TEN GREAT REASONS TO ADOPT FROM A SHELTER

1. You save a life.
Each year thousands of healthy and well behaved animals end up in local shelters as strays, relinquished animals, and impoundments. The Washington Humane Society alone takes in about 40 animals every day. As new animals arrive, some of the animals who are not adopted are euthanized. Each animal adopted is a life spared.

2. You choose from a great selection of animals.
Shelters get in animals of all sizes, ages, colors, dispositions, and breeds. Nowhere will you find more cats and dogs to choose from. Despite what many people think, there are plenty of purebred animals among them. Chances are extremely good that, at any given point, the shelter will have an animal just right for you. If not, we keep a request list so we can call you when we have the kind of animal you're looking for.

For reasons of health or temperament, some animals at the shelter are not available for adoption. We do not push "problem animals" onto people.

3. Shelter staff and volunteers help you choose and prepare for your animal.
When you visit the shelter, staff and volunteers knowledgeable about companion animals will answer your questions and help you choose a dog or cat. They will call you later to ask you a lot of questions. If your application is approved, someone will come to your house for an interview to help you prepare for your new arrival. Our overall goal is to make sure the animal you adopt is well suited to your lifestyle and that you are ready for him or her. We are looking for permanent homes, and we want the placement to work out for both you and the animal.

4. Your animal receives basic veterinary care.
Before they go to new homes, all WHS shelter animals are spayed or neutered. They are vaccinated for rabies and distemper (DHLPP for dogs and FVRCP for cats). Dogs are tested for heartworms and cats for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Animals who need it are de-wormed and treated for fleas. In short, all the basics are done by WHS before the animal leaves the shelter.

5. It's cost-effective.
To help cover shelter costs, WHS charges a $10 adoption fee per animal. Additional fees go toward the veterinary work ($40 for male cats, $50 for female cats, and $70 - $90 for dogs). Cats who are already altered when they arrive at the shelter cost $25 to adopt and altered dogs cost $35. With each placement, WHS loses money, but we want to keep fees low to encourage adoption.

6. Shelters stand behind their adoptions.
WHS is looking for permanent homes for the animals. We are always ready to help our adopters handle behavior problems, find veterinarians, pet-sitters, and trainers, and deal with emergencies. We can answer questions by telephone 24 hours a day.

7. You avoid supporting the animal industry.
In the United States, millions of animals are neglected, abandoned, and euthanized because there are not enough good homes for them. At the same time breeders - "reputable," "backyard," and "puppy mills" - continue to flood the market with animals for sale. This makes no sense. Animals are living beings, not commodities to be bought and sold...and then disposed of at shelters. For those concerned about animal welfare, adoption is the only sensible way to get an animal.

8. You can tell others about the animals at the shelter.
Once you have joined the thousands of households in the area which include adopted animals, you will be in a great position to tell others about the shelter and the wonderful animals looking for homes. Our adopters are always our animals' best advocates.

9. You are part of the solution.
You can't adopt them all. But maybe you can give one or two a loving home. Once you know us, maybe you will want to volunteer, become a member, make a donation, report an abused animal. Whatever you can do is helpful and welcome. If you can adopt one animal, you're a hero.

10. You feel good.
If you've never saved a life, take it from the thousands who have. You will feel good about it. And the dog or the cat you adopt will remind you everyday that you've done a wonderful thing.

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