Deciding to Adopt

Thank you for your interest in adopting a homeless animal from the Washington Humane Society (WHS). Millions of dogs and cats are humanely destroyed each year in U.S. animal shelters because there are not enough responsible homes for them all. As many as 25% of animals in shelters are purebreds.

When people buy a dog or cat from a pet store or breeder or accept "giveaways," there is one less home for a lovable, healthy, and equally deserving shelter animal. By choosing to adopt an animal from a shelter, you are discouraging the careless breeding of companion animals and helping to prevent needless suffering.

The WHS views each animal as an individual with unique characteristics and specific needs. Every effort is made to ensure that animals are placed in suitable, permanent homes.

Where are the animals from?
WHS animals come from many different places; some are found wandering, some are given up when their owners can't or don't want to keep them, some have even been neglected or abused. It's amazing how resilient most animals are. Even neglect and abuse victims frequently spring back in a matter of weeks and become wonderful companions. Animals end up in shelters through no fault of their own; they aren't "inferior" to animals available from other sources. In fact, many people affirm that the adult dog or cat they adopted from a shelter made the best companion ever!

Worth the Effort
Although some adopter may initially comment that "This is as complicated as adopting a child," most agree that there are many benefits in choosing a WHS shelter animal. Where else can one see dozens of wonderful animals at a time, get free advice on training and veterinary care, take advantage of low-cost health care services, and gain a lifelong friend?

Step 1. Visit with one or more animals
It is important that all household members, especially young children, have a chance to meet and handle the animal being considered for adoption. Shelter staff will assist you and answer as many questions as possible about each animal. We evaluate each animal for health and temperament prior to making them available for adoption.

Not all animals are immediately available. Some animals must stay at the shelter for a period of time in order to fulfill legal requirements that apply when animals are removed during a cruelty case, or in other special circumstances. Animals given up ("surrendered") by their owners are available for adoption sooner. The adoption process takes approximately one week to complete.

Step 2. Fill out an application
Once an animal has been chosen, an application is filled out by the potential adopter. If more than one application is submitted for the same animal, preference is given to the adopter whose home situation is deemed most appropriate for the animal in question. If all applicants appear to be equally prepared to care for the particular animal, then applications are considered on a "first-come" basis.

If your application is selected, a staff member will call you to verify pertinent information (such as landlord permission) before moving ahead with the process.

Step 3. Adoption fees
On the day the new dog or cat is brought home, a small adoption fee is paid and, if applicable, the economical cost of having the animal spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and tested for canine heart worm or feline leukemia. All medical services are performed ahead of time by the WHS spay/neuter clinic, and the related fees are well below what private-practice veterinarians charge. Unless they are too small or have health issues, animals are neutered before they go to their new homes.

Ten Great Reasons To Adopt From A Shelter

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