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Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneralWhere are you Located? Hank's Haven Rescue Foundation is based in Simcoe County, Ontario. As a foster-based rescue, we do not operate a central shelter. All of our dogs live in loving foster homes across Ontario until they find their forever families. Adopters are required to visit the dog’s foster home for meet-and-greets and adoption pickup. Who Runs Hank's Haven Rescue Foundation? We are guided by a dedicated Board of Directors and a team of passionate volunteers who devote countless hours and personal resources to saving dogs and cats in need. Our volunteers are the heart of our organization, making everything we do possible. We value personal connections with the public and our partners, staying actively involved in every aspect of our work from start to finish. As a grassroots rescue, everyone—from the founder to our newest volunteer—plays a hands-on role, creating a close-knit, extended family dedicated to the welfare of the animals we serve. Funding and Donations As a not-for-profit charity organization, we rely entirely on the generosity of the public, local businesses, and partner organizations to support our mission of saving dogs and cats in need. We host online fundraising auctions through our Facebook page, and all adoption donations go directly to our veterinary care fund. Supporters can also make regular monthly pledges—donations as small as $5 or $10 per month make a meaningful difference in the lives of our animals. We recently started a new campaign in this regard, check it out on our socials or our Donate tab! Every donation is used exclusively for medical care, allowing us to take on serious medical cases that require urgent attention. All of our dogs are fully vetted before being adopted, meaning we cover their medical expenses upfront. Excess funds are used to care for our sanctuary dogs, who remain with us for the rest of their lives due to hospice or other long-term care needs. Your support ensures these dogs receive the loving care they deserve. How You Can Help There are many ways to get involved with Hank’s Haven Rescue Foundation: Fostering: Donations:
Volunteering: Where Do Our Dogs Come From? Our dogs come from a variety of sources, including local OSPCAs, Humane Societies, municipal shelters, and owner surrenders. We work closely with these organizations, along with other reputable rescues, to help animals in need throughout our community. In the past, Hank's Haven also rescued dogs from other provinces and internationally, including a long-standing partnership with our sister rescues in Georgia. We worked with them for many years to bring dogs in need to loving homes in Canada. However, due to current circumstances, we have temporarily halted all international rescues to focus our efforts locally in Ontario and across Canada. We continue to prioritize dogs that are in urgent need, including bully breeds, which are among the most frequently euthanized dogs in North America. We carefully select the dogs we bring into our care: they must be good with people and other dogs, and they are fully screened to ensure they are free of parasites or disease. At Hank's Haven, our mission has always been simple: rescue animals in need, regardless of where they are, and find them loving, forever homes. We are grateful to be able to share these amazing dogs with our community and to see them thrive in their new families. Why So Much Screening Before Fostering or Adopting? At Hank's Haven, our top priority is ensuring the best possible fit for both you and the dog. Our high adoption success rate is largely due to the careful screening we conduct for each family. Many dogs end up in shelters because of issues such as lack of training, lifestyle changes (new baby, marriage, relocation), cost of ownership, or insufficient time for care. Our goal is to ensure that adoptive families fully understand the realities of dog ownership and are ready to make a lifelong commitment. Welcoming a pet into your home -- whether for fostering or adoption -- is a significant responsibility, and we want to make sure you are prepared. Once approved, families are eligible for both fostering and adoption, and fosters are given preference before a dog or cat is listed for adoption. Becoming part of Hank's Haven means joining our extended family, and we promise the screening process is worth it. Your patience and understanding during this process are greatly appreciated. Vetting Information All dogs and cats adopted through Hank's Haven are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and microchipped before going to their new homes. Vaccinations:
All animals are examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to adoption. Any necessary tests are performed and included in your adoption package. Dogs imported from Georgia (or any heartworm hotspot), come with three months of flea, tick, and heartworm prevention due to the higher prevalence of heartworm in that region. This ensures a proactive start to their care in Canada. Pet Licenses & Microchipping All dogs adopted from Hank's Haven are microchipped. Hank's Haven will be listed as a "guardian" on the registration, however, it is the adopters responsibility to register their information to the microchip based on the information provided at the time of adoption and to continuously update as necessary as contact information changes. Pet licensing is the responsibility of the owner and is mandated by your municipality. Be sure to register your dog with your local city or town, if applicable. Important: Please check your municipality for any limits on the number of pets allowed in your dwelling. How to Rehome your Dog or Cat If you need to rehome your dog or cat, it's critical not to offer them as "Free to a Good Home." Unfortunately, this is the most common way animals fall into the hands of people with harmful intentions, including:
Your pet has the best chance of a safe, loving future if rehomed with a trusted family member, friend, or through a reputable rescue organization. If surrender is necessary, always be honest about your pet's health, behaviour, and history. Misrepresenting these details can place the animal at risk and create serious challenges for the organization taking them in. Hank's Haven is a foster-home-based rescue, and our volunteers care for animals in private homes with existing pets and children. For this reason: We are unable to take animals with serious behavioural issues or aggression, as we do not have the facilities to manage these cases safely. Dogs with a history of biting or severe aggression present a significant liability in a foster home environment. We encourage you to reach out regardless - even if we cannot take the animal directly, we can help you find a suitable alternative or recommend professional trainers. In many cases, a little guidance and intervention can help a pet remain safely in their current home, which is always preferable for their well-being. If surrendering your pet to Hank's Haven:
Our priority is always what is best for the animal, and we approach each situation without judgment. If you've tried everything and the placement isn't working, we will do our best to help find a safer, more suitable home. Fostering QuestionsWhy Become a Foster for Hank's? Fostering is one of the most important and impactful roles in rescue. Since Hank’s does not operate a physical shelter, our network of dedicated volunteer fosters is essential — without them, we couldn’t save as many dogs as we do. Fostering is also incredibly rewarding. By opening your home to a dog in need, you are:
A foster home offers a far more nurturing environment than many shelters can provide. In shelters, dogs can become stressed and overlooked due to the noise and activity, but in a home setting, their true personalities shine, allowing potential adopters to see the dog’s best qualities. Fostering isn’t just about helping a dog — it’s about changing lives, one home at a time. What Happens After You Submit a Foster Application Once we receive your foster application, we’ll send you an email confirmation to let you know it has been received. Next, our volunteers will:
Please note that Hank’s is entirely volunteer-run, and many of our volunteers also work full-time. For that reason, we’re only able to contact applicants who have been selected to move forward in the process. We receive many wonderful applications, and our team carefully reviews each one to find the best possible match for every animal in our care. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding — and your willingness to open your home to a pet in need. Foster-to-Adopt (FTA) Program Our Foster-to-Adopt (FTA) program allows potential adopters to welcome a dog or cat into their home on a trial basis before making a lifelong commitment. This approach helps ensure that both you and the animal are the right match. The process is similar to our standard fostering program. As a FTA, you will foster the animal for a minimum of three weeks. During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know their personality, needs, and how they fit into your home and lifestyle. After the three-week period:
Every animal is unique — some may need less time to settle in, while others may need a little longer. However, a three-week period is typically enough to gain a good understanding of whether the placement is a strong match. Adoption QuestionsWhat to Consider Before Adopting a Dog: Adopting a dog is a major, long-term commitment, and it’s important that everyone in the household is on board with the decision. Take time to ask yourself: Is this the right time for our family? Do we fully understand the emotional, financial, and time commitments involved in caring for a pet over many years? It’s worth taking a moment to really think about what qualities matter most to you in a dog — such as size, breed, age, activity level, and temperament. Having a clear idea of what you’re looking for will help ensure a great match for both your family and your future dog. Here are a few other key things to consider before adopting:
Taking the time to carefully consider these questions helps ensure that when you adopt, it’s a decision that brings lasting happiness to both you and your new companion. Finding the Right Fit Before adopting, take some time to thoroughly read the dog’s bio or profile to learn about their personality, energy level, and specific needs. Each of our dogs is unique, and we want to ensure their temperament and lifestyle requirements align well with yours. If you have any questions about a particular dog — or about what to expect during the adoption process — please don’t hesitate to reach out via social media or email. Our team and the dog’s foster family are happy to provide additional insight to help you determine whether the dog will be a great fit for your home, family, and daily routine. Adopting with Children? If you’re looking for a dog who is well-suited to living with children, this will be clearly noted in the dog’s bio. Additionally, the dog’s foster home can provide valuable, firsthand insight into how the dog interacts with kids of different ages. It’s important to remember that children should be taught how to interact respectfully and safely with dogs — regardless of breed, size, or temperament — before bringing one into your home. This helps create a positive experience for both your family and your new pet. We’re happy to provide resources, links, and tips on introducing dogs and children, setting boundaries, and fostering healthy, safe relationships between them. Commitment to Training We've recently implemented a new policy which requires all adopters — even those with prior dog experience — to enroll their new dog in obedience classes. Training provides more than just good manners; it helps you and your dog build a strong, trusting relationship in a positive, structured, and social environment. It’s important to remember that not every breed or individual dog thrives in every setting. Our team takes great care to match each animal to the right home and lifestyle, and if we feel a particular dog or cat may not be the best fit, we’ll be honest with you. If you’re an approved adopter, we’ll work closely with you to help find the perfect match for your household. I’m Leery of Adopting an Adult Dog, as I Don’t Know the Dog’s History. What Do You Do to Determine if the Dog is Temperamentally Sound? We completely understand your concern — it’s natural to wonder about a dog’s history when adopting an adult. One of the biggest advantages of adopting through a rescue like ours is that our dogs are fostered in real homes rather than in kennels. This allows us to truly get to know each dog as an individual. Our founder, an accredited trainer, assesses all dogs upon intake to gain a clear understanding of their individual needs, strengths, and boundaries. This ensures appropriate placement in foster homes and offers reassurance to future adopters. While in foster care, our animals are observed in a variety of situations and environments. Their foster families carefully observe and report:
While no one can ever offer absolute guarantees when it comes to behavior, we take every precaution to ensure our dogs are thoroughly evaluated before adoption. We also make sure to share all known information with potential adopters — the good, the bad, and everything in between. Every home is unique, with its own mix of people, pets, and routines. Our goal is to make the best possible match by pairing each dog with an adopter whose lifestyle and environment will help them thrive. What is Involved in the Adoption Process? We’re thrilled that you’re considering adopting! Our goal is to ensure every match is the perfect fit — both for the animal and for you. 1. Submit an ApplicationTo begin the process, please complete our adoption application. While we do our best to respond within 48 hours, please note that we are a 100% volunteer-run organization. Many of our team members balance rescue work with full-time jobs, so we truly appreciate your patience and understanding. 2. Reference & Home CheckOnce we receive your application, our team will:
3. Meet & GreetIf your application is approved to move forward, we’ll arrange a meet and greet with the dog and their foster family. This is a great opportunity to see how you connect and to ask any questions about the dog’s personality and needs. 4. Final Review & Adoption DecisionAfter the meet and greet, if both you and the foster agree that it’s a good match, our team will review your application and make a final adoption decision. We’ll then guide you through the final steps to officially welcome your new family member home! What are your Adoption Fees? At Hank's Haven, we strive to keep our adoption fees reasonable while ensuring every animal receives exceptional care, medical attention, and enrichment before finding their forever home. All veterinary expenses and any other necessary care are covered prior to adoption. In addition to our adoptable animals, we also operate a sanctuary program for medically compromised pets, allowing them to live out their remaining days in the comfort of a loving hospice foster home. Our organization has specialized in special needs and medical cases, and we frequently respond to urgent and emergency situations. We also coordinate transportation for many of our dogs, which contributes to overall costs. Each of these factors has been carefully considered when determining our adoption fees. The past year has presented significant challenges — fundraising has declined while veterinary and operational expenses have increased. In order to continue providing the highest standard of care for our animals and to keep our doors open, our adoption fees are as follows (effective May 1, 2021):
What’s Included:Dogs
Because Georgia is a known heartworm hotspot, it is vital that adopters continue monthly prevention for at least one year after treatment or arrival. We will review these details thoroughly with adopters before finalizing the adoption. Cats
All animals adopted from our care are examined by a veterinarian prior to adoption and receive a clean bill of health. Any special needs cases will come with full details regarding ongoing or specialized care. Additionally, any dogs that tested positive for heartworm before coming to us are fully treated prior to arrival. Adopters simply continue the maintenance phase of the treatment under our guidance. Why Can’t I Meet the Animal Before Submitting an Application? To minimize disruption to our animals and foster families, private meet-and-greets are only offered to applicants who have completed the screening portion of the adoption process. Occasionally, we host adoption events where anyone can meet the animals; however, animals cannot be taken home directly from these events. All adopters must submit an online application and complete the screening process. What Are the Adoption Fees Used For? As a non-profit organization, adoption fees help cover the costs of bringing animals into our care, including veterinary care. Some animals require additional medical attention, such as spay/neuter procedures, teeth extractions, surgery, or ongoing medication for specific conditions. If I Adopt an Animal and Can No Longer Care for It, Will You Take It Back? You must notify Hank's immediately prior to rehoming your pet. We have a lifelong commitment to our animals and will make best efforts to welcome them back into our care if we're able - this is dependent on our trainer's assessment of the animal and availability of an approved and compatible foster home. Do I Get My Adoption Fee Back if I Return My Pet? No. Adoption fees support the extensive veterinary care, special diets, and ongoing support required for our animals, including sanctuary dogs who stay with us for life. We ask adopters to carefully consider their decision and to seek professional help for behavioral or medical challenges before returning a dog. Exceptions may be made in rare cases, such as:
Please note that if a dog causes serious harm to people or other animals, provincial guidelines may require us to follow DOLA procedures, including euthanasia. In all cases, we work individually with adopters to find a more suitable match whenever possible. Animal Return Policy We understand that sometimes circumstances change, and you may need to return an animal. To ensure the safety and well-being of all our animals, the following policies apply:
Our goal is to support both you and your pet, while ensuring every animal can find a safe and loving home. I Don’t Have a Fenced Yard—Will That Automatically Disqualify Me? Not at all. Many of our dogs are adopted by families living on country properties, in suburban areas, or in condos/apartments without fenced yards. Some dogs do require a fenced yard, and this will be clearly noted in the dog’s bio—please review it carefully before applying. If I Submit an Adoption Application, Am I Guaranteed to Get the Animal? No. Submitting an application does not guarantee adoption. We typically review one application at a time for each animal, and not every application is approved. Once an application is closed, we consider the next most suitable applicant for that animal. Why Do I Have to Visit the Foster Home to Meet the Animal? We are not a shelter—our animals live in private homes with dedicated volunteer foster parents. Since our foster families generously give their time and care to these animals, we ask that adopters make the effort to visit them in their foster home, where the animal feels most comfortable and relaxed. Why Do You Use Foster Homes Instead of a Shelter? There are many benefits to caring for animals in foster homes rather than in a shelter:
Do You Deliver or Transport Adopted Animals to Homes Outside Southern Ontario? No. As a volunteer-run, non-profit organization, we are unable to fly or transport animals to their new homes. The location of the animal and its foster home are listed either in the animal's bio on our website or their social media posts. If your adoption application is approved, you will need to travel to meet and pick up your pet in person. |
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