West Valley Humane Society
Our Mission
To reunite animals with their families and to pave the way for the next generation through public outreach, promotion of the human-animal bond, community engagement, and humane education.
Our vision is to be a model of excellence in advancing animal welfare and promoting responsible pet ownership with the motto of “A Pet is a Lifetime Commitment”.
Adoption Policy
How to Adopt:
Adoption is easy! Our friendly adoption staff will work with you to find the right dog, cat or critter for your home.
Get started by checking our online adoption listings at www.westvalleyhumanesociety.org (updated every 15 minutes). We encourage you to spend time getting to know prospective pets. If you have questions or wish to visit with an animal, just fill out an application to schedule an appointment.
You will speak with an adoption couselor to ensure that you and the pet you’ve selected are a good match. During this process, we will also review the animal’s medical and behavioral records, explain policies, and services available to adopters.
What are the adoption requirements?
1. The animal must be spayed/neutered prior to going to his/her new home.
2. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
3. Applicants will have filled out a pre-adoption questionnaire and have sat with one of our adoption counselors before an adoption is approved.
4. Anyone renting or leasing must have written permission from their landlord before an adoption can be approved. Any restrictions regarding the type or size of the animal must be noted.
5. Applicants for dog adoptions should have a yard that is fenced on all sides or a fenced kennel area. Dogs that do not have access to a fenced-in area are much harder to housebreak and are more likely to escape, roam, and become a neighborhood nuisance. Some dogs may require a fence of a certain type and height. Some dogs may be fine with a containment plan. Speak with our adoption counselor!
6. If applicants have a dog at home, they are encouraged to bring their dog to the shelter to meet the new pet before the adoption will be approved. We want to make sure that their dog is happy with their selection and that the transition for both dogs will be relatively smooth. Make sure your pets are fully vaccinated before visiting the shelter! Some dogs may have a requirement of staff-assisted meet and greet.
7. In making decisions about the placement of animals, we are thinking not only of their welfare but also of the well-being of the families who wish to adopt from us. We focus on making a good match between pets and owners, not simply making a sale. We hope that you appreciate our efforts to provide quality care to the thousands of unwanted animals that find their way to the West Valley Humane Society each year and that we can count on your support.
Why is there an adoption fee?
Dog adoption fees range from $50.00 and up. Adoption fees are very much based on supply and demand. Animals that are purebred, or rare breeds, will be priced slightly higher. Those fees will cover the medical costs of animals with lower fees. The higher fee basically subsidizes the lower fees and allows us to provide the medical care, spay, neuter, vaccines, etc. that many shelter animals require. It also allows us to be “open admission” which means we do not turn stray or abandoned animals away. Adoption fees also cover the costs of special shelter programs. Programs like “Spay the Mama”, foster, and the senior adoption program are all made possible by this gradient adoption pricing.
What is included in the adoption fee?
Here is a breakdown of what an animal shelter has already put into your animal before you even adopt.
-Spay & Neuter: The average dog spay or neuter can range from $60-$300 for an animal shelter.
-Shots: The cost of intake vaccinations for dogs to prevent Distemper, Parvo, Kennel Cough as well as Rabies can cost approximately $50 for the animal shelter, if not more.
-Parasite Treatments and Preventatives: Monthly flea tick and ear mite treatments, as well as heartworm preventives for dogs, are another monthly cost for animal shelters.
-De-wormer medications are given as a preventative, as opposed to waiting to see evidence of worms. These treatments can cost approximately $10-$30 assuming
that no lab work was needed.
-Microchips: The cost for a shelter to microchip their animals is approximately $20-$25.
-Food, Shelter & Comfort: The cost to feed a dog for a month in an animal shelter can range greatly based on the resources of the shelter, but a general ballpark estimate is around $40-$60.
-Extreme Conditions: If your adopted dog is on anti-anxiety medication, eye drops, or other antibiotics the shelter will try to recuperate the cost from the adoption fees as well.
-Extras:Collars: ID tags and leashes may also be worked into the adoption fees.
