Adoption Process

The benefits of adopting a pet from HSHC are immeasurable. The most tangible adoption benefits, however, include:

• If your pet hasn’t already been spayed or neutered, your adoption fee includes it! Your pet will be spayed/neutered before they go home and may be picked up from the participating vet clinic of your choice.*
• All animals receive a complimentary wellness exam and a certificate for a free Rabies vaccine (redeemable with any participating veterinarian**).
• Each animal receives 30 days of FREE Pet Insurance through the ShelterCare Program.
• All animals will have received – at a minimum – their first round of vaccinations, a complete deworming, and heartworm/flea/tick preventative.
• All dogs meeting the age requirement have been heartworm tested.
• All cats are Feline Leukemia/FIV tested.
• Each pet is microchipped and registered to the adopter for free.
• Our dogs are temperament tested so we can place them in the best possible homes.
• We will “cat test” a dog you’re interested in adopting at no additional fee.
• All adopters receive a complimentary bag of Science Diet food and special offers from corporate sponsors good for discounts on boarding, training, grooming, pet supplies, and invisible fencing.

*Please note that additional treatments, medications, or procedures your local vet may recommend are NOT included with our adoption fees and are the sole responsibility of the adopter. This includes – but is not limited to – pre-surgical bloodwork prior to spay/neuter surgery, post operative pain medication after spay/neuter surgery, antibiotics, booster shots, additional wormings, fecal examinations, dental work, and declawing.

**Adopters must choose from our list of participating veterinarians to redeem the services included with your adoption fee. A list of those veterinarians will be provided at the point of adoption.

The minimum age for adoption is 18, and for certain breeds – including Pit Bulls and Pit Bulls mixes, Rottweilers, Akitas, German Shepherds, Shar Peis, Dobermans, Bull Mastiffs, Huskies, and Chow Chows – you must be 21.

We must be able to either verify home ownership or have approval from your landlord. Regardless of age, if you live with a parent, he or she must be present at the time of adoption.

We require you to have a personal phone number and a copy of your driver’s license or state ID.

If you currently have a dog, we require they be introduced to your new addition. The shelter has a play yard to assist with new introductions.

If you currently have a cat, and you would like to adopt a dog, we will conduct a complimentary “cat test” with your prospective pet to ensure feline-canine compatibility!

We require that children under 16 be introduced to new pets before the adoption is finalized. (We may require that ALL family members, regardless of age, meet a dog with special needs.This requirement may be waived for some cat adoptions.)

Because choosing a pet is a very personal – and lifelong – decision, we do not allow pets to be adopted as gifts. The exception to this rule is adopting a pet for your dependent children. Gift certificates are available at our front desk.

Approximately 3 million animals are euthanized in U.S. shelters every year. In an effort to do our part to reduce that number, we require that other animals within an adopter’s home be spayed or neutered. 

Please note there is a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for Hamilton County residents. For more information on this and other Hamilton County Animal Ordinances visit this page.

To learn more about the health and behavior improvement benefits of spaying/neutering your pet and low-cost vet resources visit this page.

Some exceptions may be made under the following circumstances:

• You provide documentation from your vet explaining why spaying/neutering is not in your pet’s best health interest.
• Your pet is under six months old.
• You can provide proof of a Hamilton County Breeder’s Permit.
• You have documentation your animal is a “show” animal.