Foster-to-Adopt Agreement – Terms & Conditions
Thank you for opening your home and heart to a Snow Dog Rescue Society foster-to-adopt dog. Foster-to-adopt provides an opportunity for an approved adopter and a dog to spend time together in a home environment before the adoption is finalized, allowing both the dog and family to determine whether the placement is the right long-term match.
Many of our dogs come from northern and remote communities where they may have lived as free-roaming street dogs or have had limited experience living indoors. As a result, they may require time, patience, consistency, and understanding as they adjust to life as a family companion.
Foster-to-adopt is intended to provide a safe and structured trial period while allowing Snow Dog Rescue Society to ensure the placement remains in the best interests of the dog.
By agreeing to foster-to-adopt a dog for Snow Dog Rescue Society, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions.
1. Foster-to-Adopt Status & Ownership
All foster-to-adopt dogs remain the sole property of Snow Dog Rescue Society until the adoption has been fully finalized.
The foster-to-adopt home is providing temporary care during the trial period and does not obtain ownership rights to the dog until the adoption is officially completed.
Snow Dog Rescue Society retains authority over decisions regarding veterinary care, placement, transfer, return, and adoption throughout the foster-to-adopt period.
The foster-to-adopter understands that placement of the dog in their home does not constitute a completed adoption.
2. Foster-to-Adopt Trial Period
The foster-to-adopt trial period is two (2) weeks, beginning on the date the dog enters the foster-to-adopter's care, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by Snow Dog Rescue Society.
The purpose of the trial period is to allow the dog time to adjust to the home and for the foster-to-adopter to determine whether the dog is a suitable long-term match for their household.
The two-week trial period does not guarantee that the adoption will be finalized.
Snow Dog Rescue Society may extend the trial period when reasonably necessary to allow additional time to evaluate the placement, address behavioural concerns, complete outstanding requirements, or ensure the best outcome for the dog.
3. Adoption Deposit
A 50% deposit of the applicable adoption fee is required to begin a foster-to-adopt placement.
The remaining 50% of the adoption fee will be due when the adoption is finalized.
Payment of the 50% deposit does not constitute ownership of the dog and does not guarantee that the adoption will be finalized.
The deposit will be applied toward the dog's adoption fee if the foster-to-adopt placement becomes a finalized adoption.
Any refund of the deposit will be handled in accordance with Snow Dog Rescue Society's applicable adoption policies.
4. General Care
The foster-to-adopt home agrees to:
Provide a safe, clean, loving, and secure environment.
Treat the dog humanely and as a valued member of the household.
Provide fresh water, nutritious food, daily exercise, mental enrichment, and appropriate shelter.
Provide appropriate supervision and care based on the individual needs of the dog.
Never leave the dog unattended for excessive periods of time.
Immediately notify Snow Dog Rescue Society if the dog becomes ill, injured, escapes, or displays concerning behavioural changes.
Follow all care, safety, training, and management recommendations provided by Snow Dog Rescue Society.
5. Understanding Rescue Dogs
The foster-to-adopter understands that many Snow Dog Rescue Society dogs:
Have lived as free-roaming street dogs.
May have experienced neglect, abandonment, or limited human interaction.
May have never lived inside a home.
May not be house trained.
May not understand stairs, windows, mirrors, appliances, televisions, or household routines.
May have little or no leash training.
May be fearful of new people, sounds, vehicles, or environments.
May experience separation anxiety or distress when left alone.
May display behaviours that were not observed while in foster care or during the adoption process.
May require time to build trust, confidence, and a sense of security.
The foster-to-adopter agrees to use patience, consistency, appropriate supervision, and positive reinforcement while helping the dog adjust to their home.
6. Training & Behaviour
The foster-to-adopt home agrees to:
Use humane, fair, and appropriate training methods that prioritize the dog's physical and emotional well-being.
Foster-to-adopters may use reward-based training or balanced training techniques, provided they are knowledgeable, experienced, and confident in their proper application. Any training methods used must be appropriate for the individual dog and must never involve abuse, cruelty, or excessive force.
Physical punishment, abuse, or any training methods intended to cause unnecessary pain, fear, or distress are strictly prohibited.
Understand that accidents, chewing, barking, digging, pacing, counter surfing, food guarding, anxiety, reactivity, or other adjustment behaviours may occur as the dog settles into the home.
Contact Snow Dog Rescue Society if significant behavioural concerns arise rather than attempting to address serious behavioural issues independently.
The rescue should be consulted before implementing significant behaviour modification plans or training tools for complex behavioural concerns.
7. Safety & Containment
The foster-to-adopter understands that newly placed rescue dogs may be high flight risks, particularly during the adjustment period.
The foster-to-adopter agrees to:
Exercise extreme caution during the first several weeks after arrival.
Ensure the dog remains securely leashed at all times when outside of a fully enclosed, secure fenced area.
Use a properly fitted collar, harness, or other escape-resistant equipment appropriate for the individual dog.
In unfenced areas, the dog must remain on a leash or securely attached long line at all times. Under no circumstances may the dog be allowed off leash in an unfenced area.
Ensure all doors, gates, and fences remain securely closed and latched before allowing the dog access to outdoor spaces.
Never leave the dog unattended in a yard unless the yard is securely fenced and appropriate for the individual dog.
Exercise caution when encountering unfamiliar dogs during walks or outings.
Closely supervise introductions with household pets and follow guidance provided by Snow Dog Rescue Society.
Immediately notify Snow Dog Rescue Society if the dog escapes, goes missing, bites someone, or is involved in an altercation with another animal.
8. Veterinary Care
Snow Dog Rescue Society is responsible for authorizing veterinary care during the foster-to-adopt period in accordance with the rescue's veterinary-care policies.
The foster-to-adopter must contact Snow Dog Rescue Society before seeking non-emergency veterinary treatment.
Emergency veterinary treatment should be sought immediately when necessary, with Snow Dog Rescue Society notified as soon as reasonably possible.
The foster-to-adopter agrees to administer medications as directed and attend scheduled veterinary appointments.
Routine or non-emergency veterinary expenses must not be incurred with the expectation of reimbursement unless they have been approved in advance by Snow Dog Rescue Society.
Once the adoption is finalized, responsibility for the dog's veterinary care transfers to the adopter in accordance with the Snow Dog Rescue Society Adoption Agreement.
9. Spay & Neuter Requirements
If the dog has not yet been spayed or neutered, the foster-to-adopter agrees to comply with all applicable Snow Dog Rescue Society spay/neuter requirements.
The foster-to-adopter agrees that the dog will not be bred or intentionally allowed to reproduce.
Any outstanding spay or neuter requirements remain part of the adoption agreement and must be completed within the timeframe specified by Snow Dog Rescue Society.
Proof of completion must be provided to Snow Dog Rescue Society when required.
10. Communication
The foster-to-adopter agrees to:
Maintain reasonable communication with Snow Dog Rescue Society throughout the trial period.
Provide updates regarding the dog's health, behaviour, adjustment, and progress.
Promptly report any concerns or incidents involving the dog.
Provide photos and videos when requested to assist with the dog's records and adoption promotion.
Be honest and transparent about any challenges, behavioural concerns, or changes within the household that may affect the placement.
11. Adoption Finalization
If the foster-to-adopter and Snow Dog Rescue Society determine that the placement is a successful match, the adoption will be finalized following completion of the required adoption process.
The adoption will be considered finalized only after:
The foster-to-adopt trial period has been successfully completed or otherwise approved by Snow Dog Rescue Society.
The remaining adoption fee has been paid.
All required adoption paperwork has been completed and signed.
Any required spay/neuter or other adoption conditions have been acknowledged and agreed to.
Snow Dog Rescue Society has confirmed that the adoption is finalized.
Until the adoption is finalized, the dog remains the property of Snow Dog Rescue Society.
Once the adoption has been finalized, the adopter assumes full responsibility for the dog in accordance with the Snow Dog Rescue Society Adoption Agreement.
12. Adoption Process & Placement Decisions
Snow Dog Rescue Society retains the right to determine whether a foster-to-adopt placement is in the best interests of the dog.
Snow Dog Rescue Society may require additional information, a virtual home check, meet-and-greet, follow-up, or other assessment before finalizing the adoption.
The foster-to-adopter understands that completing the trial period does not automatically guarantee adoption.
Snow Dog Rescue Society reserves the right to decline finalizing an adoption if it determines that the placement is not appropriate for the dog.
13. Restrictions
The foster-to-adopter agrees that they will not:
Sell, give away, rehome, or transfer the dog to any individual or organization.
Surrender the dog to another rescue, shelter, pound, or animal control facility.
Allow the dog to roam freely.
Allow the dog to be used for breeding.
Allow the dog to be used for guarding, fighting, hunting, or any illegal purpose.
Travel outside the province with the dog without prior written approval from Snow Dog Rescue Society.
Make significant changes to the dog's care, diet, medication, training, or management without consulting Snow Dog Rescue Society while the dog remains under Snow Dog's ownership.
14. If the Foster-to-Adopt Does Not Proceed
If the foster-to-adopter determines that they do not wish to proceed with the adoption, they agree to notify Snow Dog Rescue Society as soon as possible.
If Snow Dog Rescue Society determines that the placement is not appropriate, the rescue may require the dog to be returned.
The foster-to-adopter agrees to cooperate with Snow Dog Rescue Society regarding the dog's return and transition.
The foster-to-adopter will not:
Give the dog to another individual.
Sell or transfer the dog.
Rehome the dog independently.
Surrender the dog to another rescue.
Surrender the dog to a shelter or pound.
All dogs must be returned directly to Snow Dog Rescue Society or to a location designated by the rescue.
If the foster-to-adopter is no longer able to continue caring for the dog, they understand that Snow Dog Rescue Society may require reasonable time and patience to locate and arrange an appropriate alternative foster placement. The foster-to-adopter agrees to continue providing safe and appropriate care for the dog during this transition period, unless doing so would create an immediate safety concern for the dog, the foster-to-adopter, household members, or other animals.
Snow Dog Rescue Society will make reasonable efforts to arrange a suitable foster placement as soon as possible. However, the foster-to-adopter understands that alternative foster homes may not be immediately available and that the timing of a transition may depend on the availability of an appropriate and approved foster home.
The foster-to-adopter understands that the dog may need to return to foster care or be placed with another approved home if the foster-to-adopt placement does not proceed.
15. Liability & Assumption of Risk
The foster-to-adopter acknowledges that rescue dogs often come from unknown or limited backgrounds and that their medical history, temperament, behaviour, and previous experiences may be incomplete or unavailable.
Because many of our dogs have lived as free-roaming street dogs or have had little to no experience living in a home, they may display fearful, reactive, unpredictable, or otherwise challenging behaviours while adjusting.
By agreeing to foster-to-adopt a dog for Snow Dog Rescue Society, the foster-to-adopter voluntarily assumes all risks associated with fostering and temporarily possessing the dog, including but not limited to:
Personal injury to themselves, members of their household, visitors, or other individuals.
Injury to other animals.
Damage to personal property or the property of others.
Veterinary expenses resulting from incidents involving their own pets.
Costs associated with property damage, escape, or recovery of the foster-to-adopt dog.
The foster-to-adopter agrees to exercise reasonable care, supervision, and caution at all times.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the foster-to-adopter agrees to release, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Snow Dog Rescue Society, its directors, officers, volunteers, foster coordinators, members, and representatives from any and all claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, expenses, or legal actions arising out of or relating to the fostering, care, handling, transportation, or temporary possession of the foster-to-adopt dog, including claims involving personal injury, death, property damage, or injury to other animals, except where caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Snow Dog Rescue Society.
16. Foster-to-Adopt Commitment
By entering into a foster-to-adopt arrangement, the foster-to-adopter acknowledges that the trial period requires patience, compassion, flexibility, and understanding.
The foster-to-adopter understands that rescue dogs may take days, weeks, or even months to fully adjust to life in a home and that the behaviours observed during the initial trial period may not represent the dog's long-term behaviour.
The foster-to-adopter agrees to work cooperatively with Snow Dog Rescue Society, follow the guidance of rescue representatives, communicate openly about concerns, and always act in the best interests of the dog.
The foster-to-adopter understands that foster-to-adopt is a trial placement and that the adoption is not finalized until all required adoption conditions have been completed and Snow Dog Rescue Society has confirmed the adoption.
By signing or electronically acknowledging this agreement, the foster-to-adopter confirms that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by all terms and conditions outlined in this Foster-to-Adopt Agreement.
Thank you for giving a Snow Dog Rescue Society dog the opportunity to experience life in a home while determining whether you are the right forever family. Your willingness to provide a safe and loving trial home gives these dogs an important second chance and helps us make thoughtful, responsible placement decisions.