Pets Come First Inc.
Our Mission
Pets Come First is a 501c (3) non-profit, non-euthanasia organization. Our mission is to facilitate the placement of stray and unwanted animals into loving homes. We are dedicated to ensuring responsible shelter management within our community, working together to eliminate the critical overpopulation of homeless, stray and abused animals. Educating our community on the importance of spaying and neutering all animals will decrease the number of surrendered and unwanted animals to area shelters and rescue groups. We work in partnership with other rescues, local & state police, Humane Officers, and Dog Law Enforcement Officers to provide monetary and voluntary resources to support and sponsor local animal programs within our community. We will offer emergency placement, food, and medical services for the pets of approved and responsible low-income families and senior citizens.
Adoption Policy
1. Adoption Application
The first step to adopting is to get an application approved! You can download our adoption application, complete it, and e-mail it to info@petscomefirst.com. Please answer all questions fully, honestly, and to the best of your ability in order for us to match you with the right pet. We want our adoptions to be forever! Once the application has been submitted, we will review it and ask any follow up questions that may be needed. Please be patient – we do our best to ensure that all animals are going into the best homes possible.
Please note that to be an eligible adopter, we require that all other animals in the household are spayed and neutered unless there is a medical reason.
Not sure who you want to adopt? That’s OK! You may choose to complete the application process to be “pre-approved”. You will then be entered into our system as an approved adopter and will be ready to adopt when you select the right fit for your family.
For most dogs, we also offer a “foster to adopt” program that allows you to foster a dog for 2 weeks to ensure the correct fit with other family members and pets in the household. During this time we request that you remain in contact with us on how things are progressing, and if you continue to move towards adoption. This is a great option for families with other animals or children.
The length of time to have an application approved is typically equal to how quickly we are able to be in contact with your 2 non-family references, landlord if applicable, and veterinarian. It can help to let your references know that we will be calling so they can be ready to accept the call, or willing to call us back when they are available. We will contact you when your application has been approved.
2. Visit Animals
Once you’ve gotten your application approved, you can stop in to see the animals during our open hours from 12-4 on Saturdays and Sundays. Or, as an approved adopter, you can set up a weekday appointment in the afternoon as availability allows. We always want to meet our adopters and have them meet our animals prior to adoption to make sure that it is a good fit for both you and the animal. If you have any animals who need to be a part of the meet and greet please contact us prior to coming in so that we can make arrangements.
Make sure that you bring a carrier/leash and adoption fee with you just in case — if you are approved and the animal is ready to go/doesn’t have another approved application you would be able to take them home that day!
3. Adoption
When it comes time to complete the adoption, you will be asked to sign a contract – please take the time to read the contract carefully before signing. If you are unable to keep the animal, then you are required to return it to Pets Come First. You will be given a copy of your contract, a receipt, and all of the medical records we have for your new animal.
Adoption fees help to cover a portion of the vet care required to prepare the animal for adoption, and they can very according to the type of animal, age, and level of vet care that was required. The fee includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, testing for key illnesses, microchip, and monthly preventatives. Microchips are automatically registered to the new owner at the time of adoption. Cats are tested for FIV and Feline Leukemia. Dogs are 4DX tested for heartworm, lyme, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichia.
-
By appointment onlyday hours Monday By Appointment Tuesday By Appointment Wednesday By Appointment Thursday By Appointment Friday By Appointment Saturday 12 to 4 Sunday 12 to 4