Thank you for your interest in a shelter pet.

 
 If you recently submitted an adoption application, we will review it and in the next few days we will reach out to applicants to schedule an appointment to visit the pet. On occasion, we get dozens of applications for the same pet, so in those cases, some applicants may not get an appointment.
 
How will your new pet interact with your existing pets? Will it try to escape? How is it around children? Below you will find some useful information to help your new pet adapt to your home and become part of your family.
 
Whether you adopted from our shelter or another, thank you for your interest in rescuing a shelter pet. 

Post Spay / Neuter Support

If your pet was recently spayed/neutered for the next two weeks, keep it calm, limit its activity level, do not let it participate in strenuous play and do not let the incision to get wet as this could cause the incision to break open.

Your First Vet Visit

We recommend that you take your pet to your veterinarian for a thorough examination as soon as possible. You should have received your pet’s medical records, if you did not, contact the shelter.

Local Vets

Have patience - it may be the first time they have been inside a house!

We can’t guarantee that your new dog is housetrained, so please be patient. Click the button below for some helpful tips on housetraining.

Tips and Tricks

Vaccines:

Your dog has received the following vaccinations: rabies, distemper, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza, parvovirus combo vaccination. If your dog is over six-months old, it has been tested for heartworms. .
 
Your cat has been spayed/neutered and received a rabies vaccination, FVRCP combo vaccination, parvovirus combo vaccination, it was tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

Kennel Stress:

Your new pet has been under to a lot of stress while living at the shelter. Before it arrived at the shelter, it may have been neglected, starved, suffered from disease and even abused. Please give it time to adjust to you and its new home.

Separation Anxiety:

Your new pet may experience separation anxiety. Your shelter pet was alone in a shelter for days, weeks or maybe months. Now it is finally in a real home and all seems well. Then suddenly the humans leave and it is all alone. They can panic and become destructive or run away. 

Dogs, cats, children and other creatures:

The shelter staff cannot tell you how your new dog will react to your dog, your cat, your guinea pig or your kids. An improper introduction can result injury or even death.
 
Introducing two dogs is best done on neutral ground. Keep both dogs on a leash and be prepared to separate them. You may want to have a fence between them. Introduce them gradually and don’t be surprised if they exhibit aggressive behavior. Often they are just getting to know each other and after a day or two, they will be friends.
 
The first time your dog sees your cat, your dog should be on a leash and the cat should be behind a fence or visible through a glass window or door. Some dogs may not react at all, some may want to play and others may exhibit aggressive behavior. After several days, if the dog continues to exhibit aggressive behavior, you may want to consider hiring a dog trainer. 
 
 
No one can predict how your new pet will react the first time your two-year-old pulls its tail or reaches into the food dish while it is eating. Keep in mind, your new shelter pet may not be accustomed to children and children may not be aware of the potential risks unless you teach them.