Adoption Process

A citizen should visit the shelter and choose an animal that is available for adoption.  Every family member living in the residence is required to visit the animal to ensure a good match is made.  Once a specific animal has been decided upon, an application for adoption must be completed and submitted to shelter staff.  All applications take, at minimum 24 hours to process.  You will be asked to think about your adoption decision overnight and call back the following morning to advise us of your final decision.  Once the staff has approved your application to adopt, we will call you and set up an appointment to have your pick up your new animal.

View our Policy for responsible adoptions.

Adoption Fees

The fees for adopting a dog range from $25 to $145. The fees for adopting a cat range from $15 to $85. Small animal adoption fees range from $15 to $85. If you would like to know an animal's specific adoption fee, call or visit the Center!

All animals (with the exception of some rodents and birds) are spayed or neutered before being adopted. The fees for this vary by gender, species, and size of the animal. Only animals spayed or neutered at the Center will have this cost included in their adoption fee.

All cats and dogs leave with a current rabies vaccination, if old enough to be vaccinated.

All animals will leave with microchip identification, excepting those too small to receive one.

Adoption fees for dogs include: distemper/parvo vaccination, microchip identification, rabies vaccination, spay or neuter, ear clean, nail clip, topical flea preventative, dewormer, and animal care package.

Adoption fees for cats include: distemper/Rhinotracheitis vaccination, microchip identification, rabies vaccination, spay or neuter, ear clean, feline leukemia screening test, nail clip, topical flea preventative, dewormer, and animal care package.

Your animal license is free for the first year when adopting an animal if you are an Iowa City resident.