Your Questions, Answered

Adoption Questions

  • The truth is, a "free" pet is rarely free if you're a responsible pet owner. Whether you adopt, purchase, or receive an animal for free, you'll still need to pay for important veterinary care such as vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, spaying/neutering, and routine health checks. These costs can quickly add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

    When you adopt from a rescue, many of these services have already been completed or are included in the adoption fee, often at a cost far below what you would pay on your own. Rescue animals are also assessed for their health and temperament, helping set both you and your new pet up for success.

    By adopting, you're not only gaining a wonderful companion, you're also helping fund the care of other animals in need and supporting efforts to reduce pet overpopulation. Your adoption fee goes directly back into saving more lives.

  • We recommend first visiting our "Are You Ready to Adopt?" page and then reviewing either our Cat Adoption Process or our Dog Adoption Process page to ensure you're prepared for the commitment of pet ownership. Once you feel ready to adopt, please complete our online adoption application.

    After your application has been reviewed, we will contact suitable applicants to discuss the animal and arrange a meet-and-greet. Our goal is to find the best possible match for both the animal and their future family.

  • Our adoption fees help cover veterinary care, which may include vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, deworming, FIV/FeLV testing for cats and other necessary medical treatments.

  • The timeline varies depending on application volume, and scheduling meet-and-greets. We strive to process applications as quickly as possible.

  • No. We match each animal with the home that best fits their needs and personality.

  • Yes. We will require proof that pets are permitted by your landlord or property manager.

  • Yes! We are happy to consider adopters from outside our local area. However, all potential adopters must travel to meet the animal in person before an adoption can be approved. We do not ship animals or complete adoptions without first meeting the adopters face-to-face. This helps ensure the best possible match for both the animal and their new family.

  • We ask that adopted animals be returned to us rather than rehomed independently.

  • Adoption fees only cover a portion of the actual cost of caring for an animal. Before they are ready for adoption, most animals require vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, and ongoing care. Cats 6 months of age and older are also tested for FIV/FeLV. In addition, we provide food, litter, and any necessary veterinary treatment while they are in our care.

    The adoption fee helps offset some of these expenses and allows us to continue rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding loving homes for more animals in need. In most cases, the actual cost of care exceeds the adoption fee.

  • No. Most municipalities have bylaws that prohibit cats from roaming freely off their owner's property. If your cat is found wandering, it may be picked up by animal control, and you could be subject to fines or impound fees.

    More importantly, free-roaming cats face many dangers, including traffic, predators, loose dogs, disease, harsh weather, toxic substances, and cruel individuals. Even the most street-smart cat can be seriously injured or killed in an accident.

    We strongly encourage adopters to keep their cats indoors, where they are safest. If your cat enjoys being outside, consider supervised outdoor time, leash training, or building an affordable catio so they can enjoy fresh air safely.

    As a rescue, we work hard to ensure every animal in our care is safe, healthy, and loved. When you adopt from us, we expect that same commitment to their safety and well-being for the rest of their lives.

Foster Questions

  • If you're interested in fostering, please complete our online foster application. Once we receive and review your application, we will contact you to discuss your experience, household, and the types of animals you may be interested in fostering.

  • Fostering provides a temporary home for an animal until they are adopted. Foster families provide daily care, socialization, and transportation to vet appointments, adoption events or meet and greets when needed.

  • Not necessarily. We provide guidance and support to help foster families succeed.

  • The rescue covers approved veterinary expenses while the animal is in foster care.

  • In many cases, yes. We will work with you to determine which foster animals may be a good fit for your household. To help keep both your pets and the foster animal safe and healthy, you must be able to provide a separate quarantine space away from your own pets when the foster first arrives. We will provide guidance on quarantine requirements and help ensure you are set up for success.

Surrender Questions

  • Yes! But please fill out our online surrender form. Intake is based on available space, foster homes, and resources.

  • A surrender fee may apply to help offset veterinary and care costs.

  • No. We are committed to giving every animal the opportunity to find a safe, loving home and will never euthanize an animal simply to make space. Humane euthanasia is only considered in rare circumstances where an animal is suffering from a severe medical condition with a poor quality of life, or in cases of extreme behavioral issues where all reasonable rehabilitation and placement options have been thoroughly exhausted. Every situation is carefully evaluated with the animal's welfare, safety, and quality of life as our top priorities.

Volunteer Questions

  • Complete our online volunteer application and tell us about your interests and availability.

  • Volunteers may assist with animal care, transportation, events, fundraising, social media, administrative tasks, and more.

  • Many volunteer roles do not require previous experience.

Donation Questions

  • Donations can be made through our website, in person at the rescue, or by e-transfer to accounts@toebeansrescue.ca. We also greatly appreciate physical donations from our Amazon Wish List, which can be shipped directly to us or dropped off at the rescue. Every donation helps us provide food, shelter, medical care, and a second chance for animals in need.

  • At this time, we are unable to issue tax receipts for donations. We have applied for charitable status and are patiently awaiting approval. If our status changes in the future, we will update our website and supporters accordingly. We are incredibly grateful for every donation, as it directly helps us care for animals in need.

  • Commonly needed items include cat and dog food, litter, pee pads, cleaning supplies, toys, beds, and gift cards.

General Questions

  • You can reach us anytime through our Facebook page or by email at info@toebeansrescue.ca. We are currently working on obtaining a phone line to better assist our supporters, adopters, and fosters. We aim to respond to all inquiries as quickly as possible, typically within one business day.

  • Whenever age and health permit, animals are spayed or neutered before adoption.

  • We generally ask interested adopters to submit an application first to ensure a good match.

  • Follow us on social media and check our website regularly for new arrivals and adoption spotlights.

  • We rely on adoption fees, donations, grants, fundraising events, and the generosity of our supporters.

  • You can foster, volunteer, donate, attend events, share our posts, or sponsor an animal in care.