WCP wholeheartedly believes in open communication with our adopters. We are always here to provide support and to join you in celebrating your dogs’ successes!

When you apply to adopt with WCP, you agree to our “foster-to-adopt” process. This means that every adopter has 4 weeks to “foster” their pup before deciding if they’d like to make the adoption official If you need longer than 4 weeks to decide, we are happy to discuss extensions to the trial period.

Wondering what our process is? Take a quick read below!

Submit an Application to Adopt

Ready to adopt a furry friend? Start by clicking the “Adopt” button on a WCP dog’s profile. You will be redirected to an application form, which we ask you to fill out in as much detail as possible. 

If questions are left unanswered or if one of your answers indicates that your home isn’t suitable for a WCP dog, your application will be denied and you will be notified via email. Please understand that we do not make these decisions lightly and a denial is not necessarily a reflection on your ability to provide for a dog. A denial simply means that we aren’t confident a WCP rescue dog would be a good fit for you. If your application is denied, we highly recommend applying elsewhere and/or looking for a local dog who you can meet before adopting.

NOTE: there may be multiple applications for a single dog (‘cause they’re so dang cute!!). Please be aware that even if your phone interview and home check are successful, there is no guarantee you will be matched with the dog you applied for. As such, please list multiple dogs on your application to increase your chances of a successful match. 

Phone Interview

After your application is pre-screened, you will be contacted to arrange a Phone Interview. The purpose of the Phone Interview is to chat about the answers you provided on your application and to ask any clarifying questions. During the Phone Interview, we want to learn more about you, your lifestyle, your past dog experience, and what characteristics you are looking for in a dog. Don’t worry, we won’t take up too much of your time; the average interview only takes about 15 minutes. Once completed, the Phone Interviewer will report back to the WCP Adoption Team and they will determine if your application qualifies to proceed to the next step.

House Check

Once you have passed your Phone Interview, we will ask you to send us some photos of your home. Fear not, we don’t expect your house to look like a showhome! We are simply looking to see where your WCP pup would live and whether or not there are any potential safety hazards (escape areas etc.). Please provide photos and/or videos of all areas of your home (bedrooms, living room, kitchen, patio, basement, stairs, etc.) and your backyard, if applicable. If you have a fenced backyard, please take photos/video of the fencing so we can look for any potential escape risks. If we see any areas of concern, we will bring them to your attention and ask that you make any required  changes before your pup arrives. 

If you feel comfortable, we’d also love for you to send us a “selfie” so we can see your excited face(s)!

Approval

Presuming you pass your House Check, you will receive an Adoption Approval email from our WCP Adoption Team. Congratulations, WCP believes you will provide a love-filled, caring home for a rescue pup! 

NOTE: if the dog you originally applied for is no longer available for adoption, our team will suggest some alternative dogs to you and/or ask you to keep an eye on our website for a dog you’d like to pursue. 

Deposit 

A $100 CAD deposit is required in order for your dog to be reserved for you. This deposit is fully refundable as long as you inform WCP that you have changed your mind about adopting your pup before they are booked on a flight. The deposit is non-refundable if you decide to cancel the adoption after the dog has been booked on a flight. Please let us know right away if you change your mind about adopting.

Your deposit can be sent via E-Transfer or PayPal to accounting@wcpdogrescue.com. Please include your Dog's Name in the Memo section. We are set up for automatic deposits, so no need for a security question.

Once we have received your deposit, we will update your dogs’ profile to show “Pending Adoption” and will stop accepting any further applications for him/her. At this point, we will notify the Rescuer that a home has been found and request that they start looking for a flight volunteer to bring your pup to Vancouver or Seattle. 

Now you patiently wait for your dog to be booked on a flight. Wait times vary depending on the country of origin, however we will do our best to provide you with an estimated wait. Your dog may be added to a flight waitlist, depending on how many other dogs are waiting for flights. The Rescuer will work to find a traveller who is willing to add your dog as ‘extra luggage’ onto their ticket. We refer to these kind humans as “Flight Volunteers”. Meanwhile, your pup will be checked by a veterinarian who will issue a Certificate of Health and ensure your pup's shots are up to date. The vet will then approve the dog for travel and will provide all medical documentation, including your pup’s vaccination record.

Flight Confirmation & Final Payment

Once the Rescuer finds a flight for your dog, WCP will send you an email with your pup’s flight information. We will also send you specific instructions regarding airport pickup such as where you need to park, what time you need to be there, and what you need to bring with you. Don’t worry, we will tell you everything you need to know! 

At this stage, you will receive an invoice with a detailed adoption fee breakdown (including the $100 deposit you paid) and any applicable taxes. You can pay the invoice anytime between the date of issuance and the day before your pup arrives. 

We require you to sign an Adoption Contract before you pick up your dog.

Pickup & Take Your Pup Home!

Your pup’s “gotcha” day is finally here! You will pick your dog up at the airport  and take him/her home with you. 

Follow-Up & Post Adoption Support

Your WCP adoption experience doesn’t end the moment you take your dog home. As rescue pawrents ourselves, we know that the first few days, weeks, and months with your rescue pup can be challenging (and very rewarding!). We believe in providing ample post-adoption support and want to be a part of your dog’s journey.

Within 7 days of taking your dog home, you can expect a phone call from our Follow-Up Team. This is a great opportunity to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you need any help or support, WCP is here for you and your pup! 

We highly recommend consulting a trainer early on in your adoption to nip any unwanted behaviours in the bud. WCP can make trainer recommendations and provide support. We will offer a reduced rate with Unleashed Dog Training to conduct an in-person (Lower Mainland) follow-up session during the first month of adoption. For any out of town adopters, we will try to arrange a FaceTime or Skype call at a reduced rate istead. 

WCP wholeheartedly believes in open communication with our adopters. We are always here to provide support and to join you in celebrating your dogs’ successes! There is no expiration date on our post-adoption support.

**Note: all costs incurred during this 4-week period are the responsibility of the applicant.**

Please note: we only adopt to applicants in the Pacific Northwest (British Columbia and Washington).

The info included in each WCP bio is provided to us from the international rescuer. WCP does not have in-person access to overseas dogs and cannot always verify the accuracy of their descriptions, although we ask for video proof of a dog's attributes wherever possible. Every dog is an individual and can act differently in different situations based on the person(s) adopting them and the environment in which they live. 

WCP is unable to guarantee the accuracy of a dogs age and/or breed. These are strictly "best guesses" based on veterinary exams and their educated estimates.