How-To-Adopt

What is the cost of adoption and what is included?
The Pit Bulls for Life Foundation’s adoption fee is $300.
This includes:
Spaying or neutering
Vaccinations including rabies
Microchip identification

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE CONSIDERING ADOPTING
        Are you at least 18 years of age or older?
        Are you familiar with this particular breed? Energy Level? Age Span? Reputation?
        Are you prepared to take your dog to obedience classes?
        Do you live in a pitbull restricted or BSL area?
Check out the following link: www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/pets/restricted_dogs.aspx

We recommend before you consider adopting from us that you become familiar with the breed and the
reputation that they have. We pride ourselves on providing the public with advocates for the breed and
believe any dog is capable of doing so under the right leadership. If you would like to learn more about
the breed or canine leadership our behaviourists and local trainers can assist you before you consider
adopting.

How can I adopt from Pit Bulls for Life?
Our adoption protocol if not followed can become lengthy and complicated. We highly recommend you
follow the guidelines so that your pitty may come home sooner than later. Our adoption process is
intended to ensure that all new dogs placed in the home are going to be in the same home for the
lifetime of the newly adopted family member. The potential adopter must be at least 18 years of age.

        Fill out an adoption questionnaire
        The application if accepted will be followed by a telephone interview
        Home Check
        Meet and Greet
        Trial at home or immediate adoption
        Adoption finalization

The process starts by the potential adopter filling out an adoption questionnaire. Once the foundation
has received the questionnaire, a member of Pit Bulls for Life will contact you to discuss both your
questionnaire and the dog you are interested in adopting. Dogs are adopted based on suitability of the
dog and the family, not on a first come, first serve basis. If we feel this dog is not a suitable adoption we
will offer suggestions regarding other dogs we have in the program. After it is determined which dog the
adopters would like to meet, the foster home will contact you to discuss more about their foster dog and
set up a time to do a meet and greet at their home. We do ask that all members of the family attend the
meet and greet. A home check will be made during the adoption process either before or after the meet
and greet. A Pit Bulls for Life member will visit your home after contacting you. If the meet and greet goes
well at the foster home and you are still interested then a 2 week pre-adoption can be done as long as a
home check has already been made. You may take the potential foster dog home for a week and see
how they do. A Pit bulls for Life member will then contact you to finalize the adoption if you so choose to.

Pit Bulls for Life will not ship any dog to a potential home. If you live outside of the area that the foster dog
lives all family members of a potential adoption must come to the foster home to visit the dog that they
are interested in. Our foster homes are located throughout Alberta so be prepared to travel.

Two Week Pre-Adoption Program
Our 2 week Pre-Adoption Program is designed to ensure that the dog you are interested in, is the right
dog for you. This program is encouraged only for those seriously interested in adopting one of our dogs.
Before a pre-adoption date can take place, the other prerequisites outlined in the adoption protocol
must be fulfilled. We recommend this period to include a weekend as well as a day or two of your normal
working schedule. If you are interested in adopting the dog after the program or know beforehand this is
the dog for you, one of the Pit Bulls for Life representatives will come to your home and complete the
adoption. If you have decided that this is not the dog for your family the dog will be placed back into its
foster home and the Pit Bulls for Life team can determine if a pit bull is the breed of dog for you and if we
have a more suitable candidate.

Foster to Adopt Program
In some cases you apply to adopt a dog through our regular program but none of the dogs we have in
the program would be a suitable match. If this happens we offer the foster to adopt program where we
match you up with a dog that is in need of placement directly from a shelter. This program allows you to
be the foster home for this dog prior to adoption. As a foster home everything will be supplied for you as
any other foster homes would be and as a
foster home you would be responsible for ensuring that you get your foster dog to the spay / neuter and
vaccination appointment. Take a couple of weeks to decide if this is the dog for you and then we will
either place your foster dog up for adoption or finalize the adoption with you and pick up the foster
supplies. The dog will stay with you until we find a suitable home for his/her adoption or another foster
home is available for transfer.

Hospice Care Program
Occasionally we do get some geriatric pit bulls in need of extra special care and attention. These dogs
rarely are adopted out due to their age and medical care so their foster homes are sometimes their final
home. We do keep these dogs up for adoption in case an angel comes to their rescue, but we do
understand that most applicant want younger dogs.

If you are interested in adopting a specific geriatric pit bull please state so on your application form and
we will discuss this further in your interview process.

If you are interested in supporting the medical care of a geriatric pit bull in our care please donate to us
in their name and we will ensure that the donation goes to caring for our elderly pitties.

What support do we have after the adoption?
Pit Bulls for Life takes pride in helping newly adopted dogs and their families with the transition into their
forever homes. If the need arises Pit Bulls for Life is always there for questions or concerns that the home
may have. Although we are not in any position to financially care for your dog after adoption we can
assist you in behaviour issue’s your dog may have as well as recommend a behaviourist to assist in
whatever you may need. We highly recommend you take your dog to obedience classes as it helps
ensure that you bond with your dog and understand canine behaviour at a higher level.
Pit Bulls for Life will not take dogs back into the program for convenience purposes if you can no longer
care for your dog, a surrender fee will still apply.
We enjoy hearing from the adoptive families with updates and photos on their new family member.

Pit Bulls for Life have the right to refuse any potential adopter without reason.