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A Lifetime Commitment

Pets are a lifetime commitment and require a substantial time and financial investment.  It is important to not only think about whether a new pet fits into your life today, but will they fit in the future.  Your pet might live to be anywhere from 10 to 15 plus years old, so please take the following into consideration.

The top 5 reasons people surrender their pets to our facility are:

1. We’re moving and can’t keep our pet.  If there is a move planned in your future, you must ensure you can have pets and that there aren’t any breed specific guidelines that will prevent you from keeping your pet.   Ask landlords for their pet policy and ask for something in writing that indicates you meet the requirements to have a pet.
2. Financial hardship.  Pets are expensive.  They get sick, they require preventative care so they don’t get sick such as heartworm preventative and dental care, not to mention the cost of boarding should you travel and providing good food.  You must take these things into consideration before taking on a new dependant.
3. Behavioral issues.  It is truly amazing how many people will surrender their dogs or cats because of behavioral issues when the family has never provided any training to the animal or explored potential health problems that might be creating the behavior. 

1. Dogs need to be trained on what they can and cannot do.  They’re looking to their humans for guidance.  This is YOUR responsibility.
2. When you take home a new puppy, they are a blank canvas.  You have the paint brush.  What they become is entirely up to you. 
3. Whether it’s a cat urinating outside the litter box or scratching up the couch, these behaviors can usually be explained by a health condition or be easily addressed.

4. Not enough time.  Other than moving, this is probably the most frustrating and avoidable reason owners surrender their pets.  This usually results from spontaneous decisions to purchase or adopt a pet.  Pets take time.  They need daily care, exercise and love.  If you don’t have time to do these things each and every day, you don’t need a pet.
5. Divorce.  We receive many pets because couples divorce and in the midst of a difficult situation, their pets pay the price.  Divorce is a very difficult thing to cope with, but pets are a lifetime responsibility just like your children and should not be disposed of even in times of hardship.

Adoption Process

     After you have fallen in love with the animal you would like to make part of your family, you will go through the following steps:

Step 1

      Fill out an application and pay the adoption fee for the animal you've selected. Adoption fees range between $45 and $250 depending on the age, size and breed of the animal.  Please note that some pets may have an increased adoption fee if they are part of our Survivor Program, while others may have a discounted fee if they have been at the shelter for an extended period of time or have special medical needs.    

Please note we do offer discounts on our adoptions fees in many cases depending on how long the animal has been at the shelter, and we usually feature a monthly adoption special. 

	You must be at least 18 years old to adopt a pet. Special Breed adoptions that require adopters be at least 21 years old. (e.g., Pit Bulls—including mixes, Rottweilers, Akitas, and Chow Chows).  Please note that some special breed or special needs adoptions may require a home visit.
	We must be able to verify home ownership or verify that you are allowed to have pets by your landlord.  Regardless of your age, if you live with a parent or guardian, they must be present at the point of adoption and will be asked to complete the adoption application.
	You must have a personal phone number (e.g. home phone, personal cell phone), and a copy of your driver's license or State ID.
	If you currently have a dog(s), we do require that you bring them in for an introduction before taking home your new family member.  This is required for dog adoptions only. If you’re driving a long distance to visit our shelter, it might be a good idea to bring your dog with you so you’ll be prepared should you decide to adopt a new pet.   There is a play yard at the shelter that we use to help introduce pets for the first time. Staff members can help the family with this initial introduction, which makes everything smoother on the day your new pet comes home.
	If you have children (under the age of 16), we require that they too be introduced to any prospective new pets to ensure compatibility.  Some exceptions may apply for cat adoptions.
	Due to the personal nature of choosing the right pet and the lifetime responsibility that follows, we do not allow pets to be purchased as gifts (unless it is for children living in your household—however introduction requirements above still apply).  Gift certificates are available for purchase at the front desk.
	We require that all pets in your home be spayed or neutered prior to adopting a new pet from our facility.  Exceptions may be made if proper documentation can be provided by your veterinarian citing health reasons preventing the spay or neuter of your pet or if your pet is under 6 months of age and adopting parties agree the procedure will be completed by the time the animal is 6 months of age.

Step 2

     Your application will be processed by an adoption counselor, and you may pick up your pet the same day upon approval of your application if all steps above have been completed and your new pet is already spayed or neutered.   If your new pet is not yet spayed or neutered, we will set up an appointment with one of our participating veterinarians and you may pick them up from the vet the day the surgery is completed.   A list of participating vets and locations will be provided to you to choose from at the point of adoption.

If additional time is required to allow your family time to prepare for your new pet, we can hold your pet for 24 hours provided the adoption fee has been paid in full and all other requirements have been met.

Hold Process:

We do offer potential adopters the option to place a hold on a pet so the required steps can all be met and you have time to think through your decision.   Holds are effective until the next day at 5pm.  Because the shelter is closed to the public on Wednesdays, holds placed on Tuesday will be good until 5pm on Thursday.  The hold fee is $30 and is non-refundable. 

Hold fees will go toward the adoption fee upon approval of your application or may be put towards another animal if adopted that same day. 

Please be considerate to the animal you’ve placed on hold and contact the shelter if you know you will not be returning for the animal.  Every moment an animal is on hold is an opportunity that someone else may have taken them home.    

First Come, First Serve Adoption Policy:

The shelter cannot maintain a request or wish list for the public due to our limited resources.  Because some breeds and younger animals are in greater demand, we do adoptions on a first come first serve basis.   New animals arrive every day and are placed up for adoption every day, so please feel free to visit frequently or look for pets on our website at www.hamiltonhumane.com.  For the most current listing of available pets, please go to our Petfinder link which is provided on the Pet Listing page of our website.

Adoption Program Benefits:

• All animals will be spayed or neutered prior to pick up.

• All animals will receive a complimentary wellness exam and a certificate for a free Rabies vaccine which is redeemable with any participating veterinarian unless noted otherwise.

• Each animal receives 30 Days of FREE Pet Insurance through the ShelterCare Program.

• All animals have received, at a minimum, their first round of vaccinations, are dewormed, and have received a heartworm/flea & tick preventative.

• All dogs meeting the age requirement are heartworm tested.

• All cats are Feline Leukemia/FIV tested.

• Each pet is microchipped and registered to the adopter for free.

• All pets go home with a complimentary bag of Science Diet dog or cat food.

• And all adopters will receive a number of special offers from our corporate sponsors good for discounts on boarding, training, grooming, pet supplies and invisible fencing to name a few.

• Please note that other 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 antibiotics, booster shots, additional wormings, fecal examinations, dental work and declawing.

2008 Adoption Application

PAWS (Partnering Animals with Seniors)

     We are committed to finding loving homes for all of our adoptable animals. Sometimes it’s more difficult to place our ‘senior’ dogs and cats, so in an effort to help improve their chances AND offer seniors in our community an opportunity to spend their golden years filled with unconditional love…the Humane Society for Hamilton County will discount the adoption fee for all P.A.W.S eligible animals to just $45.00 for any adopter who is 55 years or older. Please note a driver's license or state ID will be required.

     Which animals are PAWS eligible? Senior dogs and cats are considered 5 years or older. Cages of animals eligible for the program will be marked with a PAWS tag.

     Are there any discounts if I adopt 2 animals? Yes! The adoption fee for one animal is $45 and the fee for two PAWS eligible pets is just $85.

     Since the fee is so discounted, will I still get all the same benefits? Absolutely.

     Are there any restrictions?  Yes. Because the fee is already significantly discounted, no other promotional offers will apply.  There may also be some exceptions for those animals who are part of the Survivor Program.

You may not adopt a pet on behalf of someone else so they receive the discount.

Adoption Return Policy:

We always accept any pet who was adopted at our facility.  Please note that there are no adoption fee refunds unless the requirements outlined in your adoption application have been met.

Go to the pet list

     Questions? Email us at hshc@hamiltonhumane.com.

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     We rely on the generous support of our community, so all donations are appreciated.