How to Adopt a Puppy or Dog in Canada | PetzLover
To adopt a puppy or dog in Canada, choose an SPCA, humane society, city shelter or rescue, fill in its application, meet the dog, pass any home check and pay the adoption fee, which ranges from C$185 at Toronto Animal Services to C$700 for a puppy at the Capital Regional District shelter in Greater Victoria. The fee often covers spay or neuter, first vaccines and a microchip, which would cost more on their own.
Adoption suits most households, including first-time owners, because staff and foster carers can tell you how a dog actually behaves. This guide explains shelters and rescues, the steps, fees, rescue dogs imported from abroad and how to help a new dog through its first weeks and its first Canadian winter.
Key points
- Shelters keep dogs on site; many rescues place dogs in foster homes, so fosters can describe daily life with the dog.
- Fees vary widely by place and age, from C$185 to C$215 at Toronto Animal Services to C$550 to C$700 at the Capital Regional District shelter.
- Rescue dogs imported for adoption count as commercial imports, and the CFIA has barred commercial dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies since September 2022.
- Plan a calm first few weeks and a vet visit in the first week, especially for a dog from abroad.
Should you adopt from a shelter or a rescue in Canada?
| Where | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| SPCA or humane society | Dogs live in an adoption centre, where staff assess health and behaviour | The BC SPCA, for example, includes spay or neuter, core vaccines and a microchip in its fee |
| City animal services | Municipal shelters take in strays and surrendered dogs | Fees can be low, such as C$185 to C$215 at Toronto Animal Services |
| Foster-based rescue | Dogs live in volunteer homes until adopted | Fosters know the dog's habits; some rescues bring dogs from other provinces or abroad |
| Breed rescue | Volunteers who place one breed | Useful if you want a particular breed as an adult dog |
You can also search dogs for adoption by location and save the search to get alerts about new listings.
Which dog suits your household?
- Apartment or condo: an adult dog with known calm habits often settles better than a puppy. Check your lease or condo rules first.
- Children: ask for a dog that has lived with children or been assessed around them.
- First-time owners: an adult dog from a foster home comes with the most information.
- Cold winters: short-coated, small, senior and very young dogs need a coat and short outings in deep cold. The Ontario SPCA's rule of thumb is that if it is too cold for you, it is too cold for your dog.
- Size and local rules: in Quebec, for example, dogs of 20 kg or more must be walked on a harness or halter, and every dog must be registered with the municipality.
How does the dog adoption process work?
- Browse dogs online and read each profile carefully.
- Fill in an application about your home, family, other pets, schedule and experience.
- Talk with staff or the foster carer, who should tell you honestly about the dog.
- Meet the dog, and bring any resident dog for an introduction if asked.
- Allow a home check or video tour if the group requires one.
- Sign the adoption contract, pay the fee and collect the records.
Many adoption contracts ask you to return the dog to the group, rather than rehome it yourself, if you can no longer keep it. Read that clause before you sign.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog in Canada?
Fees depend on the organization, the region and the dog's age. The Capital Regional District shelter in Greater Victoria lists C$700 for a puppy up to six months, C$600 for a dog from six months to two years and C$550 for a dog over two, including spay or neuter, first vaccines, deworming, flea treatment, a microchip and six weeks of pet insurance. Toronto Animal Services lists C$185 for a male dog and C$215 for a female.
Then budget for ongoing care. The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association's 2025 survey put first-year vet care for a puppy above C$2,200, and many cities charge a yearly licence, for example C$25 for a spayed or neutered dog in Toronto and C$45 in Calgary.
Can you adopt a rescue dog from another country?
Many Canadian rescues bring dogs in from abroad. A study cited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association estimated that 9,000 to 17,500 dogs a year were imported between 2013 and 2019, a rise of more than 400 per cent over that period.
- Rescue dogs imported for adoption are commercial imports. Since September 28, 2022 the CFIA has refused commercial dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies, a list that includes India, Nigeria and Ukraine.
- Commercial dogs under eight months imported for resale, which includes adoption, must meet the CFIA's permit and certificate requirements.
- The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association warns that imported dogs can carry diseases such as rabies, Brucella canis, Leishmania and heartworm without showing signs, and recommends examination and testing by a Canadian vet after arrival.
- Ask the rescue for the dog's import papers, vet records and test results before you commit.
What should you expect in the first weeks after adopting?
- Keep the first days quiet: a set routine, a bed or crate in a calm corner and short walks on a leash.
- Many rescues describe the adjustment as three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the routine and three months to feel at home.
- Book a vet visit in the first week and ask about rabies vaccination; Ontario requires it for dogs three months and older.
- License the dog with your city, or in Quebec register it with your municipality, and update the microchip record into your name.
- Introduce winter slowly: a coat for short-coated dogs, boots or a rinse after salted sidewalks, and a leash in snowstorms, when the Ontario SPCA warns dogs can lose their scent and get lost.
If you are open to an owner's adult dog instead, see taking in a rehomed dog; if you would rather buy a puppy, see how to buy a puppy. Groups and owners placing dogs can read listing a dog for adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to adopt a dog in Canada?
It varies by shelter and the dog's age. Toronto Animal Services lists C$185 to C$215, while the Capital Regional District shelter in Greater Victoria lists C$550 to C$700 with spay or neuter, first vaccines, a microchip and six weeks of pet insurance included.
Why do rescues ask so many questions before you adopt a dog?
They want the placement to last, so they match the dog's needs to your home, schedule and experience. Honest answers help them suggest a dog that suits you, even if it is not the first one you asked about.
What is a home check for dog adoption?
A volunteer visits or video-tours your home to see where the dog will sleep, how it will be contained and whether there are hazards. It is a conversation, not an inspection of how tidy you are.
Can I adopt a puppy rather than an adult dog?
Yes, shelters and rescues place puppies too, though demand is high. An adult dog usually comes with a known size, energy level and house manners, which suits many first-time owners.
Is it safe to adopt a dog imported from abroad?
It can be, if the rescue follows CFIA rules and the dog has a full vet check after arrival. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association warns that imported dogs can carry diseases without signs, so ask for records and testing.
What if the adopted dog does not work out?
Contact the shelter or rescue first; many contracts ask you to return the dog to them. They can also offer advice or suggest a trainer before you decide.
Helpful guides
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Puppy or Dog for Adoption in CanadaSet adoption criteria and a fee that reflects the vet work done, write an honest profile, screen applicants, sign an adoption contract with a return clause and follow up when you list a dog for adoption in Canada.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Puppy or Dog in CanadaMeet the puppy and its mother where it was raised, check papers and the seller, pay only after you have seen the dog, and budget for first-year costs before you buy a puppy or dog in Canada.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Puppies or Dogs in CanadaCheck provincial and city rules, keep puppies with their mother until at least eight weeks, have them vet-checked and identified, price honestly, screen buyers and hand over with a signed agreement and records.
Pet for FreeHow to Get a Free Puppy or Dog Safely in CanadaMeet the owner and the dog where it lives, ask for vet records and the reason it is free, never pay shipping or fees up front, and budget for vet care, licensing and winter gear before you take a free dog in Canada.
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Puppy or Dog for Free Without Risk in CanadaScreen every applicant, see their home in person or by video, sign a short rehoming agreement and hand the dog over in person with its records and microchip details when you give away a puppy or dog in Canada.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Puppy or Dog in CanadaAsk the owner about the dog's history, health and behaviour, meet it in its home, leave with records, a signed transfer note and microchip details, then give a rehomed dog in Canada weeks to settle.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Puppy or Dog Responsibly in CanadaCheck whether a breeder or rescue contract applies, write an honest listing, disclose health and behaviour in writing, screen applicants and hand your dog over in person with records and a signed agreement.
Pet for MatingHow to Find a Mate or Stud for Your Dog in CanadaChoose a healthy dog of the same breed with written health results and a negative Brucella canis test, check CKC and provincial rules, and sign a stud contract before the mating.
Pet for MatingHow to Advertise Your Dog for Mating in CanadaFinish your breed's health tests and a Brucella canis test, decide your fee and terms, post an honest ad with registration and results, screen every enquiry and sign a contract before you offer your dog for mating in Canada.
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Dog Wanted" Ad in CanadaMessage the person, ask what dog they want and why, check their answers and home before sharing your address, refuse odd payment requests, and hand the dog over in person with a written agreement and records.
Pet WantedHow to Post a "Dog Wanted" Ad and Get Replies in CanadaSay exactly what dog you want, your budget, location and how far you will travel, describe your home honestly, and meet any dog in person before paying when you post a dog wanted ad in Canada.