Please take a moment to read the following explanation of our adoption process.  You may be surprised to find adopting an animal is a more involved process than you expected, or that it means you cannot have immediate access to an animal you are interested in.  Therefore, it is important to understand two things:  1.)  the process is the same for everyone, and 2.)  it is not our intent to frustrate you.  Everything we do is for the best interest of the animals in our care, and is aimed at giving them the best possible chance of finding a permanent home.

THE STEPS YOU WILL GO THROUGH IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS ARE: 

You may visit and get to know any animal that is on our adoption floor and is available for adoption.  We will ask you to complete some paperwork.  This paperwork must be completed in order to minimize stress for you and the animal.  Our process includes asking questions, asking to see proof of identity , and asking for veterinary references, particularly when you have other animals.  This is simply to protect the health of adoption animals and the pets you already have at home.

 You will have a counseling session with a knowledgeable member of our staff who will fill you in on the needs of that animal and it’s feeding and exercise requirements.  You can ask your counselor any questions about our spaying and neutering program, house training, obedience training, how to deal with fleas and ticks and anything else you might wish to know.  

You will be asked to sign an adoption contract and pay an adoption fee.  This fee covers spaying/neutering, microchip, deworming and vaccines your pet has received while at the shelter.  It also includes an ID tag and rabies vaccine or voucher depending on the age of the animal.

 PLEASE NOTE:  As an IRONCLAD rule, we cannot hold animals for anyone.  Unfortunately, because of the tremendous demands on our kennel space, all adoptions must be done on a first come, first serve basis.  The first good, properly qualified prospective home will get the pet.  Experience has proven, when animals were held for persons, many times the people would not return.  Thus, an animal might miss the one and only chance it had of getting a home.  The end result is the useless loss of an animal’s life.

LET US REPEAT:  We never mean to be frustrating or evasive with you.  We want you to understand that it is stressful and upsetting – in fact, downright devastating, for the animals, for our staff, and most importantly for you when adoptions do not work out and pets have to come back to us.  A bad adoption experience can sour some people on dogs and cats, or on the shelter, for life.

SO TRY TO BEAR WITH US AND BE PATIENT.  PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS THE WAY WE DO REALLY IS THE BEST POLICY FOR ALL OF US.