How to Adopt!

The adoption fee for any animal from the WCHS includes the pet’s vaccines to the appropriate age, microchip, and spay or neuter.

If you are renting your home, you likely need to obtain approval from your landlord before adopting a pet. Potential adopters sometimes face last-minute denials from their landlords. This helps ensure a smooth adoption experience and a stable home for your new pet. Please note that WCHS may not be able to take a pet back immediately if an issue with your landlord arises after adoption.

The WCHS aims to have open conversations with adopters as to best pair them with an animal suited to their needs. However, sometimes it is hard to say if it is the perfect match before giving it a try. A new pet is a big commitment, and we take that just as seriously as you likely are! Adopters looking into adult cats, dogs, and puppies are often given the opportunity to do a “Foster to Adopt”. This one to two-week trial is often a good way to make sure that a new pet and a previous pet are well suited to live in the same home, as well as to allow you to evaluate your needs versus the needs of this new animal. This program is not applicable for every adoption, so please be sure to speak with shelter staff if you feel like this is the best option for your home.

A combination of factors such as stress, food change, and the location where the animal was originally found play into this. If your new family member begins to show signs of health issues within the first 10 days of adoption, please call us right away at (509) 332-3422 so that we are able to have your pet seen by our veterinarian. We are dedicated to each animal, and aim to support both them and their new family through their adoption!

Yes, local regulations may limit the number of pets you can have in your home. We recommend checking your city or county’s pet ownership laws to ensure you comply with any restrictions. For example, in Pullman, the limit is three cats and three dogs per household. Violating these regulations can lead to significant fines, so it’s important to be aware of and adhere to your area’s rules before adopting a pet.

The short answer: Meeting dogs is done through appointments so our staff can provide the best experience possible for both the dogs and potential adopters.

The long answer: Our dog building is circular, which means when one person walks in, every single dog can see, hear, and react to them at the same time. That often leads to barking chains, jumping, barrier frustration, overstimulation, and elevated stress levels throughout the entire building. For dogs already struggling in a shelter environment, repeated spikes in stress and noise are not beneficial and can actually make it harder for them to relax and show their true personalities to potential adopters or even rest at the end of a overstimulating day.

Having staff bring dogs out individually during appointments creates a calmer, safer environment and allows dogs to meet community members one-on-one without the added stress of the entire kennel reacting around them.

It also helps us safely manage dogs under quarantines, as visitors do not always notice or understand posted restrictions.

Additionally, because we are a small (but mighty) team, we also need to ensure staff are able to safely care for the animals, complete daily cleaning and medical tasks, and accommodate adoption appointments. Being able to plan out the day by utilizing appointments for our dog adoptions allows our staff to do this more efficiently.

Check out our pet support program!