Check out our Adoptable Animals here!

Our Adoption Fees

All pets are spayed or neutered and have received their rabies vaccinations before going to their new home. Cash or debit/credit card. 

• Dog Adoption Fee: $125, but can often be less due to special discounts!

• Cat Adoption Fee: $45, but can often be less due to special discounts!

• Pre-Adoption: Pre-Adopt a pet that has not been neutered or vaccinated yet! You will pay $30 up front. The pet will continue their stay at the shelter until their appointment date. The day following their surgery, you will pay the remainder of the adoption fee and take your new fur baby home! 

Our Adoption Process

Adult/Juvenile Canines:

Adoption fee: $125.

All adult canines are required to be spayed/neutered and rabies vaccinated before adoption or have an appointment set up for spay/neuter services before leaving the Shelter. The adoption fee includes: 

• Spay/neuter services
• One year rabies vaccination
• Deworming
• Minimum first round of boosters
• One month of flea and tick prevention
• Microchip with in-house registration 
• Collar and leash, as available
• Heartworm testing, as needed

Juvenile canines and those who have not yet been spayed/neutered will have an appointment made with a local veterinarian before adoption.  The appointment will be confirmed and logged in a spreadsheet maintained at the Shelter.  If the procedure can be scheduled within 3 days, the adopter may choose to leave the animal at the Shelter until the procedure is completed. The animal may then be picked up at the vet after the procedure or when returned to the Shelter. If the adopter chooses to take the animal home before the procedure, a $75 security deposit is required before leaving the Shelter and will be returned when the adopter brings records of the procedure to the Shelter. 

Canine Adoption Procedure:

An adopter-canine meet-and-greet is required, and the entire family is encouraged to attend. A second meet-and-greet will be scheduled with any indoor canines who would be affected by the adoption.  Appointments for the adoption room are encouraged, but walk-ins are taken as time allows. These meetings typically last 30-60 minutes.   Adoption can occur that same day if all goes well; however, if there are concerns about finalizing the adoption, the adopter can schedule an additional meeting or consider entering the foster-to-adopt program (described in separate policy).

Adoption process:

• Complete adoption form on PetPoint
• Verify other family pets are rabies vaccinated 
• Make copy of valid driver’s license or other ID
• Review all medical and microchip paperwork with adopter
• Set up vet appointment for spay/neuter if needed and record on spreadsheet
• Microchip and register in-house
• Collect adoption payment and spay/neuter deposit, if required

Adult /Juvenile Felines:

Adoption fee: $45.

All adult felines are required to be spayed/neutered and rabies vaccinated before adoption or have an appointment set up for spay/neuter services before leaving the Shelter. The adoption fee includes: 

• Spay/neuter services
• One year rabies vaccination
• Deworming
• Minimum first round of boosters
• One month of flea and tick prevention
• Microchip with in-house registration
• Feline leukemia testing
• Collar, as available

Juvenile felines and those who have not yet been spayed/neutered will have an appointment made with a local veterinarian before adoption.  The appointment will be confirmed and logged in a spreadsheet maintained at the Shelter.   If the procedure can be scheduled within 3 days, the adopter may choose to leave the animal at the Shelter until the procedure is completed. The animal may then be picked up at the vet after the procedure or when returned to the Shelter. If the adopter chooses to take the animal home before the procedure, a $75 security deposit is required before leaving the Shelter and will be returned when the adopter brings records of the procedure to the Shelter. 

Feline Adoption Procedures:

An adopter-feline meet-and-greet is required, and the entire family is encouraged to attend. Appointments for the adoption room are encouraged, but walk-ins are taken as time allows. These meetings typically last 30-60 minutes.  Adoption can occur that same day if all goes well; however, if there are concerns about finalizing the adoption, the adopter can schedule an additional meeting or consider entering the foster-to-adopt program (described in separate policy).

Adoption process:

• Complete adoption form on PetPoint
• Verify other family pets are rabies vaccinated
• Make copy of valid driver’s license or other ID
• Review all medical and microchip paperwork with adopter
• Set up vet appointment for spay/neuter if needed and record on spreadsheet
• Microchip and register in-house
• Collect adoption payment and spay/neuter deposit, if required

General Guidelines:

Adopted animals over 3 months of age will have rabies vaccination before leaving the Shelter.

All adopters must be 18 years of age or older and present valid ID.

Jefferson County Animal Shelter has the right to refuse any adoption that is not in the best interest of the animal. 

The Jefferson County Animal Shelter is not responsible for any damages in the home or to a family member or another animal caused by the adopted animal. 

The adoption contract is voided and the Shelter has the authority, through the Animal Control Officer, to arrange for the removal of an animal from the adopter’s home if spay/neuter is not carried out. There is no refund of adoption fees or spay/neuter deposit. 

An animal that is not a ‘good fit’ in the adopter’s home may be returned to the Shelter within two weeks for a full refund. Animals returned after two weeks are considered an owner relinquish and do not qualify for a refund (described in separate policy).

The Shelter Director has the discretion to deviate from this policy if needed, on a case-by-case basis, with appropriate documentation of extenuating circumstances.