Adoption Process

You've reviewed the online database of available pets and decide to head to the shelter for a better look. Remember that although we update the database hourly, the animal you saw may have found a home already. We process adoptions on a first-come, first-serve basis and cannot place holds on animals by phone.
 
The adoption process takes a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour, and up to two hours on Saturdays. We designed our adoption process to give you as much education and time with the animal as we can.
 
At the shelter, animals available for adoption have a kennel card that gives a brief description and an ID number. Write down this ID number so a staff person can give you more information about the pet.
 
A stray pet has a card that indicates it is "lost and waiting for an owner. If you're interested in a stray, we can give you what information we have and when that animal may become available for adoption. We also offer a "choice" program for the strays, outlined below.
 
When you find an available animal that interests you, our great staff and volunteers can take you to visit your new friend in one of our 'Get Acquainted' rooms. This lets you decide if the pet's and your personality match. Any animal that is a stray cannot be visited until it becomes available for adoption. Due to the large number of visitors to the shelter, we must limit visitations to 2 animals per individual or family per day.
 
To sign up for a visit, see the Info Host in the main lobby. To complete adoptions in a timely manner, we stop issuing numbers for people to visit with available animals one hour prior to closing.
 
Once you have chosen your new lifelong companion, you must fill out an application. You'll then meet with an Adoption Counselor to answer any questions you may have. You'll also receive important medical and behavior information to get you both started off on the right foot.  Pre-Adoption Property Inspections are required for certain dog breeds.

The Choice Program

The Choice program allows you to put donation on a stray pet, holding it for you on its first available day, if its family does not reclaim it. Prices are $25 for dogs and $15 for cats. Your 'Choice Hold' gives you the first opportunity to meet the animal and decide if you wish to adopt. This donation is not applied towards the adoption fee and is not refunded if you decide against adopting the pet. However, the fee is refunded if its owner reclaims his pet.
 
Pets that are owner-relinquished, being held for court or safe-keeping, as well as those less than 8 weeks of age, are not eligible for the Choice program. Choice Holds are taken only in person at the shelter, and must be placed by the person intending to adopt the pet. Because the animal is still a stray, visitations are not allowed prior to the first Choice donation.

Future Adoptions

The Humane Society thanks you for considering adopting a shelter pet. We receive so many wonderful animals every day! If the right match is not here for you on your first visit, come again. You will be surprised at the diversity of animals we receive. Our goal is to help you make the right match so you can enjoy each other's company for many wonderful years.