Policy For Responsible Pet Adoptions

The purpose of an adoption program, whether conducted by a private animal-protection agency or a municipal animal-control agency, should be to find responsible, lifelong homes for animals suitable as family pets.  Such matchmaking requires knowledge of both the animals to be placed and their prospective adopters.  It is not a kindness to animals for an agency to place them in homes where they will fail to receive adequate care and companionship, food, water, shelter, or veterinary care when necessary.  Nor is it a benefit to the community for an agency to place animals where they will be allowed to roam the neighborhood, violate animal-control laws, or add their offspring to the surplus of unwanted animals that already burden the community.

Animal shelter personnel must be aware of their legal and ethical responsibilities for the adoption or sale of any animal.  The shelter must enact specific adoption policies to ensure humane care and treatment of animals and compliance with animal-control laws.  The policies will be based on these guidelines and on local need.  Adoption policies will help our agency make the best decisions for the animals being adopted and will assure the community that all potential adopters are treated fairly and equally.  To assist in making as many happy "matches" as possible through our adoption program, the following guidelines will be observed for placing suitable pets with responsible persons.  Exceptions to enacted policies will not be made without approval by a supervisor and/or a home visit.

1. Animals will only be placed with adults, 18 years or older, who intend to keep them as pets.  No dogs will be placed to serve merely as guard dogs or hunting dogs, and no cats will be placed just to function as barn cats or mousers.
2. Puppies and kittens should be at least four(4) months of age before being placed in homes where there are children under six(6) years of age.  Health and humane authorities agree that a young child usually cannot be expected to handle a puppy or kitten properly.  Mishandling is likely to result in injury to the animal, the child, or both.
3. No animal will be released for adoption as a gift to another person.  The recipient may not want an animal, the animal may not be suitable for the recipient’s lifestyle, or the recipient may not meet the criteria for a responsible owner.
4. To avoid later abandonment, animals will be adopted out to persons who are prepared to give lifelong care to an animal.
5. The shelter will require written and/or verbal permission from the landlord or agent before an animal is adopted out to a person living in rental housing.  The appropriate assessors office will be contacted to verify ownership of property.
6. The adopter must agree that the animal adopted will wear a properly fitting collar, to which rabies, license, and other tags required by local or state law can be attached.  Microchip identification may be used, but does not replace other I.D. requirements.
7. Only domestic animals should be placed as pets.  Wild animals will be given only to public or private wildlife sanctuaries that have demonstrated their competence in recognizing and dealing with the particular problems inherent in the rehabilitation and release of such animals into the wild.  Federal, state, and local laws must be adhered to in the disposition of any wild animals.  Restricted animals may be adopted to applicants who qualify for a permit.
8. The shelter staff will avoid making oral representations about an animal’s temperament that conflict with the written language of the adoption contract and disclosure and release clause.
9. The adopter agrees to have the adopted licensable animal spayed/neutered by a licensed veterinarian within ten (10) working days after adoption, or by six (6) months of age, whichever comes first.  Proof must be provided within 30 days of due date to the animal shelter.
10. No animal will be adopted to applicants who intend to chronically tether the animal or have the animal lie primarily outside.
11. Puppies and kittens will not be placed for adoption until the age of seven (7) weeks.
12. All dogs and cats, puppies and kittens will receive initial vaccination prior to adoption.
13. Stray animals without owner identification will not be placed for adoption until at least five days from impound.
14. A spay or neuter deposit of $100.00 will be collected from out-of-state residents and will be returned upon proof of spay or neuter.