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Adopt

How to Adopt

Adoption Process

Our goal is to match adopters with an animal companion who fits their lifestyle.  Our adoption process is structured to ensure that you and your selected pet are a good match!  All animals have been evaluated for adoptability. Our knowledgeable staff will walk you through the process and help you transition your pet to his or her new home.

  1. Browse our adoptable pets online or in-person at the shelter.  Read each animals description to see if they are compatible with other animals and/or children.  
  2. Have your eye on a specific animal? Download and complete the questionnaire for the type of animal in which you are interested.  Submit the completed questionnaire below or bring it with you to the shelter during open hours. (See Below)
  3. Review your questionnaire with an adoption counselor at the shelter.  Questionnaires are reviewed on a first-come-first-served basis.  
  4. Our adoption counselors will speak with you about your selected pet(s) and help you to identify your best match.
  5. Visit with your match(es) and get to know each other.
  6. Complete the adoption paperwork.

For the quickest service, bring your whole family, including resident dogs, as we require meet and greets with the entire household (cats and small mammals excluded).  Only individuals or families qualify to adopt; we do not adopt animals to a group such as a sorority or fraternity. We do not allow animals to be adopted as a gift.

Some of our adoptable animals will require special care, or have particular quirks that we will need to discuss with potential adopters.  Effective communication and complete understanding of an animals needs is necessary to ensure that the match is a good fit.  Language barriers can be problematic in the adoption process if both sides are not getting all the information needed to make a good adoption decision.  If we encounter a language barrier during the adoption process, we may ask you to bring a translator/interpreter to facilitate communication between the adoption counselor and the adopter.  

If you rent, bring a copy of your lease. Shelter staff will also obtain verbal Landlord approval. If you own your home, or rent and have written permission from your landlord, you are eligible to adopt a pet from the Whitman County Humane Society.

Please note that the adoption process will not be started after 5 pm. 

*In the best interests of the animals, the shelter staff reserves the right to refuse adoptions.

Questionnaire Forms

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Adoption Fees

Your adoption fee helps WCHS pay for the care of your new companion from the time s/he enters our facility until s/he joins your home. Your pet comes to you having received the following: spay or neutering*, a veterinary exam, all appropriate vaccinations, worming, and a microchip. These services at a local clinic would cost about $200. Additionally, cats and kittens are tested for feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

*Exotics will be altered based on recommendation by exotic veterinarians. If a pet is not altered, that will be discussed and disclosed in full prior to adoption. 

Can't adopt right away? Ask about our 1-day hold, only available for ADULT cats and dogs and all exotics

Pet Type Fee Total Cost
Cat (7+ months) $74.21 + Tax $80
Senior Cat $37.11 + Tax $40
Kitten (4-7 months) $102.04 + Tax $110
Kitten (under 4 months) $153.06 + Tax $165
Dog (7+ months) $120.59 + Tax $130
Senior Dog (Small 10+y, M/L 8+y, XL 5+y) $60.30 + Tax $65
Puppy (4-7 months) $162.34 + Tax $175
Puppy (under 4 months) $213.36 + Tax $230
Rabbit $55.56 + Tax $60
Guinea pig $27.83 + Tax $30
Rat $11.13 + Tax $12
"Shelter ambassador" (typically purebred) dogs $255 + Tax $275
"Shelter ambassador" (typically purebred) cats $208 + Tax $225

*Fees for other species vary depending on breed, age, and other factors. Occasionally a particular pet's adoption fee may be higher. In addition, the adoption fee for Hope Fund animals is $200 total for dogs, $175 for cats ($185.53 and $162.34 before tax, respectively) to assist in replenishing that fund for the next injured homeless pet. Please consult the Director of Shelter Operations for more details.