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Adopting a Havanese in Alberta
Havanese are uncommon in Alberta rescue, and an adopter set on the breed needs patience. Calgary Humane Society, Edmonton Humane Society, AARCS, SCARS, and the smaller rescues we work with do see Havanese and Havanese crosses, but only occasionally and rarely more than one at a time. Most Havanese in Alberta are bought from breeders, which is exactly why so few reach rescue.
This page pulls every adoptable Havanese from the launched Alberta shelters into one searchable place, refreshed regularly. Because the breed is rare in rescue, searching province-wide is essential, and so is being open to Havanese crosses and to waiting. When a Havanese is listed, a prepared adopter should move quickly. Most rescues will arrange a meet at the foster home regardless of where you live.
Why Havanese cycle through Alberta rescue
Because Havanese are mostly bought, not adopted, the ones that reach rescue arrive by a few specific routes. Some are owner surrenders after a life change, a move, a loss, or a household that could no longer manage a dog. Some are retired breeding dogs from breeders winding down. Some are crosses from the doodle-style market, where Havanese are bred into mixes. A Havanese in rescue is rarely there because anything is wrong with it. The breed is sound and people-loving. There are simply far more Havanese bought than surrendered.
Adopt instead of buy: the Havanese reframe
Most people researching this breed start by looking at breeders, because that is where Havanese mostly come from, and breeder prices for the breed are high. It is worth knowing that adoption is a real option, even though it takes patience. A rescue Havanese costs a fraction of a breeder price, and the fee already covers spay or neuter, vaccinations, microchip, and a vet check, work that would cost hundreds on top of a breeder purchase.
The trade-off is supply and time. A breeder can hand you an eight-week-old puppy on a schedule. Rescue cannot, because Havanese come through rarely. An adopter genuinely open to the breed should do three things: watch this page across the whole province rather than one city, stay open to adult dogs and to Havanese crosses, and be ready to apply quickly when a dog appears. The breed is worth the wait. It is one of the most companionable small dogs there is, and a rescue Havanese is the same wonderful dog as a bought one, for far less money and already vetted.
Health concerns worth asking the foster about
Havanese are one of the healthier small breeds, which is part of their appeal, but there are concerns worth asking about. Dental disease is common in small breeds without dental care, so budget for cleanings. The breed also sees luxating patellas, hip issues including a form of joint malformation, eye conditions such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, deafness in some dogs, heart conditions, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. A foster who has lived with the dog knows its teeth, its movement, its hearing, and its eyes. Ask directly.
What Havanese are actually like to live with
The Havanese is a cheerful, affectionate, adaptable companion, and the breed earns its reputation as one of the friendliest small dogs. The things to plan for:
- Rare in rescue. Patience and a province-wide search are part of adopting this breed.
- People-focused. Havanese bond closely and do best in a home where they are not alone all day.
- Coat upkeep. The long silky coat needs regular brushing, or a shorter practical trim that many owners choose.
- Moderate energy. Daily walks and play suit the breed. It is not a high-drive dog or a couch ornament.
- Good with families. Most Havanese do well with children and other pets, which is part of the breed's appeal.
- Trainable. Bright and willing, the breed responds well to gentle, reward-based training.
- Cold-sensitive. A small dog still needs a warm coat and sensible outdoor time in Alberta winter.
What the fee usually covers
Havanese adoption fees at Alberta rescues sit in the same range as other small rescue dogs in the province, and they are a small fraction of a breeder price. The fee covers the medical work the rescue already paid for: spay or neuter, core vaccinations, microchip, deworming, and a vet check before placement. Confirm the exact number on the dog's own listing, because it varies with age and any special medical care.
How to actually search
Use the filters above to narrow by energy level, size (small), age, compatibility, and shelter. The honest advice for this breed is to check often and search the whole province, because Havanese come through rarely. Stay open to adult dogs and to Havanese crosses. When a match appears, apply the same day. Foster homes are usually willing to set up a video call before any drive across the province.
Prefer a city-specific view? Browse our deeper Calgary Havanese cluster, or the dog listings in Edmonton, Red Deer, and Grande Prairie. The broader hub is Dog Adoption Alberta.
The rescues that most often list Havanese across the province are SCARS, AARCS, Calgary Humane Society, and Edmonton Humane Society. For breed-specific background, the Canadian Kennel Club is a useful reference.
Havanese Adoption FAQ — Alberta
How many Havanese are available for adoption in Alberta?
As of August 2026, Havanese are rare in Alberta rescue — only 1 is listed right now across 1 rescue on LocalPetFinder. They tend to get adopted fast, so setting an alert is the most reliable way to find one.
Where can I find Havanese adoption near me in Alberta?
Havanese are uncommon in Alberta rescue, so the honest answer is to search the whole province and check often. Calgary Humane Society, Edmonton Humane Society, SCARS in the Edmonton area, and the province-wide AARCS all occasionally have Havanese or Havanese crosses. This page lists what is currently available across all of them.
Why are Havanese so rare in rescue?
Because the breed is mostly bought, not adopted. Far more Havanese are purchased from breeders than are ever surrendered, so few reach the rescue system. The ones that do are usually owner surrenders after a life change, retired breeding dogs, or crosses from the doodle-style market. A rescue Havanese is rarely there because anything is wrong with it.
Should I adopt a Havanese or buy from a breeder?
Adoption is a real option and worth the patience. A rescue Havanese costs a fraction of a breeder price, and the fee already covers spay or neuter, vaccinations, microchip, and a vet check, work that adds hundreds to a breeder purchase. The trade-off is time: breeders can supply a puppy on a schedule, while rescue Havanese come through rarely. If you are open to waiting, to an adult dog, and to a Havanese cross, adoption gives you the same wonderful breed for far less.
Are Havanese good family dogs?
Very much so. The Havanese is cheerful, affectionate, adaptable, and one of the friendliest small breeds, and most do well with children and other pets. The breed is people-focused and does best in a home where it is not alone all day. For an active or a quiet household alike, a Havanese fits in easily, which is a large part of its appeal.
What health problems should I know about before adopting a Havanese?
Havanese are one of the healthier small breeds, but ask about dental disease, which is common in small breeds without dental care, luxating patellas, hip and joint issues, eye conditions such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, deafness in some dogs, and heart conditions. A foster who has lived with the dog knows its teeth, movement, hearing, and eyes. Ask directly, and budget for routine dental care.
How much does it cost to adopt a Havanese in Alberta?
Havanese adoption fees sit in the same range as other small rescue dogs across Alberta, a small fraction of a breeder price. The fee covers spay or neuter, core vaccinations, microchip, deworming, and a vet check before placement, plus the rescue's other costs. Confirm the exact fee on the dog's own listing, because it varies with age and any special medical care.
Is LocalPetFinder a Havanese rescue?
No. We aggregate listings from Alberta rescues so you can compare them in one place. All applications and decisions happen directly with the rescue. The site is free.
Are these Havaneses for sale in Alberta?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Havanese here comes from an Alberta rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet store, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically a few hundred dollars and already include vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter when age-appropriate, versus roughly $2,000 to $5,000 or more to buy a Havanese from a breeder. If you searched "havanese for sale alberta" or "havanese puppies for sale," adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Havanese in Alberta, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Havanese breeder typically charges $2,000 to $5,000 or more and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Havanese costs a few hundred dollars fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap havanese-for-sale ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-mill resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on seeing where the puppies were raised and getting vet records. For most families in Alberta, adopting a rescue Havanese is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.
Are there free Havaneses in Alberta, or havaneses under $500?
Adoption is the closest honest answer, and it is not free. A rescue Havanese in Alberta typically costs a few hundred dollars, which already covers vaccinations, deworming, microchip and spay or neuter, so it lands at or under the "$500" people search for and far under breeder prices. Be wary of genuinely free havanese listings. An animal advertised free to a good home has usually not been vetted, and free rehoming ads are the route flippers and unregistered breeders use to move animals with no health guarantee and no recourse. Paying a rescue fee buys you a dog someone has already examined, treated, and been honest with you about.
Are there Havanese puppies in Alberta, or only adults?
Both, but adults far outnumber puppies, and it is worth knowing that before you start looking. Most Havaneses arriving in Alberta rescue are adolescents and adults, because that is the age at which first homes tend to give up. Puppies do come through, usually as accidental litters or with a surrendered mother, and they are typically spoken for quickly. Setting an alert beats refreshing the page. It is also worth asking whether you actually want one: an adult arrives with a temperament a foster has already observed and described, where a Havanese puppy is a prediction, and for this breed in particular knowing what you are getting is the more useful thing.
Where can I find a Havanese near me in Alberta?
Start with the listings on this page, which pull from Alberta rescues and shelters and are refreshed regularly, so what you see is what is genuinely available rather than a stale directory. If nothing suits today, that is normal for this breed: rescue intake is intermittent rather than steady, and a breed with none listed this week often has several next month. Setting an alert beats checking back, and it is worth widening to nearby towns, since most rescues serving Alberta will adopt out across a reasonable driving distance rather than only inside one municipality.
Need to rehome a Havanese?
If you can no longer keep your Havanese, you can list them for free on LocalPetFinder. Your dog stays in your home until you find the right family, you screen who applies, and there is no surrender fee. Not sure yet? Our guide to surrendering a dog in Canada walks through every option first.
List your dog for free →Havanese adoption by Alberta city
Alberta rescues transport between cities and several operate province-wide, so it is worth checking Havanese elsewhere in the province before you give up on a match.