FAQ'S
Q: Where are you located?
A: We operate across the entire province of Alberta with our main locations being Calgary, Edmonton and Medicine Hat. While our foster homes are geographically spread, we work hard to find suitable homes for our animals throughout the province.
Q:Can I come to your shelter to see your adoptable animals?
A: We are a foster-based rescue, meaning our animals live in loving foster homes throughout Alberta. We don't have a physical shelter location for visits. To meet an animal you're interested in, please complete an adoption application. Once approved, we will arrange a meet-and-greet with the animal in their foster home.
Q:Why do I need to submit an application before meeting a Ruff Start animal?
A: We understand you're excited to meet our adoptable animals! We require an application before scheduling a meet-and-greet to help ensure the best possible match for both you and the pet. Submitting an application allows us to learn more about your lifestyle, experience, and home environment. This information helps our dedicated volunteers efficiently connect you with a pet whose needs align with yours. After receiving your application, we'll schedule a phone call to discuss the animal you're interested in, explain our adoption process in detail, and answer any questions you may have. This process helps us make the most of our volunteers' time and ensures that a meet-and-greet is a valuable experience for everyone involved. There's absolutely no pressure to adopt after submitting an application; it's simply a step to help us find the perfect furry friend for your family. A successful adoption requires agreement from you, our adoption coordinator, and the pet's foster home.
Q: Where do your animals come from?
A: We rescue animals from a variety of situations including overcrowded shelters, stray animals, owner surrenders and backyard breeding situations. We focus on helping animals in these desperate situations and prioritize based on available foster homes and the urgent need of the animal.
Q: What is the adoption process and fee?
A: You can find all the details about our process, fees, what the fees include and more on our processes and fee’s page.
Q: If I make a donation, where does it go?
A : Almost 100% of our monetary donations go directly towards medical bills for the animals in care to pay for things like spay/neuter, vaccines, dewormers, microchips, surgeries and more. Other things monetary donations cover are training, grooming, specialty foods, supplies and supplements. Supply donations go into our inventory across the province and get distributed to our foster families. Some supply donations go to helping feed and care for stray animals across Alberta.
Q: I'd like to surrender a pet, can you take them?
A: We understand that sometimes circumstances change, and you may need to rehome your pet. While we strive to help as many animals as possible, our rescue is foster-based, meaning we rely entirely on the generosity of our foster families. Therefore, our ability to accept surrendered animals depends on several factors: the availability of suitable foster homes, the urgency of the animal's situation, and our current funding to cover medical care and other essential needs. To determine if we can assist you, please complete our owner surrender application as thoroughly as possible. (https://www.ruffstartanimalrescue.com/owner-surrender-application) Providing complete and accurate information will greatly help our intake coordinator assess your pet's needs and the feasibility of accepting them into our program. An intake coordinator will contact you via email to discuss your situation and the possibility of intake. We prioritize animals in urgent need, so please understand that acceptance is not guaranteed.