Welcome to the Adoption Information page. Here you will find information on adopting or re-homing a pet. If you have a question that is not answered here, please feel free to e-mail us at PAWS.
All of the animals in our Adoption Gallery are looking for permanent, responsible, loving homes. Many animals suffer each year often due to owners neglecting their pets, allowing their pets to breed, or just deciding they no longer want their animals. Please consider the time and money required in owning a pet.
Owning a pet is a lifetime commitment! And one that we at PAWS recommend is undertaken with a full understanding as to the welfare and care needed when adopting an animal.
Pet adoption or even pet ownership is not right for every person. Some people are too busy to adequately care for a pet. Some families have no experience with pets and might unintentionally neglect a pet or put a pet in harm’s way. Other people may have an incorrect or ill informed view about owning a pet.
Adopting a pet should be a serious step not taken impulsively. Just because a puppy or a kitten is cute and seems to enjoy being held by you is not enough reason to think they will be right for you or you right for them. Before you adopt anything, carefully look at yourself and your lifestyle. After you have done that, decide just how a pet could fit into that lifestyle with you.
When you adopt a pet you also adopt a number of pet-related responsibilities.
Some of these are:
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Giving your adopted pet a good, safe place to live;
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Giving your adopted pet good and regular medical care, particularly with yearly vaccinations;
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Giving your adopted pet good food to eat and good water to drink – everyday;
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Giving your pet (especially if it is a dog) good training;
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Spaying or neutering your adopted pet to cut down on the future numbers of adoptable pets as well as increasing their overall health; and
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Giving your adopted one the love, affection, and attention it needs to be a good pet and a treasured member of your family.
One reason that adoption may not be right for you could involve your budget. If you don’t have enough money to care for yourself and your family bringing a pet into the mix may make things worse for you financially.
If you travel a great deal, perhaps an adopted pet isn’t right for you at this time. Pets need consistent care. Simply putting out a week’s supply of food and water is not adequate care for your pet. When you own a companion animal you must take that pet into consideration whenever you plan your life’s activities. If you are too busy to take good care of your pet, save yourself some trouble and your pet a lot of misery and don’t adopt a pet! If you are in for long periods of time perhaps being an emergency foster parent would be an option as you can have pet companions without the long term commitment.
If you are the only person in your family that really wants an adopted pet, perhaps you should not adopt a pet right now. Your family will need to be actively involved in the care of any pet you own. Simply bringing a pet home without consulting with your family is not the best idea and may get the pet off to a bad start.
If you are a student about to go off to college, don’t saddle your parents with the care and responsibility of an adopted pet. At college you may live somewhere pets are not allowed. If they are allowed, you may have roommates that don’t want to share their lives with someone else’s pet. Your schedule may not allow you to provide adequate care for your adopted pet.
If you are in poor health, your decision to adopt a pet may have to be modified somewhat. A large and active dog and a frail person aren’t a good match. A dog will need regular walks outside or a backyard area. If your health won’t allow you to care for your adopted pet then you and the pet will suffer. Wait until you are in better health before you add to your responsibilities.
When a pet is adopted it will bond with and come to love its new owner. This bond is like the love a child has for its parents. If you aren’t sure that you can keep a pet once you have adopted it, perhaps adoption at this time would not be suitable.
On the other hand, you may be a perfect candidate to adopt a pet. You may have wanted a cat or dog, kitten or puppy for a long time. You may have prepared your home and lifestyle for getting a pet. You may have ample time to care for a pet. You may have read some books on pet care or talked with a pet expert about the kind of pet for you.
You may have enough money to give the right pet the right care.
If all these elements are in place you are probably ready, willing, and able to adopt just the right pet for you. There is still one more step for you to consider.
Give some careful (and realistic) thought to just what you want in a pet. Consider the kind of environment into which your adoptive pet will come. If you and your family are active and boisterous, don’t pick a pet that is laid back and wouldn’t enjoy a lively home. If you enjoy quiet evenings at home don’t get an overly exuberant pet. Consider your energy levels and the things you like to do and find a pet that can fit into these things.
The right pet in the right home is a truly happy combination.
For more advice on the above topics visit our Links page which has many listings that will give you more information.
PAWS does not sell any animal and does not condone the sale of any animal.
All PAWS sponsored pets are indicated with this symbol  .
It is PAWS policy to allow a two (2) week trial period for both pet and new owner to adjust. After this time the sole responsibility for the animal rests with the new owner.
To ensure that the animals we are re-homing will have a safe and secure future we have specific adoption policies, please read carefully:
You must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to adopt a PAWS animal; and
All PAWS animals must be de-sexed with the exception of kittens/puppies under the operable age.
While we hope your pet selection process is successful and permanent, we do offer a fourteen (14) day period to ascertain acknowledged behavioral abnormalities during which time you may surrender the pet for any reason.
PAWS reserves the right to refuse any adoption when it is felt the adoption is inappropriate in the circumstances.
Pets without the above paw symbol are advertised as a courtesy for people wanting to re-home their animals and are not subject to PAWS policies. It is best to check with the current owner if any conditions apply prior to adopting.
If you find a pet in our Adoption Gallery that you are interested in adopting you will see an info link on its picture. There you will find all the contact information for that pet.
You will need to contact the person listed direct to visit and/or ask any questions about the pet.
Any and all adoption terms are to be made between the advertised owner and the prospective adoptive family. PAWS is not involved in any private adoption negotiations. That is strictly between the advertised owner and the prospective adoptive family.
NOTE: PAWS DOES NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, ADVERTISE AN ANIMAL FOR SALE. IF AN ADVERTISED OWNER TRIES TO SELL YOU THEIR PET PLEASE REPORT IT TO PAWS IMMEDIATELY.
Anyone thinking about re-homing their pet should remember that the pet remains the owner’s responsibility until the adoption has been finalized.
Even if you can't keep them anymore, your pet still depends on you to do what's in their best interest. It will take time, effort, patience and persistence to find them the right home. Remember, your pet is a member of your family and you owe it to them to find them a loving new home.
The final decision as to what to do with an animal is the responsibility of the owner. We ask that people remember that turning an animal out is not setting it free. Domestic pets suffer terribly when left to fend for themselves. This is
often a slow and painful demise for the animals and we encourage all alternatives to be thought over long and hard.
If all other options are exhausted and you need to re-home your pet please fill out the PAWS Re-Homing Form  and e-mail it to the appropriate homing coordinator (Cat, Dog or Misc.) along with a digital picture(s) of your pet.
When the appropriate homing coordinator receives your re-homing form and picture(s) they will make sure it is placed in our Adoption Gallery and featured in our E-Newsletter.
If you successfully re-home your pet please contact the appropriate homing coordinator immediately and let them know. That way your pet can be marked as “homed” and moved into our Happy Tails Gallery. It will also eliminate any further inquiries about your pet.
If after three (3) months your pet is not yet re-homed please notify us or it will be automatically removed.
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