Adopt
Find your flat-faced friend
Every dog here is living in a volunteer foster home in Ontario. Read their stories, then apply online for the one who feels right.
AvailableBea
A people-loving girl who would like to be your one and only. Special adoption fee.
Fostered in St. Catharines
AvailableBrantley
Distinguished gentleman, amateur squirrel inspector, professional grumbler.
Fostered in Belleville
AvailableFrank & Rocky
Bonded senior pugs who will follow you everywhere. Bathroom included.
Fostered in Sharon
AvailableRaine
Retired mother, professional peacekeeper, aspiring lady of leisure.
Fostered in Belleville
Coming soonBrie
A little Frenchie with a big heart. And yes, she loves cheese.
Fostered in Toronto
Coming soonFroggy
Happy and affectionate. Loves car rides, sunbathing and belly rubs.
Coming soonGemma
House trained, crate trained, great on a leash, and a total Velcro dog.
Coming soonMathilda
Calm, well mannered and a tug-of-war champion.
Coming soonPeggy
An eight-year-old cuddle bug who will happily be your shadow.
Fostered in Orangeville
PendingBabs
Puppy-mill survivor, all love and wiggles. Great with cats and other dogs.
Fostered in Toronto
PendingEdie
Gentle, loving, and quite possibly the sweetest girl you will ever meet.
Fostered in Chatham
PendingEeyore
A big, easygoing boy who moves through life at his own pace.
Fostered in Whitby
PendingGavin
Eat well, nap often, play when the mood strikes, keep the drama to a minimum.
Fostered in Brampton
PendingKenna
A retired puppy-mill mama who loves everything. Now it is her turn.
Fostered in Angus
PendingLeo
A perky ten-year-old who gets mistaken for a puppy all the time.
Fostered in Burlington
PendingParker
Still learning how to be a dog, and getting very good at it.
Fostered in Trent River
No dogs match those filters right now. Try another breed, or check back soon.
How it works
Six steps, no rush
Adopting a dog should never be a rush decision. We're all volunteers with day jobs, so please be patient with us.
While you go through the process, your dog stays in foster care and finishes any vet work they need.
Choose a dog
Browse the dogs above. Those marked Available are accepting applications. Coming soon means they're still settling in with their foster.
Apply online
Fill in the application on this site. It saves on your device as you go, so you can finish it later.
References and a phone interview
We review your application, call with a few more questions, and check your vet and personal references.
Home visit
A volunteer visits your home. It's a required step, and everyone who lives there should be home for it.
Meet and greet
Meet your dog at the foster home, which may be ten minutes or three hours away. If it isn't a match, that's okay. We'll help you find the right dog.
Contract and fee
Sign the adoption contract and pay the fee. Our fosters don't handle cash, so e-transfer is best. Then it's home time.
Adoption fees
What adoption costs
Fees help cover vet, professional and food costs, though most dogs cost us far more than their fee. Each dog's fee is listed on their profile, and some have a special rate.
- Spayed or neutered
- Vaccinated and health checked
- Dewormed and treated for fleas and ticks
- Microchipped
Fees are non-negotiable and non-refundable, and may change as the cost of care rises.
| Dog | Fee |
|---|---|
| Bulldog puppy, under 1 year | $1,000 |
| Adult bulldog, 1 to 6 years | $900 |
| Senior bulldog, 7 and older | $500 |
| Other puppies, under 1 year | $900 |
| Other adults, 1 to 7 years | $800 |
| Other seniors, 8 and older | $500 |
Good to know
Is a flat-faced dog right for you?
These breeds are loving, funny and loyal. They also need a few things other dogs don't.
Heat is dangerous
Bulldogs and many flat-faced breeds need air conditioning in summer. High-rise condos and apartments may not suit some dogs.
Many sink, not swim
A pool needs to be fenced off from the rest of the yard.
Plan for vet bills
Cherry eye, entropion, dry eye, ear infections, allergies, tight tails and cruciate tears are common. A contingency fund is wise.
Ontario homes only
We adopt within Ontario, and not to homes with intact dogs unless there's a medical reason or breeding contract, with proof.
Questions
Adoption questions
Can I come visit the dogs?
We don't have a shelter. Every dog lives in a foster home, so there's nowhere to drop by. If you apply for a dog and we're moving forward, you'll meet them at their foster home before adopting.
Does applying put a dog on hold for me?
No. We match each dog with the best family for them, not the first person to apply.
I applied a few days ago and haven't heard back.
We get a lot of applications and we're all volunteers, so it can take a little while. We contact applicants who look like a good match for the dog they applied for.
Are rescue dogs bad dogs?
Not at all. Most come to us because their owner's life changed. When a dog needs training or ongoing medical care, we tell you up front.
What do I get when I adopt?
Proof of vaccination, spay or neuter, and microchip papers, plus your adoption contract. You also get a community of HBR families on Facebook who are always happy to help.
Will you help after the adoption?
Yes. Email us any time with questions after your adoption, and lean on our Facebook community of HBR families too.
What if I can't keep my dog?
Every HBR dog must come back to us if the family can't keep them, for any reason. Rehoming without our consent isn't allowed. Adoption fees are non-refundable.
Which breeds do you rescue?
Mainly Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Mastiffs and Shih Tzus: the brachycephalic, or flat-faced, breeds. Now and then we take another breed when a dog needs us.
Found your dog?
Apply online. Your answers save as you go.