If you—or your kids—are longing for a pet, your local animal shelter is a good place to start. After all, according to the ASPCA, every year about six and half million dogs and cats end up in animal shelters in the United States. By adopting a pet from a shelter, you may save it from joining the less-fortunate animals that end up being euthanized.
Still, you have a lot to consider when adopting a shelter or rescue animal. You and your family will live with the consequences—emotional, financial, and sometimes legal—for many years. So it makes sense to do your homework and learn about the process before you fall in love with an adorable puppy or kitten at the local shelter or in an online photo gallery.
You can usually find a specific shelter’s policies and requirements on its website. But here are some general guidelines for the questions you may have to answer—and ask.
Adoption Applications: Why You Might Be Denied
Shelters will typically have you fill out an application that includes several questions meant to find out if you can take good care of a pet. You should think about some of these questions ahead of time and talk them over with anyone else living in your home:
- Can you afford a pet? Adoption fees may be a bargain when you consider what they often include—things like vet exams and tests, treatment for worms and fleas, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and microchips. Even so, you may have to pay the shelter as much as a few hundred dollars to take home your new pet. More importantly, you need to think realistically about the long-term costs of owning a companion animal, including food, kitty litter, regular medical check-ups, and the potential for expensive vet treatment.
- Do you have the time to take good care of an animal? Dogs need regular outdoor exercise, and even cats are healthier if they have vigorous play sessions. You also need time to train puppies and kittens. If you work long hours or travel frequently, you need to think about what you’ll do for your pet while you’re gone. Even if you can afford quality pet-sitting or boarding, is it best for the animal?
- What’s your housing situation? If you live in an apartment or condo, does your landlord or condo association allow pets? The shelter may want to see a copy of your rental or condo association agreement. If you’re adopting a dog, will the animal have access to outside space to run around?
- Do you have children? Very young kids may not mix well with a dog or cat. If your children are the ones begging for a pet, you should make sure they understand the responsibilities that a pet entails.
- Do you have previous experience with a pet? Shelters will ask about this, and they may even require a referral from your vet.
If the shelter participates in the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match adoption program, you’ll be asked to fill out an online survey designed to help you and shelter employees find the right animal-human match. And if you’re looking to adopt from a private animal rescue group, be prepared for the possibility of more extensive questions—and the likelihood of rejection if you don’t meet their high standards.
What to Ask the Shelter Before Signing a Pet Adoption Agreement
Once you go to the shelter, spend time with any animals you’re considering adopting. If you have children and a partner, bring them along too. In fact, some shelters will want to observe you and other household members interacting with the animal.
Before you make a decision, be sure to talk to the shelter employees about what they know about the animal’s history (was it a stray or turned over by the owner), the results of any behavioral or medical evaluations (was there any evidence of abuse), and its demeanor around other animals and people (does it show anxiety or aggression).
It’s also a good idea to review and ask questions about the pet adoption agreement, such as:
- Does the adoption agreement address what might happen if your new pet becomes sick soon after coming home with you? When you buy a sick animal from a pet store or breeder, you might have protection under state “lemon laws” for pets. But these laws wouldn’t apply to a shelter adoption. Ask whether the shelter offers a short-term pet health insurance policy or has a policy of paying for medication when health problems develop soon after the adoption.
- Does the shelter allow a “grace period” if the adoption doesn’t work out? Some shelters will take back the animals within a certain period of time and offer you a credit on the adoption fees that you can use to adopt another pet.
- Does the shelter have legal ownership of the animal? If the former owner gave up the animal, did that owner sign over their ownership rights? Or for strays, has the shelter held the animal for the legally required amount of time (so the owner can’t come forward and claim the animal)?
- What does the pet adoption agreement require of the new owner and what are the legal remedies provided in the agreement? (More on this below.)
What Happens If You Break a Pet Adoption Contract
Remember that a pet adoption agreement is a legal contract. Read it carefully before signing. Some common provisions in pet adoption contracts require you (the owner) to:
- provide proper care and nutrition for the animal
- agree not to resell or re-house the animal or give it to another party, and
- give the shelter or rescue organization the first right to repossess the animal if you determine you can’t care for the animal.
If the shelter or organization learns that the animal has been mistreated or the contract was broken in another manner, the contract may specify that the shelter can reclaim the animal. And if the owner refuses to give up the animal, the organization can take legal action and the owner may be liable for the litigation costs.
Also, beware of any language that sounds as if the shelter or rescue organization is:
- requiring home visits to monitor how you’re caring for your pet
- making unreasonable requirements for that care, or
- keeping legal ownership of the animal (meaning the shelter could try to take it back from you at a later date).
Legal Consequences of Adopting a Pet
You should also consider whether you’re prepared for the possible legal consequences of owning an animal, including:
- Many local ordinances (or, sometimes, state law) require owners to vaccinate pets from rabies and pay for pet licenses. Failure to do so can lead to civil or criminal citations.
- In some states, you could face criminal charges for animal cruelty or neglect if you don’t provide your pet with needed veterinary care and proper nutrition.
- You could be legally responsible if your dog bites someone or injures another animal. Criminal penalties might apply if the dog was running at large, even if it happened accidentally. If you have homeowners’ insurance, check to see whether your policy covers injuries caused by a dog and whether it has exceptions for certain breeds.
Getting Legal Advice
If there’s anything in the agreement you don’t understand or have doubts about, it would be a good idea to speak with a lawyer before you sign. An attorney who’s experienced in animal law can review the agreement, advise you about signing it or asking for changes, and help you deal with any legal problems that come up after you’ve taken home your pet.