Adopting an Animal in Need
Some of the animals in our shelter were stray or abandoned; others -- animals perfect in all the important ways -- were turned in or "surrendered" by their owners for various reasons. Some owners didn't have enough time, some had to move. Some dogs were surrendered because they barked too much or didn't bark enough. Many of our animals are mixed breeds, yet roughly a quarter are purebred. The one thing that all CVHS animals have in common is that each is hoping for a loving new home.
Our adoption process seeks to make the best possible match between you and your new companion, to ensure a lifelong commitment. We do our best to match the animal's needs and temperament with the adopter's lifestyle. We place thousands of animals in loving homes every year and are proud to say most adoptions result in lifelong relationships.
All CVHS animals are spayed or neutered before they go home. Because this is so important and one of the primary measures to end pet overpopulation in Washington and Orange counties, spaying/neutering is included in the adoption fee along with their Rabies and Distemper shots as well as a flea treatment and treatment for parasites.
Having a companion animal brings rewards -- friendship and unconditional love -- as well as responsibilities such as providing nutritious food and fresh water, regular veterinary care, time for exercise and training and lots of quality interaction.
The Adoption Process
When a potential adopter comes into the shelter and sees an animal he or she is interested in adopting, we ask the potential adopter to first complete an Adoption Application. We then verify that the information on the application is correct. We require that any pets currently living in your household are spayed/neutered and current on vaccinations unless medical issues deem such action inappropriate. We DO NOT allow declawing/tendons cut of adopted cats or ear cropping/tail docking of adopted dogs unless medically necessary. In order to make the best match possible for a family and home, we suggest potential adopters bring along all members of the household to meet the new companion animal and bring their current dog(s) to meet a potential dog. Adopter must be 18 years old or older.
Click here for our current adoption fees.
Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family
When making the decision to add a new family member, it's important to consider your lifestyle and the responsibilities
your new pet will demand. The friendly CVHS staff will help orient you to the animals we have available for adpotion and help you determine
what pet is best suited for your home and family. We also encourage you and your family to spend time with several of our pets in order to see
for yourself how personality and breed type can vary from pet to pet. Most of all, we want to help you to find the right pet, so that you can
have many years of companionship and happiness together!
What to Expect with Your New Pet
Your new pet will require time to adjust to you and its new surroundings. During this period (often up to 2 months)
you may discover that your new pet has one or more of the following behaviors:
- Housebreaking difficulty and/or marking territory
- Destructive behavior (chewing, scratching furniture, etc.)
- Aggression (to people or other animals)
- Fearful behavior (i.e., hiding, being hand-shy, and submissive urination)
- High activity level/lack of prior training
If you should encounter one or more of these problems with your new pet, are you willing and able ,
to take the actions necessary to correct the problems? For instance, consulting a veterinarian to rule out the possible
underlying physical problem, consulting a dog or cat behavior expert and/or taking your dog to obedience training classes.
