How to Adopt

Basic Adoption Requirements:

• Adopter must be 21 years of age or older.
• For the safety and health of our animals, we do not ship pets or do long distance adoptions.
• A valid driver’s license must be presented.
• Renters must provide contact information for landlord/rental agency.
• All members of the household (spouses, children, roommates, etc.) will need to visit the pet at the shelter before adoption. Many pets come to Animal Haven from unknown backgrounds, so this helps ensure that the pet will get along with the whole family.
• For dog and puppy adoptions, any other household dogs will also need to come to the shelter for an introduction.
• Other household pets should be current on vaccines 2 weeks before welcoming a new animal home.
• Adoption fee of $115 for a dog and $75 for a cat (or adopt two for $50 each) must be paid at time of adoption.

Each pet will have specific needs and we will work to make adoption matches that maximize the happiness of all pets and people in the household.

Some additional considerations may include:

A fenced yard – While big, secure yards may be required for some dogs, there are many other dogs that would be perfectly happy in an apartment or home where exercise is obtained from walking or jogging on leash. In fact, leash-walked dogs that get 3 to 4 trips outside per day are often happier than dogs left unattended in a back yard.

Children – Some rescues do not adopt to families with small children, but at Animal Haven, we welcome young families! We have many pets that will be great family companions for kids of any age who are supervised and taught to treat pets gently. Please keep in mind that we may decide that certain pets aren’t best for small kids due to temperament or breed tendencies. These decisions are always made with child and pet safety in mind.

Indoor vs. outdoor situation – At Animal Haven, we believe strongly that pets are happiest, healthiest, and safest when they are welcomed indoors as household companions. Pets allowed outdoors unsupervised are exposed to risks such as disease, theft, escape, auto accidents, wildlife, and more. If you still want to keep a pet outdoors, please contact us for suggestions or options.

Declawing – We do not declaw cats at Animal Haven and do not advocate the procedure due to the physical and psychological impact it has on cats. There are several humane and simple alternatives to declawing including trimming the nails, providing a scratching post, or using products such as soft nail caps that will eliminate the destructive capabilities of claws and keep your cat happy. If you must have a declawed cat, we encourage you to consider an adult cat that has already had the procedure prior to arriving at Animal Haven.

Adoption Process:

1. Before coming to the shelter, we recommend that you research any specific breeds that might interest you and suit your family.
2. Appointments are NOT needed to visit the shelter. Stop by anytime we are open Monday-Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm. You should allow approximately 2 hours (sometimes more) for the entire adoption process.
3. Spend some quality time with any pets that interest you. We recommend at least 30 minutes of one-on-one time outside the kennel or cage. All family members (including other dogs) should be introduced to the pet.
4. Complete a brief adoption application. We will verify information such as address and landlord permission. Most applications can be immediately approved or declined while you wait.

If your application is declined, please don’t be discouraged from adopting! It may just be that the pet you’ve selected isn’t ideal for your lifestyle. We will be happy to help you find a pet that does meet your needs. If we do not have the right pet for you, we can refer you to other adoption organizations.

1. When application is approved, our adoption counselor will review specific pet’s vet history, provide care instructions and health/behavior resources, and answer any questions you may have at this time.
2. Pay adoption fee and sign adoption agreement.
3. Take your new pet home! Animal Haven pets are already spayed/neutered and have received all necessary vet care, so they are ready to go home immediately. For safety reasons, cats must leave in a proper carrier, so please bring one from home or plan to purchase one here at the shelter.
4. Within 7 days of adoption you must take your adopted pet to visit a veterinarian for a post-adoption exam. Your adoption packet will include a list of vets across the metro area who have agreed to provide this service at a discount.
5. We want you and your new pal to be as happy as possible. If for any reason you feel that the pet you have adopted is not right for your household, you may always return that pet (please call for an appointment). If you return a pet within 30 days of adoption, we will issue an exchange certificate for another adoption, redeemable after a 2 week waiting period. We do not issue refunds.

What’s Included in Adoption fee?

Dogs and Puppies $115

• Spay or Neuter Surgery
• Microchip Identification (HomeAgain microchip implantation, activation, and free one-year membership in HomeAgain’s Advanced Recovery Network)
• DA2PP+C Combo Vaccine
• Bordetella VaccineRabies Vaccine (age 3 mos. & up)
• Strongid Dewormer
• Heartworm Test (age 6 mos. & up)
• Heartworm Preventative (age 6 mos. & up)
• Flea Preventative
• Adoption Gift Bag
• Discount on Post-Adoption Check-up with a Participating Vet
• One Month of FREE Pet Health Insurance

Cats and Kittens $75 (or two for $50 each)

• Spay or Neuter Surgery
• Microchip Identification (HomeAgain microchip implantation, activation, and free one-year membership in HomeAgain’s Advanced Recovery Network)
• FVRCP Combo Vaccine
• Bordetella VaccineRabies Vaccine (age 3 mos. & up)
• Strongid Dewormer
• Feline Leukemia Test
• Flea Preventative
• Ear Mite Treatment
• Adoption Gift Bag
• Discount on Post-Adoption Check-up with a Participating Vet
• One Month of FREE Pet Health Insurance