Animal Adoption Policy

People adopting animals are given instructions regarding feeding, watering, housebreaking, spaying or neutering, vaccinations needed, and veterinary care.

All animals which are approved for adoption by the Director and/or Animal Control Specialist must be rendered free of external parasites, bathed, combed and trimmed before being adopted.

Many factors must be addressed in making the determination as to whether an animal is eligible for adoption. These include but are not limited to the following, and the Director makes the final determination.

• Temperament
  Animal Control will not adopt any animal that has a history of biting, nor will it adopt any animal that has been held under quarantine for rabies observation. The temperament of all animals must be observed by Animal Control employees for at least a week before judgments as to temperament are made. Cowering, hissing, reluctance to be held, barking or meowing excessively, being urinary incontinent when being petted, picked up or spoken to, growling without cause, timid, snarling, fear of children or adults, non-responsive to humans, over-excitability and vicious are some of the traits of cats and dogs that would indicate poor temperament.
  
  
• Physical Condition
  Animals which are obese and under weight have less chance of being adopted.
  
  
• Age
  Young animals have a greater chance of being adopted. Once a puppy or kitten becomes six to nine months of age their chances for adoption are greatly diminished. However, if housebroken, adoptive age can be six months to four years old.
  
  
• Breed
  Purebred animals, with or without registration papers, have a greater chance of being adopted. However, supplying such registration papers to the person or persons adopting a registered animal from Animal Control is strictly prohibited.
  
  
• Diseased, Malnourished, or Injured Animals
  Such animals are never deemed adoptable if determined to be as such by the Director and/or Animal Control Specialist.
  
  
• Mixed Breeds
  Such animals may have a greater adoption potential as puppies or kittens but when they become adults they have very little adoption potential.
  
  
• Sterile, Declawed, and Docile Animals
  Animals which have been rendered sterile, declawed etc. and are very docile and show no bad habits or traits are more likely to be adoptable.