We understand adopting a pet is a big decision. This page will guide you through the entire process so that when you are ready, you can find your perfect match!
Wednesday: 5:00pm-8:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Explore our available cats and dogs online or meet some in-person during our Adoption Hours.
Fill out an adoption application.
Speak with an Adoption Counselor, who will help match you based on your wants and lifestyle. Fall in love, pay the adoption fee, and take your pet home!
Adoption fees help us prepare our animals for a happy, healthy life! The adoption fee includes spay/neuter, microchipping, and current vaccines.
Dogs: $250
Puppies (under 6 months): $350
Cats: $150
Pair of cats/kittens: $225
Q: Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in to meet animals?
A: Walk-ins are welcome during our open Adoption Hours (Wednesday: 5-8pm, Saturday & Sunday: 1-4pm). If you are unable to visit during our adoption hours, you can call the shelter to schedule an appointment outside of our open hours!
Q: How long does the adoption process take start to finish?
A: It depends! Most adoptions wrap up in a single visit, usually about an hour. You’ll meet with an Adoption Counselor, spend some time getting to know the animals, fill out an adoption application, pay the fee, and then bring your new family member home! If you are adopting a dog and need to schedule an intro with your resident dog, the process is a bit longer and may require a second visit. Sometimes adopters don’t feel a connection with our current animals and may come back a few weeks later and discover their perfect match! Our Adoption Counselors are here to help make the process simple and fun.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: Please bring a valid photo ID with you! We will need this for the adoption paperwork. Please also be prepared to pay the adoption fee. We accept cash, check, and online payments.
Q: Do you require landlord approval or proof of pet policy?
A: While we do not require you to bring proof of landlord approval or pet policy, we ask you please confirm with your building management that pets are allowed before meeting or adopting animals.
Q: Can I put a hold on an animal while I think it over?
A: We do not hold animals, since a first-come, first-served process is fairest to every applicant. As an open-admission, no-kill shelter, our primary objective is to place animals into loving homes as soon as we can!
Q: Who needs to be present at the adoption?
A: Every person in the household needs to meet the animal before it comes home! This includes children, grandparents, or anyone else who will live with the animal every day. If you are planning to adopt and have a cat at home, please do not bring them to the shelter for the meet and greet. Our Adoption Counselors will talk to you about how to have a successful introduction at home. If you are planning to adopt a dog and have a dog at home, please either call ahead to schedule a dog intro or plan a second visit with your resident dog.
Q: What if a household member can’t come in person (military, disability, out of town)?
A: We know there are extenuating circumstances that may prevent everyone in the household from coming to the adoption. If your household member is out of town, we ask that you plan a visit when they are back. If someone in your household is deployed or has a disability that prevents them from attending a meet and greet, please reach out to our office to discuss. The goal is to make sure we are setting up the household and animal for success, not creating a barrier.
Q: Why do I need to bring my resident dog to the shelter for an intro?
A: We do all of our dog intros on-site at the shelter with our Adoption Counselors to make sure it is a good fit between your resident dog and the dog you are hoping to adopt. We schedule this in advance so we can line up a team member to assist with this introduction. We recommend the humans in the household meet the shelter animals first, then figure out a later time to bring the resident dog for an intro.
Q: What can I expect after I bring my animal home?
A: We strongly believe in the 3-3-3 rule: it typically takes a shelter animal 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to build routine, and 3 months to feel at home. Every animal is different, of course, but expect your new animal to be shy, hiding, or low appetite the first few days. The next 3 weeks are for settling into a routine as they learn your home and household. By 3 months, most pets are fully comfortable and showing their true personality! We send all of our adopters home with digital resources on what to expect. Your Adoption Counselor is also here to support you beyond the adoption day! Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns during the adjustment period.
Q: What if the adoption doesn’t work out?
A: We want every adoption to be a forever match, but we know life happens. We always try to offer resources where we can. If things aren’t working, please contact us before deciding to rehome or surrender elsewhere. Reach out to your Adoption Counselor or call the shelter any time you have questions or concerns during the adjustment period. We are here to help troubleshoot before it ever gets to that point.
