Adoption Policies
The Process
Browse CCHS’ website to see if there is a dog or cat that interests you. If so, please apply on our website using the dog or cat’s name. Staff will process applications and be in touch as soon as possible.
Once approved, CCHS will contact you to set up an appointment. Adoptions are only done by appointments at this time. The shelter is not open for public walk-ins.
We do like current dogs in the home to come to CCHS to meet the potential new dog in the home. We just like to see how they interact to make sure they are compatible with each other.
If you have cats at home, CCHS can cat test the dog. Our cat test, for the cat’s safety, includes putting one of our shelter cats in a carrier in the training room. The dog is allowed to approach the carrier and we gauge it’s response to the cat. At no point does CCHS take the cat out of the carrier. If the interaction is ok, we tell you that however, we do not guarantee any dog we adopt out is cat or small animal safe. When you take your new dog home, exercise caution and keep it on leash until you are comfortable with the dog’s reaction to cats outside of the shelter.
Click here to view available cats.
Consider Adopting an Adult Cat or Dog
Puppies and kittens are fun and cute, but they are usually a lot more work to care for than an adult animal. Also, they mature quickly, often in a few short months. Here are a few of the positive points for adopting adult animals:
- Puppies and kittens will need house-training. Many adult animals are already house-trained.
- Most shelters have more adult animals in a wide variety of breeds and personalities.
- Adult animals are less delicate and are able to ward off sickness better. They have often been vaccinated and even spayed/neutered.
- Puppies and kittens are usually more destructive and energetic than adults. In today’s busy households, an older, calmer animal may be less disruptive of your schedule.
- It’s just not true that you can’t teach an old dog (or cat) new tricks. In fact, older animals have usually been taught at least the basic rules and commands and maybe a few special tricks they’d just love to share with a new family.