Our Adoption Process

How it works:

1. Our adoption process is about finding the best match based on experience, capabilities and lifestyle for both the dog and the person adopting.
2. There is no adoption processing fee. We take a lot of time to ensure that the person adopting has the knowledge and handling capabilities with our retired sled dogs. We go through transport safety, proper handling on leashed walks, proper handling in fenced in dog parks and the do’s and don’ts of owning a retired sled dog.  This process is lengthy but also very important for a successful adoption.
3. The person adopting must be willing to come to the Snowy Owl Kennel for a minimum of 10 visits with the possibility of more should we feel it advantageous.
4. If the person adopting can commit to the 10-visit minimum, they can view our  “Request a Questionnaire” page and fill in the form.
5. Once our team receives it, we will send our questionnaire which the person adopting is asked to fill out in detail.
6. After reviewing the questionnaire, we will inform them if they are an ideal match for any current, retired sled dogs.
7. If we have dogs suited to the person adopting’s lifestyle, we will set up an initial kennel visit.
8. The first couple of visits will be to narrow down which dogs the person adopting is most compatible with. We will also note how the dogs interact with the individual as well.
9. The remaining visits will be to take the dog out for walks which are done with our supervision. We will be assessing the individual’s handling skills and ability.
10. Once we feel that the adoption is okay to move forward (meaning the individual can handle the dog comfortably) and there is a clear mutual connection with the dog of choice, we will plan a timeline accordingly to finalize the adoption.