Before You Arrive

• Visit our Adopt >> page for an up-to-date list of dogs available for adoption 
• Click the dog's photo to read their bio and see if you are a potential match 
• Be sure your resident dog, if you have one, is up to date for vaccines against rabies, Bordetella, and distemper
• Many dogs can go home the same day, so prepare your home and be sure to bring the whole family to the shelter (including resident dogs)
• Please be aware that we move as quickly as we can to make quality matches. This can take time, and may result in a longer wait time during busy times, especially on weekends

• Dogs in the following programs (described below) may require appointments and/or multiple meets. To schedule a meet, please submit an inquiry form >>

  • BAE Dogs 

  • CrossRoads Dogs

  • Foster Program

  • Special Medical Needs 

When You Arrive 

• You will fill out an Adopter Profile, if you do not already have one on file, and provide valid ID
• Everyone who lives in your home will need to meet the dog before it can go home
• Bring your fully vaccinated resident dog(s) with you, but have the dog(s) stay outside with a friend or family member at first 
• An adoption counselor will meet with you, your family, and any resident pets to determine if it is a good fit 
• If it is a good fit, we will finalize the adoption with you
   

It's a Match! What Next? 

• A Community Relations Team Member will review the adoption contract with you and collect your adoption fee

• Your new pet is already 

  • Sterilized (spayed or neutered)

  • Rabies vaccinated
  • Microchipped
  • Dewormed
  • Treated with flea and tick preventative 
  • Treated with heartworm preventative 
  • Vaccinated against kennel cough and distemper 

• Your new pet will be provided with

  • A sample size bag of the food it has been eating

  • Martingale collar

  • 6' non-extendible leash

  • Microchip tag

  • Rabies tag
     

Going Home

• Lure the dog into your car rather than lifting, pulling, or pushing. If you have trouble, ask a staff member to help.
• Do not make any stops along the way with your new pet. This is a stressful time for everyone, so go straight home.
• Keep visitors to a minimum for the first few weeks while your new family member adjusts.
• Be sure to follow the instructions your counselor gave you about introductions to resident pets.
• Slowly switch your dog's food over, if you wish to do so, in order to avoid stomach distress and accidents in the house.
• Set up an appointment with your veterinarian right away to get your dog established.
• Reach out to your municipal clerk and get your dog licensed. Licensed dogs are more likely to find their way home if strayed.

Before You Arrive

• Visit our Adopt >> page for an up-to-date list of pets available for adoption
• Click the pet's photo to see if you are a match
• Most cats can go home the same day, so prepare your home and be sure to bring the whole family to the shelter
• Please be aware that we move as quickly as we can to make quality matches. This can take time, and may result in a longer wait time during busy times, especially on weekends

• Cats in the following programs (described below) may require appointments and/or multiple meets:

  • BAE Cats 

  • CrossRoads Cats

  • Foster Program

  • Special Medical Needs 

When You Arrive 

• You will fill out an Adopter Profile, if you do not already have one on file, and provide valid ID
• Everyone who lives in your home will need to meet the cat before it can go home
• An adoption counselor will meet with you and your family to determine if it is a good fit
• If it is a good fit, we will finalize the adoption with you

It's a Match! What Next? 

• A Community Relations Team Member will review the adoption contract with you and collect your adoption fee

• Your new pet is already 

  • Sterilized (spayed or neutered)

  • Rabies vaccinated

  • Microchipped

  • Dewormed

  • Treated with flea and tick preventative

  • Vaccinated against distemper
     

• Your new pet will be provided with

  • A sample size bag of the food it has been eating

  • Microchip tag

  • Rabies tag

Going Home

• Take it slow and let the cat come out of its carrier at its own pace
• Be sure to provide one litter box per cat, per floor of the house, at minimum
• Slowly switch your cat's food over, if you wish to do so, in order to avoid stomach distress
• Set up an appointment with your veterinarian right away to get your cat established
• Be sure to follow the instructions your counselor gave you about introductions to resident pets

Our Shelter BAEs have spent a lot of time with our Behavior and Enrichment (BAE) Team learning social skills, overcoming behavioral obstacles, and learning to trust people. Though they have been let down in the past, they are ready to try again with the right person! 

Our BAE Team works with dogs and cats who exhibit common and treatable behaviors, such as jumpy/mouthy or overstimulated behavior, fear of strangers, barrier reactivity, resource guarding, and more. When you take a chance on one of these pets, you are also getting: 

• Multiple meets, if needed, before taking your pet home
• Three weeks of a fully supported trial placement, if needed
• Direct contact information for our behavior team
• A complete behavior plan for your new family member to continue their success at home
• Food, enrichment, and supplies to help with the transition 

Shelter BAEs that require a three-week trial placement are indicated in their bios, accessed by clicking on their photo on the Adopt >> page.  If the pet you are interested in one of our special Shelter BAEs, fill out this inquiry form >>. 

Our CrossRoads Program places pets who have terminal diagnoses, and still have excellent quality of life, in homes with adopters who are willing to offer them all of life's finest things right up until the end. There is an interview process before adopting a CrossRoads pet, as we need to be sure the home is a perfect match for the pet's end-of-life needs. The adoption fee for CrossRoads pets is waived, as is the fee for humane euthanasia and cremation when the time comes. 

CrossRoads pets are indicated in their bios, accessed by clicking on their photo on our Adopt >> page. Click the pet's photo for more information and the email address of the staff member overseeing the pet's placement.