If you're interested in getting a pet, ask yourself some questions: am I ready for the responsibility of a pet? Can I afford the costs of owning a pet, including food, supplies, grooming, and both routine and emergency vet care? Do I have the time to care for a pet, knowing that all pets need love, attention, exercise and training? Do I have the possibility of moving somewhere that the pet couldn't go?

 

When you bring a new pet into your family, you are committing to care for that animal for the rest of its life - which could be as long as twenty years. It's not a decision to be made lightly; as much as we want the shelter animals to find homes, it saddens us to see pets being returned to the shelter a few days, weeks, months or even years later because their owners can no longer care for them. So look before you leap, and think hard about whether you're really ready to commit to a companion animal.

 

Once you've made the decision to adopt, look at your lifestyle and living arrangements and think about what type of pet is best for you.

 

Maybe your child is eager for a dog, but you live in an apartment and/or your schedule is fairly busy. It might be a good idea to start with a smaller pet such as a guinea pig to help your child learn about the responsibilities of pet ownership.

 

Remember, pets are wonderful in many ways, but all pets require time and energy. The care involved can be a lot of work, and parents must take ultimate responsibility to see that the pet's needs are met.

 

Research the types of pets that interest you. The Internet is a great research tool, as is the library. Research lets you commit wisely: you'll have a sense of your pet's diet, exercise, and medical needs, as well as general behavior characteristics, before he comes home. You can also prepare for your pet's homecoming by getting appropriate supplies. There's a lot going on when your pet first comes home, and the better prepared you are, the better success you may have in introducing him to his new environment.

 

If adopting a dog, research different breeds. There are many breeds to choose from, with a wide variety in size, temperament and exercise needs. Keep your lifestyle in mind as you research. Do you run 5 miles a few times a week and want an active dog? Are you a couch potato looking for a companion to lounge around with? Do you have children and need a dog that is tolerant and playful with them? Bring your children with you so they can visit with the potential pet, too. Many people want to surprise their kids, but if the match is not appropriate, their hearts could be broken.

 

If you rent, there may be restrictions regarding the type and/or size of pets you can keep. The Humane Society urges you to talk to your landlord before bringing any pet home. We see too many pets in need of new homes because they weren't allowed in their owner's residence.

 

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. 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 -- at 5:15 pm Monday through Friday, and at 3:15 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

 

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.

 

Adoption fees help offset the cost of evaluation, housing, feeding and medical care for the 23,000-plus animals we shelter each year. Because we are a nonprofit, donations subsidize the gap between the cost for care and the adoption fee. It is through the generosity of our donors that we have the resources to help so many animals and hold them until we can find them homes.

 

 

Adoption fees for cats and dogs include sterilization, vaccinations, a free health exam at one of 71 participating veterinary clinics, deworming for young animals, a one-year license for dogs, and pet information. All dogs must leave on a leash and cats must be in a carrier.  Before your new pet leaves the shelter, he/she will be examined by a veterinarian technician to check for any obvious medical problems to bring to your attention.

 

Adoption fees for other types of animals vary; small animals like gerbils, rats, bunnies and ferrets range from $5 to $50, depending on the species. Exotic animals and birds are priced on a per-case basis. Horses are adopted through a sealed bidding process, and bids must be submitted in person; for more information on adopting horses, please call us at 473-1741 or email us.

 

Please note that we do not accept checks for adoption fees.

 

The Choice Program

 

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.