Question 1

I'm interested in fostering a dog. How does it work?

Accepted Answer

Fostering is such a rewarding experience and the reality is without fosters
we have to say no to dogs that desperately need our help.

1) The first step to becoming a foster is make sure your partner, family and
landlord(if you rent) are all on board. You need to be sure that everyone can
commit to caring for the dog(s) until they are adopted to give them
consistency and reduce the stress and trauma of transitions.
If you live in a strata, be sure to check the strata bylaws to confirm if there
are any restrictions on pets and exactly what those restrictions are (e.g.
height, weight, number of animals, etc)

2) Once you have everyone on board complete our foster application HERE.
If you live in a rental unit, be sure to obtain written permission from your
landlord to email to the rescue.

3) Once we review your application and check your references, one of our
home visit volunteers will contact you for a virtual home visit. Don’t worry if
this takes a little while, as we try to on onboard new foster quarterly and as
urgent needs arise.

4) Once you are approved after your home visit, you are all set to foster and
we will contact you when we have a dog that matches you and your home.

If you are on Facebook, we will also add you to our “Fostering with northern
Hope” group page where we post dogs needing a foster.

To learn more about what it is like to be a foster with Northern Hope
check out “Foster” tab on our website.

Question 2

Where can I find an application to adopt a dog?

Accepted Answer

All our dogs that are available for adoption can be found:
Facebook: under the photo album labelled “Current Adoptable Dogs” Instagram: under the Highlight labelled “Adoptables” 
Our Website: under the tab labelled “Adoptables”
Our Instagram page - under the 'Highlights' button labelled Adoptables.

The link to each dog’s adoption application is embedded in their adoptable profile/bio when they are posted either to our website our social media pages.

NOTE: We do not accept generic or “open” applications at this time (i.e. application not specific to a particular dog). We process applications on a dog by dog basis, to try and make the best possible matches based on what each dog needs and who specifically applies for that dog because of the dogs bio.

Question 3

I’m having trouble filling out the foster/adoption application?

Accepted Answer

Our applications work best from a deskstop computer. If you are using a Smartphone, try switching to a desktop or laptop computer. For some reason the database service we use has some difficulties with Smartphones.

Question 4

What are your adoption fees?

Accepted Answer

Puppies: Our adoption fee for puppies is $600+a $100 deposit refundable on proof of spay neuter when the puppy is old enough.
Puppies come with at least their first round of vaccinations (depending on their age they may have received more), treated for internal and external parasites, and will a clean bill of health from a certified veterinarian.

Adults: The fee for adults is $500. Adult dogs come fully vaccinated, treated for internal and external parasites, have a clean bill of health come spayed/neutered.

Medical puppy/adult: The adoption fee for medical dogs is $500 +/- a $100 deposit refundable on proof of spay/neuter if the dog has not been altered.

Our medical dogs will already have undergone complete investigation with certified veterinarians and specialists where applicable, diagnosis and have their medical issue fully managed before they are available for adoption.

This means that we are able to be fully transparent about  their needs and give you a reasonable expectation of long-term expenses associated with their medical issue.

Examples of medical dogs might include:
	Amputee
	Pre-existing diagnosis (e.g. epilepsy, diabetes, megaesophagus, etc)
	Severe allergies

NOTE: All dogs that come into our care complete medical quarantines (2 weeks or more), undergo medical examinations by NHDRS vet partners, and receive up to date vaccinations, deworming, flea/tick preventatives. All dogs are deemed healthy prior to adoption, with all known medical conditions treated/resolved (if able). Dogs medical status and veterinarian records will be provided to adopters.

Question 5

Can you please add me to the list for any future adoptions that come up?

Accepted Answer

As a small, volunteer run rescue, we just don’t have the resources to maintain a waitlist. The best way to stay up to date is to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages and check in regularly or to turn on notifications for new posts. 
 
Finding an adoptable: All our dogs that are available for adoption will be posted under the  photo album labelled “Current Adoptable Dogs” on Facebook, under the Highlight  labelled “Adoptables” on Instagram and here on our website under the Adoptables tab. We keep these up to date so you can be certain  which dogs are currently available.

Question 6

Will I be contacted if I am not a successful applicant for a dog I applied for  adopting?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, we just don’t have the resources to contact everyone who applies for our lovely pups to let them know the outcome. We will contact the successful applicant within a week of the application period closing.

Question 7

Are you able to give me feedback on why my application was not chosen?

Accepted Answer

We are unable to provide specific feedback on why an application wasn't selected, except in cases where it was clearly inappropriate. We value your authentic and genuine responses and aim to avoid influencing your answers in any way.

If your application isn’t chosen, it doesn't mean there’s anything wrong with it. It simply means that another home was a better match for that particular dog's needs. We wish we could help every dog in need and find a match for every applicant.

Question 8

If I sent in an application in the past, do I need to fill out a new one for a different dog?"

Accepted Answer

Yes. As we process applications on a dog by dog basis, you will need to complete a new application for each dog you apply for. This ensures that your application does not miss getting put forward for review of a specific dog.

Question 9

Why do you only work with one potential adoption family at a time?

Accepted Answer

We only work with one adopter at a time for the following reasons:

1. To reduce inevitable heartbreak, by getting multiple families hopes up after meeting a puppy and having the chance to fall in love with it, only to dash it when only one of them can be selected.

2. Infection control guidelines. Only working with one adopter at a time reduces the amount of contact our fosters/dogs and adopters must have. This is particularly important for puppies that aren’t yet old enough to have all their vaccinations.

3. It reduces the number of transient people in the dog's life. These dogs have already been through such a huge number of changes, and it's not fair to bond them with multiple people.

4. It reduces the inconvenience to our fosters, who already give so much of their lives to help care for and raise our dogs. 
Northern Hope Dog Rescue Society is the one place in the world where these dogs needs come first, and that is one of our commitments to them

Question 10

Do you adopt to areas outside of Vancouver or Vancouver Island?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, we are not able to facilitate safe and responsible adoptions outside of greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island. 
Our commitments to our dogs is to support them throughout their lifespan.

This includes being able to recommend quality vets/kennels/dog trainers/dog walkers/daycares/etc and to connect you local team members or adopters for support.

All our resources and relationships are within greater Vancouver up to Abbotsford and parts of Vancouver Island which ensures that we can make sound and safe recommendations. We believe this is part of being a responsible dog rescue.

We also make every effort to accept Northern Hope dogs back should their adopters' living circumstance change in unforceable ways.  This has become increasingly difficult with the limited availability of fosters home, but we do prioritize Northern Hope alumni over surrenders from the general public.

If you aren't sure if you live within our catchment area please  contact us before applying.

Question 11

Do you accept donations such as food and toys? If so, how do I go about getting them to you?"

Accepted Answer

We sure do! Thank you for considering donating to NHDRS!

We have an amazon wish list: Click Here

We accept: 
• Sealed bags of food 
• Gently used and WASHED toys/bowls/bedding/leashes/collars/crates/harnesses.  
 
*** Please note we can only accept items that have been cleaned and sanitized out of  an abundance of caution and to protect our team member’s health and because we  don’t have the facilities/resources to do so at each of our supply stores spaces. Items  that are not sanitized will unfortunately be thrown out.

Question 12

How to I donate to NHDRS? Do you offer tax receipts?

Accepted Answer

Thank you so much for considering donating to Northern Hope Dog rescue. As a volunteer run, non-profit we rely on donations to support the care of our dogs and to be able to take on medical cases other rescues would not be able to manage.

Donations can be made in three ways:

Interac e-Transfer to: northernhope.drs@gmail.com 
By mailed cheque to:
Northern Hope Dog Rescue 
314- 819 Hamilton St. 
Vancouver BC,
V6N 6M2 
Via Paypal through our website HERE

YES, as a registered charity we DO offer tax receipts for donations over $25.

To receive a tax receipt you must provide us with:
Your full name
Mailing address to appear on the tax receipt.

Question 13

Do you have an Amazon Wishlist?

Accepted Answer

We do! Right here >>> AMAZON WISH LIST 
 
This is a fantastic way to donate to our dogs and protect the health and well being of our  communities as we continue to do our part in the fight against COVID 19. Some of  these supplies go towards supporting our frontline rescuers in Northern Communities to  ensure they have what they need to continue to do their incredibly important work.

Question 14

Where are the dogs kept? Do you have a Shelter?

Accepted Answer

We are a foster based organization, meaning that our dogs live in foster homes with families until they are adopted instead of a shelter. Our foster homes are spread throughout greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

Question 15

How much does it cost to foster?

Accepted Answer

Just your time and your love. Northern Hope provides all the supplies (beds, food, crates, toys, leash, collar, bowls, etc) you need to foster and all the medical/training costs, so as a foster there is no financial responsibility.

For more information on what fostering looks like with Northern Hope, check out the “Foster” tab on our webpage.

Question 16

Are the directors and team members paid? What is their salary?

Accepted Answer

We are a 100% volunteer run organization and directors and team members are not paid for their work. All our directors and team members are volunteers and give their time and skills to this work outside of their normal full time careers and jobs.

100% of adoption fees and donations we receive are used to support the dogs in our care and to programs we run (e.g. spay and return program, frontline support grant, vaccination/spay-neuter clinics, canine food bank, etc)

Check out our financial transparency page for more details!

Northern Hope Dog Rescue Society®

Frequently Asked Questions