As of July 2nd, 2008; a $15 Non Refundable Fee (which is $10.00 - $15.00+ less than what most other Rescues charge) to cover expenses to process your application will be required via email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org or PayPal or Check/MO or Bank Draft to ‘Kanata Animal Hospital’ before an application will be considered. This fee does not guarantee or warrant that you will be approved to adopt a BHRR animal.
We will NOT accept this fee in CASH via snailmail.
NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please mail your Check/MO or Bank Draft to:

Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services
C/O Gwendilin Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario
CANADA

We feel it necessary to have to stress that we operate out of our home and those of our foster homes and therefore do not have ‘business’ hours as a shelter or pound would. Please respect that we are entitled to privacy and the same level of family intimate time as other people. If you are not an approved BHRR Inc. adoptive/foster/home (having completed the application, reference checks plus hv and if all found in order and advised that you are approved); you are not permitted on the property. Those that have been approved are sent an invitation to set up a mutually convenient animal visit time including lunch/dinner if the meeting is at our home as opposed to being at one of our fosters. People found in violation could be charged with trespassing along with any other charges if warranted. Our policies, processes plus procedures are clearly indicated on both of our websites(www.birchhaven.org & www.bhrr.petfinder.com) and our property is monitored for any activity. Due to a past theft of Danes; we are in a ‘lock’ down mode and are taking all precautions as advised by legal. We are also not appreciative of people researching to find out our ‘home/family’ number(s) and trying to reach us that way. We have a Rescue number and as is clearly indicated on that message system, calls/inquiries can take up to 5 days to return. We will not consider/proceed with applications that contact us on our home line, drop by our place of property and so forth.

We prefer that our animals be placed in homes in our area but we will consider outside of Eastern Ontario(and only then in the Ontario & Quebec provinces ONLY). All costs will be absorbed by the new approved adoptive family should adoption not occur at the time of the required visit.

*DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT ADOPT OUT OF THE PROVINCES OF ONTARIO OR QUEBEC. MOVING FORWARD SHOULD ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THOSE AREAS SUBMIT AN APPLICATION; WE WILL NO LONGER REFUND THE FEE SUBMITTED.

BHRR requires an application/contract to be filled out, personal references including a vet reference if applicable and a home visit to be done before being invited to visit any BHRR animal to best determine if approved to adopt. We also require that at the time of meeting any BHRR animal (after completing the application process up to that point) that the whole family + any other currently owned animals are brought to the locale of the animal in question for at least one meeting to take place. BHRR only places per best matched personality fit. We also require that within four months of having adopted your new addition that at least one full round/session of group classes of obedience (they can range from 6-18 weeks) must be started and upon completion; proof (registration + completion) must be submitted to Gwen’s attention at BHRR and with having your signature on the adoption application/contract; you will be in a legal breach of your contract should this not be done. The animal involved will have to be returned promptly & safely to BHRR at your own expense.

Please contact us with an introduction attached to your completed application/non-refundable processing fee which must include some details about you, your family if applicable, current pets, where you live etc. to be considered for a BHRR animal. We will no longer be responding to inquiries that do not have a completed application/non-refundable processing fee attached to their introduction. We will not consider homes that DO NOT have a properly fenced in yard. The fenced in yard must be directly accessible from at least one door of the house.

• Please note that we do not consider electrical fencing, invisible fencing, outdoor kennels, hedges, bushes, trees nor dog ‘runs’ appropriate fencing. We do not do ‘conditional adoption approvals’ based upon fencing. Please do not contact BHRR if you do not meet this requirement and we shall no longer be responding to applications/inquiries that do not meet this requirement and any non-refundable fee that has been attached shall no longer be refunded. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• If you live in an apartment, we will consider those applications on an individual basis.

• If you do not own your home home and are renting; a written + signed letter of Permission from your Landlord and/or Landlady must be submitted along with your signed application. The letter must also indicate that that the Landlord/Landlady is ‘aware’ of what a Giant Breed is. Applications submitted without this attached letter shall no longer be reviewed. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• We will not adopt out to Students. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• If you have re-homed an animal or brought one to a Shelter, Pound, Rescue etc; unless the circumstances are mitigating such as death or accident; we will not consider your home. Some of the top reasons why animals end up in Rescue are due to people having children, moving, cannot afford the bills, did not do any research on the breed and became overwhelmed, dog grew too big, new job, did not do obedience, break ups, did not socialise, did not have the time, going to University/College, getting married etc. and as our priority is to the animals under our authority; we will not adopt out to homes without mitigating factors. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• WE DO NOT under any circumstances place a dog with a family with children under the age of 9. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  *This is a legal, insurance and moral obligation/responsibility that we will adhere to.

After going through the application process, and if you are approved you will then be put on a waiting list should we not currently have what would be the ‘best’ fit for you. We also can refer you to other reputable rescues.

BHRR Adoption Application - Great Dane Application
BHRR Giant Breed Adoption Application - Giant Breed Application
***Right Mouse Click & Choose ‘Save As’ To Download to your Computer’***
***Any application that has been changed from it’s original form will not be considered.***

Policies & Fees

Policies:

Please download an application to be filled out in complete and sent back for review along with the processing fee along with an introduction should you wish to be considered for a BHRR animal.
***Please note that due to the large number of inquiries we receive daily, we can no longer take the time to clarify incomplete applications and we will no longer be responding to applicants indicating such. Only those applications that have been submitted in full with an introduction, will be considered.***

We also work very hard to assist various breeders, rescue groups, organizations, shelters and friends in placing rescues or re-homing animals that come into their hands. We only organize and facilitate in these situations.

Adoption Fees:

Adoption Fees are dependent on the cost it has taken us to rescue, transport, treat & vet, neuter or spay, micro chip, de-worm, feed, test, X-Ray, etc. an animal. Our goal is to try to ‘break-even’ on our outputted costs and in reality BHRR will never ‘break-even’ on any animal in our program. Out-putted costs is ALWAYS more than our intake with fees. It is not unknown for BHRR to put in $1,500 - 3,000 CDA for any one animal that comes into our program. Our adoption fees; depending on the situation and individual(s) involved, are $250.00 and up.

Puppies, those with medical ailments and the animals with rehab. issues generally cost more and working almost exclusively with Large plus Giant Breeds, the costs add up quickly.

Owner Surrender fees:

$50.00-$150.00 Surrender fees aid us in helping the animals that need our assistance.
Fee(s) for any owner surrendered Canine Animal:

• Puppies 1 year and under $150.00 CDA
• Dogs 1-3 years $100.00 CDA
• Dogs 4-6 years $75.00 CDA
• Senior Dogs-$50.00 CDA

NOTE: If a Puppy or 1-3 year old dog is already altered and /or micro chipped, then the Owner Surrender fee will be less $50.00

BHRR Owner Surrender Form
***Right Mouse Click & Choose ‘Save As’ To Download to your Computer’***