How to adopt
Bringing home a new companion is an exciting, important step for you and your family. Here's everything you need to know.
Four steps to a new best friend
Filling out an application doesn't guarantee placement — think of it as the first step in telling us what you're looking for in a companion. For the welfare of our dogs, appointments are always required to meet dogs during open hours.
Browse available animals
See who's looking for a home right now — dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and little pets, updated live from our shelter.
Meet the animalsSubmit an application online
Tell us about your home and what you're hoping for. Our adoption counselors review every application to help make a great match.
Meet your match
Visit during open hours (Tue–Sat, 11–3:30). Cat and small-animal visits are walk-in; dog visits are by appointment so we can set every introduction up for success.
Take them home
Every adoption includes a full vet workup (see below). Thanks to our partners at IPJ Real Estate, dogs go home with a complimentary leash & collar and cats with a cardboard carrier.
Applications are hosted securely on ShelterLuv, our shelter management system.
What adoption costs — and why
Adoption fees help offset the care every animal receives before going home. We estimate our investment in each animal available for adoption to be at least $500.
| Kitten (0–12 months) | $200 |
| Adult cat (1–7 years) | $165 |
| Senior cat (8+ years) | $75 |
| Special-needs cat | By donation |
| Working cat | $50 min. donation |
| Bonded pair of adult cats | $225 ($105 off) |
| Senior-to-Senior (adopter 60+) | $25 min. donation |
| Puppy (0–6 months) | $500 |
| Puppy (7–12 months) | $400 |
| Adult dog (1–7 years) | $325 |
| Senior dog (8+ years) | $175 |
| Special-needs dog | $100 |
| Bonded pair of adult dogs | $475 ($125 off) |
| Senior-to-Senior (adopter 60+) | $50 min. donation |
Your new pet arrives ready to thrive
Every Homeward Bound adoption includes hundreds of dollars of veterinary care and support — already done, already covered.
- ✔ In-house veterinary exam
- ✔ Spay / neuter if needed
- ✔ FeLV/FIV or heartworm testing
- ✔ Age-appropriate core vaccines
- ✔ Parasite treatment
- ✔ Transitional food
- ✔ Microchip
- ✔ Free exam voucher at a participating vet
- ✔ Free post-adoption support
- ✔ Leash & collar (dogs) / carrier (cats)
Adopt a working cat
Some cats don't fit a traditional living-room life — and they make wonderful, eco-friendly rodent patrol for barns, warehouses, stables, breweries, stores, and offices.
Non-toxic, eco-friendly rodent control that keeps your space cleaner — no chemicals required.
Studies link cats to lower stress and better morale. You also save a life and free up shelter space.
Every working cat is spayed/neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, and FeLV/FIV tested before placement.
The fee is whatever you feel your new working cat is worth — pay by donation. Working cats are a lifetime commitment: they still need shelter, food, water, medical care, and affection. We won't place an indoor-only cat into an outdoor-only role. For truly feral or barn cats, see our Trap-Neuter-Return program.
Your new best friend is waiting
Browse every adoptable animal, updated live — then start an application in minutes.