A Guide to Pet Adoption
Find the right pet for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A place to find answers to commonly asked pet care questions.
Volunteering
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READ MOREHow is limiting services at the Sunshine Adoption Center during the winter month conserving resources?
Last winter, the intake number of dogs and cats at the Sunshine Adoption Center during the winter months averaged 8 cats and 14 dogs per month. This year, intake numbers have decreased with only 5 cats and 8 dogs received in November. With a sufficient number of adoptable kennels available at the Buena Vista shelter to accommodate the winter shelter animal population, the need for services is too small to balance out the cost of staffing and utilities required to continue to offer full services at Sunshine Adoption Center through the winter months.
What if I find a stray dog or cat in the Salida area? What do I do?
Please call 719-395-2737 or visit the Ark-Valley Humane Society (AVHS) website at www.ark-valley.org first! Someone may have reported the animal lost and we may be able to put you directly in touch with the owner. If there is no lost report on record, you have several options:
- You can keep the animal in your home and contact AVHS so we can post a found report with a picture of the animal on our website and Facebook page.
- You can bring the animal to the Buena Vista shelter, which is open daily, 11am-5pm.
- You can call local Chaffee County Dispatch 719-539-2596 for assistance 24 hours a day. While the Sunshine Adoption Center will not be open for the public to drop off stray animals during the winter months, law enforcement has access to impound kennels year-round.
How can someone reclaim a dog or cat that law enforcement has dropped off at the Sunshine Shelter?
Impound kennels will be monitored regularly and AVHS will transport all animals brought to the Sunshine Adoption Center by law enforcement to the Buena Vista shelter within 24 hours of intake. Owners can reclaim their pets at the Buena Vista shelter only, which is open 11am-5pm, 7 days a week.
What if I want to adopt a dog or cat?
While the Sunshine Adoption Center will not be housing animals for adoption during the winter months, the Buena Vista shelter will be open 7 days a week from 11am to 5pm.
What if I want to volunteer?
AVHS volunteers are an invaluable asset to the shelter. As a volunteer, we value your time and commitment to the animals. With all animals at one facility in the winter months, it makes your time volunteering more worthwhile, because you can be sure that you are reaching all of the animals that need you. If you are unable to drive up to Buena Vista, please consider fostering or becoming an adoption ambassador through the winter. Click here for more information.
