Adoption Process & Application

Our adoption process is by appointment only.

Cat Adoption Application

Dog Adoption Application

When you adopt, not only do you save your loving new companion, but you make space for other animals who desperately need it, creating a domino effect of goodness.

Our Adoption Process

• Each of our animals has specific needs and personalities, so it’s important to make sure you choose one that is right for you. If you’re interested in applying for one of our animals, first click on our “adoptable pets” tab to see what animals are currently available for adoption and then fill out our adoption application. It’s important to read the bio for the dog or cat that interests you to see if it will be a good fit for your household. If you don’t see the right pet for you, but you want to apply for a future adoption, you can still fill out an adoption application. Simply describe what you are looking for in the first section of the application, and we will keep your application on file for six months.
• After we receive your application, we will contact you to talk about the best fit for your family and answer any of your questions.
• We will then complete any vet reference or landlord check, if needed.
• Next, we will contact you to schedule a time for you to meet and potentially adopt your new friend.
• Note: Our adoptions are not on a first come, first served basis. Sometimes we have many great applicants for one animal; when that happens we will choose the best fit for that pet based on its specific needs. Our mission is to give each of our animals the best environment for their personal needs, in order to ensure they have a home forever.
• Due to our experiences with Littermate Syndrome, we no longer adopt sibling puppies together. Littermate Syndrome, or littermate dependency, refers to behaviors that develop when two puppies from the same litter are raised together. Behaviors include attachment to each other, difficulty bonding with humans and other animals, aggression, separation anxiety, and reduced independence in training.

Adoption Requirements

• You must be 21 years or older to adopt an animal from us. Please bring a valid form of identification.
• All members of the household must visit with the potential new family member before the adoption is finalized. We want to make sure it’s a good fit for everyone!
• If you are planning on adopting a dog and already have an existing dog, we ask that you leave them at home during your first visit. Once you’ve decided on the right dog for you, we can schedule an appointment to bring your dog to the shelter for a dog meet and greet. This is not necessary for cats.
• Renters: We will need to contact your landlord or rental company to verify the pet policy.
• We require a veterinary reference for adopters who currently or recently had a pet. If you do not have any pets or have not had one recently, we do ask that you make a deposit at a veterinary clinic (of your choice) to cover the cost for your first visit. This ensures us that you plan to provide the care your pet will need to live a long and healthy life.
• After we receive your application, we will contact you to talk about the best fit for your family and answer any of your questions.
• We will then complete any vet reference or landlord check, if needed.
• Next, we will contact you to schedule a time for you to meet and potentially adopt your new family member.

Adoptions Include

• Felines: Spay/neuter, rabies (based on age), distemper, deworming, flea/tick treatment and preventative, and microchip.
• Canines: Spay/neuter, rabies (based on age), distemper, Bordetella, deworming, flea/tick treatment and preventative, heartworm test, and microchip. Dogs that are already heartworm positive include their full heartworm treatment through Big Lake Community Animal Clinic.

Adoption Fees

Spay and neuter surgeries and heartworm treatment is included in our adoption fees through Big Lake Community Animal Clinic. Adopters are welcome to decide to use their own veterinarian for these services, however, we do not offer any reimbursement towards those costs.