Dogs and cats are the most common pets found at our shelter, but we often have many small mammals (such as hamsters, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets) and a few exotics (iguanas, snakes, birds) available as well.
Open Hours for Adoptions
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday: 2-7 pm
Saturday and Sunday: noon-5 pm
The shelter is closed on Tuesdays and major holidays.
If you are interested in adopting a companion animal from CCHS, please be sure to read our Adoption Procedure & Policies.
Please Note: If you are coming to visit with a dog and wish to take them outside, you must be wearing close-toe shoes (for your own safety).
Adoption Fees
- Puppies (under 6 months): $175 and up
- Dogs (6 months & older): $115 and up
- Kittens (under 5 months): $125 and up
- Cats (5 months to 10 years): $75 and up
- Cats (10 years & older): $40 and up
- Cats and dogs over 10 years of age: Free to adopters over the age of 60.
- Rabbits: $40
- Guinea Pigs: $25
- Other small mammals, exotics, and birds: Prices range from $5 to $80.
- Highly exotic animals: Prices to be set by Shelter Management
Why Do We Charge an Adoption Fee?
Adoption fees help cover the cost of caring for animals during their stay at the shelter. Expenses include food, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries and other veterinary care, staffing, equipment, and utilities.
What Comes With a CCHS Adoption?
- Initial health exam by CCHS medical staff
- Initial vaccines upon intake at CCHS (excludes Feline Leukemia)
- Rabies vaccination (in some cases; see below)
- Screening and treatment for internal and external parasites while at CCHS
- Screening for heartworms (dogs) and feline leukemia (cats)
- Microchip and registration
- Free "First Visit" (post-adoption) to a local veterinarian, at participating clinics
- Discount coupons for pet supplies purchased at Prairieland Feeds
Will My New Dog or Cat be Vaccinated against Rabies?
It Depends! Rabies vaccination is required by law and CCHS will vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies when it is safe and appropriate to do so under the standards of veterinary practice. If we are not able to vaccinate against rabies prior to adoption, the responsibility for a rabies vaccination will fall on the new pet owner.
- Adult dogs and cats that have been at the shelter long enough to receive a full series of vaccines and boosters (usually, over 2 weeks) will already be vaccinated against Rabies at the time of adoption.
- Adult dogs and cats that move up for adoption quickly might be ready to go home with you before the time was right for us to administer a Rabies vaccine.
- If we have reliable veterinary records from a prior owner, the animal might not be due for a rabies vaccine until some point in the future.
- Kittens and puppies cannot be vaccinated against Rabies until they are at least 16 weeks old, yet they can be adopted as young as 8 weeks old. If you are adopting a puppy or kitten under 16 weeks of age, he/she will not be vaccinated against Rabies at the time of adoption.
Adoption Opportunities!
Adopting More Than One Adult Cat: A generous donor has established the Ms. Garbo Fund to cover the second adoption fee when an approved adopter decides to adopt a second adult cat. Ask an Adoptions staff member for more information.
Seniors for Seniors: The adoption fee will be waived for approved senior-citizen adopters of any cat or dog over 10 years of age. Seniors are eligible at 60 years of age and up.
Long-Term Dogs: When a dog has been available for adoption for over 90 days, we consider them a Long-Term Dog. Shelters are inherently stressful environments for animals, and we want these dogs to find their way to forever homes. Adoption fees are waived for Long-Term Dogs. Look for the Long-Term logo on our Search Page for adoptable pets, and you'll see their adoption fees are $0:
CCHS Working Cats Adoption Program
Occasionally, we have cats at CCHS that are semi-feral or have lived their lives primarily outdoors. These cats are unable to adjust to life at the shelter, are not too keen on human contact, and are not likely to make good house pets. However, they are well-suited for living someplace where they can go in and out of a barn or out-building. Or, they might do well in a climate-controlled warehouse or workshop, where they'll have room to roam. We don't charge an adoption fee for working cats, but we do require caretakers to provide food, water, shelter, and veterinary care when needed. Cats will be spayed or neutered and vaccinated prior to adoption. If you are looking for a "working" cat for your barn or workshop, please contact our Humane Educator, Elijah Imlay (elijah@cuhumane.org), to learn more about this program.
Special Adoptions
Dogs designated as "Special Adoptions" must be enrolled in a dog-training class or scheduled for an appropriate canine behavior consultation as a condition of adoption. All of the following dogs are designated as special adoptions:
- Dogs under 1-year of age
- Dogs that the CCHS staff have determined will have an increased chance of success if they are provided with structured guidance and/or training.
Applying to Adopt a pet as an Emotional Support Animal
Some landlords will only allow pets if the animal is a Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal (ESA). If your landlord has this requirement, please read and follow the following guidance:
- Please obtain the necessary documentation from your medical/healthcare provider prior to filling out an application to adopt an animal.
- If you do not have ESA documentation from your medical/healthcare provider, we will not begin processing an adoption application, and we will not “hold” an animal for you.
- It is best to discuss your intention to obtain an ESA with your landlord prior to beginning the pet adoption process. Having your documentation in hand when you speak with your landlord is best.
- If you have your ESA documentation and submit an adoption application, we will begin to process your application. One of our first steps is to contact your landlord about your application.
If your landlord needs time to have your ESA documentation verified before confirming that you can bring a pet home, we will hold your application open for a maximum of 5 business days. A “business day” is Mon-Fri; we will not count Saturdays or Sundays.
If we do not have the final consent from your landlord after 5 days, we will remove the “hold” on the animal and he/she will be listed as available for adoption.