Stephen
Memorial
Animal
Shelter
THE ADOPTION PROCESS
Thinking About Adoption?
When you choose to adopt a pet from a shelter, you are giving a second chance to an animal in need. Adoption is a significant but worthy commitment, and it is our joy to help connect people with their new pet.
Pet Adoption Process
Our goal is to ensure each animal is placed in a loving home that meets its unique set of needs.
Every animal and every home is different, and it’s our job to help match an animal with the right home for them. This includes an application process and conversations with our adoption team that ensure a good match and a happy, healthy future for the animal.
Requirements to Adopt:
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You must be at least 18 years old to fill out an application for adoption.
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There is no fee to submit an application.
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If you rent, it is your responsibility to know your landlord’s pet policy and ensure you are able to have pets on their property
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Person who will be caring for the animal must be present to sign the adoption contract
Canine Adoption Process
The first step in adopting a dog is looking through the available animals on our website. Each dog has several photos and information about their history, personality, and what type of home will be best for them. If you see a dog you are interested in, the next step is to fill out the online application. If you are open to meeting several animals before you make a decision, please fill out the general application and we can guide you through the process of meeting your perfect match. Even if you fill out an application for a specific animal, we may recommend other animals based on your situation and what you are looking for in a pet.
You can expect to hear from one of our team members within three days of submitting your application. Also please be advised we receive an overwhelming number of applications for puppies, purebreds, and designer breeds, and it will take longer for those applications to be processed.
One question we often receive is, “Why can’t I just go to the kennel and look at the dogs?” This is for several reasons:
Well-being of the animals
The shelter is already a very scary and stressful place for the animals. When people walk through the kennels, many dogs start barking or become frightened. Keeping our kennel space as calm as possible is best for the animals. Improving the adoption experience Safety Not enforcing bad behaviors
Improving the adoption experience
We are not able to supervise everyone as they walk through the kennels, and this often leads to people putting fingers through kennel bars or attempting to open kennels.
Safety
Animals are able to show their personalities much better when they are outside of the kennel. They are much more relaxed and are able to show their true selves. This is why we ask potential adopters to make an appointment, where we can accommodate meet & greets with several different animals in one of our play yards or private rooms.
When a dog starts to bark when they see someone show up in their doorway, and that person walks away, that dog is learning that if they bark, someone unfamiliar or scary will go away. This leads to unwanted behavior in the home – barking at the mailman, Amazon package delivery person, or new person coming to visit.
Feline Adoptions Process
If you are looking to adopt a cat, you are welcome to simply come to our Shelter and meet one of the many cats in our facility.
They are in pods that allow you to visit and they are eager to meet you!
Once you see a cat you may be interested in, our staff will walk you through the rest of the process. You can also view all adoptable cats and learn more about them on our website. Cats are adopted to appropriate adopters, and filling out an application online does not guarantee adoption for that animal.
Adoption Fees
DOGS
PUPPIES (UNDER 9 MONTHS OLD): $215.00
ADULT DOGS (9 MONTHS - 7 YEARS OLD): $185.00
SENIOR DOGS (OLDER THAN 7 YEARS): $135.00
Pricing may vary due to desirable breed
CATS
KITTENS (7 MONTHS OLD UNDER): $85.00
8 MONTHS AND UP : $50.00
Pricing may vary due to desirable breed.
