"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
-- Mark Twain

general HTR guidelines and principles

While no two rescue processes ever go the exact same way, Happy Tails Rescue makes its best efforts to follow certain guidelines and principles when accepting a dog into its rescue program and when placing a dog into a new forever home.

The following is a brief overview of such general information and practices which Happy Tails Rescue strives to enforce and adhere to under normal circumstances:

Adoption Process:

Interested parties will be required to complete an adoption application prior to being introduced to any potential foster dogs.  It is highly recommended that an application be completed as soon as possible as Happy Tails Rescue makes a point to "match" the dog to the best possible forever home depending on special considerations as the dog's compatibility with other pets, children, history/experiences of the past, special needs etc.  While we make every effort to work adoptions with perspective families on a first come/first serve basis....we will always place a dog with its new family based on the "fit" or "match" between the dog and new the new home.  (FYI - References are requested on the application and will be tested).

After the application is reviewed and our rescue decides it would like to go to the next step of discovering more about the person's potential match with one of our foster dogs, they will be contacted or asked to contact a Happy Tails Rescue representative for an interview.  It is also considered normal and a representative may request to arrange a visit to your home to ensure that a healthy environment exists and will be provided to any dog potentially adopted from Happy Tails Rescue.  An in-depth telephone discussion will occur with perhaps one or two Happy Tails Rescue representatives and should it be decided to move forward, you will be invited to come to the foster home to meet the dog.  

You will be asked to bring your family with you as it is important to our rescue to ensure there is a definite positive chemistry between the dog and all members of the dog's potential new home.  Following this process - Happy Tails Rescue will advise you about next steps for adoption if all goes well and the rescue would like to proceed with the adoption with your family.  All new guardians adopting one of our foster dogs will be required to execute their application which states that they will absolutely return the dog to our rescue should things not work out or the adopting party has a change of heart.  This executed document is required at the time of adoption along with the full Adoption Fee.

Happy Tails Rescue will always accept a dog back into our rescue and insist all parties agree to this arrangement.

Additionally, Happy Tails Rescue will always make its volunteers and members available to you following an adoption to answer questions and advise you and your family as everyone settles into a new routine and environment.  We always look forward to receiving updates, pictures and stories from families that have adopted from us and like to post success stories on our website and share these wonderful stories with others considering adopting a rescued dog from Happy Tails Rescue.

How Dogs are Accepted into the Happy Tails Rescue Program

Owner Surrenders:

Happy Tails Rescue recognizes that it is a fact of life that, for a variety of reasons, owners are forced to or will elect to surrender their dog to a rescue group should they no longer wish to or be in a position to continue to care for the dog(s).

Under such circumstances, Happy Tails Rescue will elect to accept the dog into its rescue program if the party surrendering the dog agrees to execute a surrender agreement which basically documents that they are relinquishing all responsibility of the dog to our rescue group and that the dog is now under the care of our rescue and will be cared for and placed into a new home as quickly as possible and whenever possible, notwithstanding any severe health or behavioural issues that would make placement not possible. Such documentation provides for a clear understanding between the two parties that the person(s) surrendering the dog will not be in a legal position to "change" their mind nor challenge the decisions made for the dog by the rescue.

Stray/Abandoned Dogs:

The first step in such a situation would call for parties to try to locate the owner(s) of the dog that is found without its owner(s) and to immediately contact the local SPCA and/or Humane Society.  It is advisable to have the local SPCA/Humane Society take the dog into its care for the short term for several reasons: (1) Owners that have lost the dog will likely check such facilities in the area for their lost pet and will be therefore easier to find; (2) often such dogs require immediate attention (i.e. medical care of food) and such organizations are empowered to provide such services without consequence from owners that may come forward while still under "stray status"; and (3) most SPCA's and Humane Society have wonderful adoption programs of their own with substantial funding behind them to support such efforts.  Most organizations work very closely with rescue's such as Happy Tails Rescue and will relinquish the dog to our rescue if it feels its facilities are overcrowded or that  we can more effectively place the dog through our rescue program.   Once it has been determined that the dog has indeed been abandoned either because the owner's have not been found nor come forward voluntarily,  Happy Tails Rescue can then freely elect to accept the dog into our rescue program without consequence.

Dogs in Shelters Targeted for Euthanasia (Put to Sleep):

SPCA's and shelters will often contact us about specific small canine breeds our rescue focuses upon that have been in their facility for some time and which may be at risk of being put down due to older age status or health challenges that are not able to overcome directly.  In such situations, rather than see the dog put down, such organizations will work with our rescue and release the dog to us for a very nominal administrative fee when there is the potential that a dog could be rehabilitated through our rescue and eventually successfully placed in a new forever home.

Happy Tails Rescue Volunteers/Foster Families

Happy Tails Rescue volunteers and foster families/persons are accepted based upon their ability to properly, lovingly and effectively care for the dogs accepted into our rescue program.  Parties will only be accepted as a member of the team after they and their family undergo an in-depth process including a written application submission, an interview and home visit by an active, authorized Happy Tails Rescue representative.  Happy Tails Rescue reserves the right to select members based upon its satisfaction of the family/individual wishing to actively participate in the efforts of Happy Tails Rescue.  Most volunteers and members will have an "@happytailsrescue.ca" email address.  Happy Tails Rescue shall restrict and control the responsibilities and empowerment of such volunteers and reserves the right to both extend and limit such responsibilities as it deems appropriate.