Find the right pet for you

The Adoption Process

 (must be 18 years of age or older)

1. View our available animals and identify the pet you are interested in meeting.

• • Read the animal’s profile and consider all information and recommendations provided. Only submit a survey for an animal if you think you can meet all recommendations.

2. Complete and submit an adoption application, including the name of the specific pet you are interested in. Applications must be fully completed to be considered. * We cannot retain adoption applications to be used for your interest in other animals *

• • Follow the instructions on the pet’s adoption profile to submit your adoption application.
  • Most available pets will receive multiple adoption applications. Submitting an application is not a guarantee that you will be able to meet or adopt that pet.

3. Applications will be viewed as they are received, and we will contact potential adopters to discuss the pet.  At this time, staff will discuss with you the pet’s behavioral and medical needs.

• • Many shelter pets will receive multiple adoption applications, so staff may not be able to contact every interested adopter. If you do not receive notification from us within 48 hours, please check the website to see if the pet is still available. 
    • If it is available, please email or call us to request an update. 
    • If it is not available, please check out other pets available for adoption.
  • If you and staff believe that the pet may be a good fit and the adoption process should continue, we will ask you to use our payment link to place a $10 non-refundable hold on the animal in order to schedule an appointment for you to meet the pet.  Holds are good for 24 hours and do not guarantee adoption.  If you adopt the animal, your hold fee becomes an initial payment toward the full adoption fee.

4. Meet the pet!

• • Arrangements will be made for you to meet the pet. Appointments are highly encouraged and in some cases will be required, as many of our animals are in foster care and not housed in the shelter building.  Walk-ins during shelter open hours will be accommodated as staffing and time allows and after steps 1-3 have been completed.  However, visitors with pre-scheduled appointments will be given priority and walk-ins may be asked to schedule an appointment and come back at a later time to meet the pet.  At your appointment staff review with you the pet’s behavioral and medical needs.
  • Meeting a pet is not a guarantee that you will be able to adopt. 

5. Adopt! 

• • When the adoption is ready to go, a staff member will contact you to process the adoption and take full payment. Adoptions can be processed by phone or in-person. After the adoption is completed, you may take your pet home or we will arrange a time for you to pick up your pet. 
  • When you adopt:
    • You will provide your government-issued ID number and date of birth.
    • We will process the adoption and provide you with copies of all available medical records (and behavioral/medical disclosures if applicable).
    • We will register your new pet’s microchip with 24PetWatch.
    • You will sign our adoption contract and pay adoption fees
    • In-Shelter Pets:  Most pets can go home with you the same day. There are occasions where the pet will need to stay for additional veterinary care or spay/neuter surgery, in which case our staff will advise you when your pet will be ready for pick up.
    • Foster Pets:  Once the adoption is completed and staff has received your signed adoption contract, you and the foster parent will set a mutually agreeable time to transfer the pet to you. In some cases, the pet may not be able to go home until additional veterinary care or spay/neuter surgery is completed.

6. Celebrate! 

• • We love to hear Happy Tails stories!  Please email us any follow up information and photos and let us know if you consent to us sharing your adoption story and photos on our Facebook page.
  • Please email or call us if you have any questions or concerns about your adopted pet.  We are here to support you. 

If you have seen an animal in the newspaper or online and would like to know more about this pet, please call us at 719-395-2737 or Fill out an Adoption Application

Adoption saves lives!  Thanks for considering adoption.