Adopting a new pet can be an exciting process, and we're here to help guide you along the way!
Homeward Animal Shelter has cats and dogs available for adoption, and occasionally other small animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Many of our animals come from the local pounds, where they have gone unclaimed by their previous owners, and have now come to our shelter to find new, loving homes.
We try to make the adoption process as easy as we can, while still ensuring we are matching people up with an animal that will match well with their lifestyle. We ask several questions on our adoption application that help us to better understand the dynamics of your household and what you're searching for in a pet, to ensure that the pet we match you up with will fit into your home well. These questions are never meant to be intrusive, but rather, give us an overall picture so that we can best match you up with an animal that will succeed in your household.
How can I meet an animal I'm interested in?
We have open house hours Tuesday through Friday from 4-7pm and Saturdays from 2-6pm; however, it's important to note that the majority of our animals are NOT housed here in the shelter. Due to our limited capacity, 70-80% of our animals are in foster care at any time.
If you are seriously interested in adopting a specific animal, we recommend completing an adoption application specifically for that animal. Doing so ensures the animal will be placed "on hold" for you while we review your application. (Please note: submitting an application does not guarantee that you will be first in line if an animal is popular and receives multiple applications. We work through them on a "first come, first serve" basis).
You do not need to fill out an application prior to meeting an animal that is housed in our shelter. However, an application is necessary to meet an animal in foster care. You can denote if the animal is in our shelter or in foster care based on their profile: animals in foster care say "--in foster care" after their name. Anyone without that notation is housed in our shelter.
How does the adoption process work?
Once you've submitted an application to adopt, our adoption counselors will review it to learn more about you, your family, and any other pets currently in the home. This process may take anywhere from 24-72 hours, depending on the number of applications we have received. Once you've been approved, we can proceed with finalizing the adoption, which involves signing an adoption contract, registering the microchip, and paying the adoption fee.
What veterinary care is provided to the animals prior to adoption?
Animals that enter our care receive any necessary veterinary care prior to adoption. This includes:
- Vaccinations
- Spaying/neutering (or refundable deposit is required if not yet done)
- Testing for diseases (Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodefiency Virus in cats, and heartworm disease in dogs)
- Deworming
- Microchips
- Any medical issues they may arrive with.
How much does it cost to adopt?
Adult dogs (already spayed/neutered): $225
Puppies (not yet spayed/neutered): $225 + $100 refundable spay/neuter deposit
Adult cats (already spayed/neutered: $120
Kittens (not yet spayed/neutered): $110 + $40 refundable spay/neuter deposit
Rabbits: $50 plus tax (includes the cost of spay/neuter, if not already done)
Guinea Pigs: $25
Ferrets: $50
Rats: $20
Mice/Hamsters/Gerbils: $10
**All adoption fees are subject to tax.
Do you offer any discounts for adoption?
We do have discounts for both senior citizens and for military members/veterans. You can read more about them here.
