This is information that we share with potential adopters so that they can make informed decisions about the animals they are considering for adoption. Assessing behaviour also helps us to ensure that we are adopting safe animals into our community.
We want to make sure that each adoption is a positive and successful experience — for both the dog and the adoptive family. When someone adopts a dog that isn’t suitable for their family or their lifestyle, the chances of bonding with the dog, of keeping the dog, and of caring responsibly for the dog are low. This will usually end with the dog either being returned to the OHS, or worse yet, being passed from home to home to eventually be abandoned. In the process, the adoptive family has been emotionally scarred, someone has possibly been bitten, and the dog itself feels lost and confused.
We assess behaviour by reviewing a dog’s previous history where it is known, as well as by evaluating how it behaves in the shelter with people, other dogs, and in different situations. While many dogs need little behaviour support beyond the regular daily enrichment we provide, others take part in one of our extensive behaviour intervention programs to help them become more adoptable. Some dogs are unsafe to place in our community, despite any efforts we may take.
After adoption, we support new dog owners by providing behaviour advice and support, as well as by offering post-adoption dog behaviour training to ensure that our adoptees and their canine companions get off on the right foot in their new life together.