How to Adopt a Pet in Toronto

Have you ever adopted a pet? It's one of the most rewarding act of kindness you could ever do. When you adopt a pet, you save a life and you give a pet another chance to have a home. Whether you are looking for a dog, a cat, a rabbit, or an iguana, you can find them in animal shelters. While some shelters only take dogs and cats, most shelters have a wide selection of pets of all ages waiting to be adopted. Purebreds? Yes, the shelters have them too. According to The Humane Society of the United States, purebreds account for 25 to 30 percent of a shelter's dog population.

A pet is an excellent companion and can boost a pet owner's health and mental well-being. Did you know that by just spending time with an animal can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels? Yes, it's true. It is well known that stress, especially chronic stress, can increase your cholesterol and can lead to high blood pressure. Several studies involving animals and people suffering from high blood pressure, or hypertension, found that petting a dog or cat or even just watching a fish swim in its bowl lowered blood pressure dramatically. And less stress can help lower your cholesterol levels. In addition, adopting a dog can help you lose those extra few pounds by walking and playing with your dog, which give you and your pet some exercise.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 3-4 million cats and dogs are euthanized by shelters each year. In Canada, 400,000 unwanted animals are euthanized each year, at least two-thirds of them are cats. Isn't that heart-breaking?

So please, adopt a pet and save a life... and maybe yours too.

How to adopt a pet in Toronto

In Toronto, you can adopt a pet from the Toronto Animal Services or from The Toronto Humane Society.

Toronto Animal Centre Hours:

All Four Centres are open seven days per week, from 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Closed on statutory holidays and Remembrance Day.

How to adopt a pet from the Toronto Animal Services

To adopt a pet from the Toronto Animal Services, you can view the current animals available online, but they cannot guarantee that all the animals listed will be available when you visit. The better way is to take some time to visit one of the Animal Centres where you can take your time viewing the animals in person.

There are four Animal Centres across Toronto.

1. West Region ("A" marker)
   146 The East Mall
   (Hwy. 427 & Dundas St. W.)
2. South Region ("B" marker)
   140 Princes' Blvd.
   (Horse Palace, Exhibition Place)
3. East Region ("C" marker)
   821 Progress Ave.
   (Hwy. 401 & Markham Rd.)
4. North Region ("D" marker)
   1300 Sheppard Ave. W.
   (Keele St. & Sheppard Ave. W.)

Once you've chosen a pet you would like to adopt, you will be required to complete an Adoption Questionnaire. The questionnaire is to ensure that the pet you have chosen is a good match for you and your lifestyle. If the pet is a good match, you will be able to take your new pet home. You will also need to provide a drivers licence or I.D. with your current address. Payment can be in the form of cash, debit, Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

the fees for adopting dogs and cats from the Toronto Animal Services are as follows:

DOGS

• Female Dogs including spay fee, taxes and licence - $267.95
• Male Dogs including neuter fee, taxes and licence - $234.05

CATS

• Cats including taxes, licence, and more - $99.75

There is no seniors' discount on adoption fees, only on licence fees.

The adoption fees include a veterinary health check, vaccinations, sterilization, a microchip and rabies vaccination. Residents of Toronto are required to purchase a dog or cat licence at the time of adoption. Those adopters residing outside the City of Toronto must purchase a licence in the their own community.

The fees for adopting other pets such as birds, fish, reptiles, rodents, etc., varies from $5 and up, according to kind and size.

Shelter adoption hours are:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - 12pm to 7pm

Thursday and Friday - 12pm to 8pm

Saturday and Sunday - 10am to 7pm

How to adopt a pet from The Toronto Humane Society

To adopt a pet from The Toronto Humane Society, you can check out what pets are available for adoption online at their Satellite Adoption Centre or you can take some time and visit their shelter located at 11 River Street in Toronto.

Please be aware that The Toronto Humane Society has a very strict policy for adoption.

First, you have to fill out an application, which you will need for your adoption interview. The staff member at the front desk will have to approve your application and you will be asked for a piece of photo ID which they will photocopy for security reasons. You will also have to provide them with at least two pieces of ID at the time of adoption, which must be government issued ID, containing proof of address (e.g. driver's license, passport, citizenship card, etc.). In addition, if you are renting your current housing, you will have to bring in some sort of proof that pets are allowed (e.g. lease agreement or letter on letterhead from landlord).

Then, once you have decided which pet to adopt, you will be have to go through a very thorough interview. If your application is accepted, congratulations! Your pet will be implanted with a microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) under the pet's skin to provide permanent pet identification. However, if your application is declined, the interviewer will tell you the reason why you are not able to adopt and you may speak to the manager to appeal.  

The fees for adopting dogs and cats are as follows:

Dogs

• Regular fee - $150
• Senior citizen fee - $100
• Fee for special needs and senior dogs (7yrs +) - $75

Cats

• Regular fee - $100
• Senior citizen fee - $75
• Fee for special needs and senior cats (10 yrs +) - $50

The fees for adopting other animals varies according to kind and size (e.g. hamster - $10, large parrot - $300).

Did you know? by Rosie2010

Did you know you can create your own HubPage?

Did you know you can be part of a great community, make friends and, share your knowledge and experience, and EARN MONEY through Adsense and other Affiliate programs?

Yes, you can! JOIN HUBPAGES NOW - CLICK HERE!