Why

should I

adopt a pet?

Ten Reasons to Adopt a Pet

In case “Because it’s the right thing to do” isn’t enough

Thinking of adding a pet to your family?

Here are ten reasons to adopt your new best friend.

1. Because you’ll save a life

A shelter pet is more than one in a million—she’s one in 2.7 million. That’s the number of adoptable dogs and cats who are still euthanized each year in the United States, simply because too many pets come into shelters and too few people adopt.

The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. When you adopt, you save your animal and open up shelter space for another animal who might need it.

2. Because you’ll get a great animal.

Animal shelters and rescue groups are brimming with happy, healthy pets just waiting for someone to take them home. Most shelter pets ended up there because of a human problem like a move or a divorce, not because the animal did anything wrong.

3. Because you’ll get a great bargain.

When you adopt a pet, the cost of spay/neuter, first vaccinations and micro-chipping is included in the adoption price, which means you’ve scored a major deal—a fuzzy deal who will thank you with kisses or purrs for years to come.

4. Because of the bragging rights.

No one needs to see another selfie—unless it’s a selfie of you with the adorable pet you just adopted, like the hero you are! Adopt a pet, post the pictures and let the love (likes) roll in.

5. Because it’s one way to fight puppy mills.

You’re too smart to get a dog from a pet store or online seller—you might as well buy direct from a puppy mill.Puppy mills are “factory style” breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Animals from puppy mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with improper medical care, and are often very sick and behaviorally troubled as a result. The moms of the puppies are kept in cages to be bred over and over for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever joining a family. And after they’re no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded—either killed, abandoned or sold at auction.

Most puppies in pet stores and sold online come from puppy mills. The dogs are sold to unsuspecting consumers in pet stores, over the Internet and through classified ads. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop supporting them. By adopting a pet, you can be certain you aren’t giving them a dime.

6. Because your decor will thank you.

Many of the pets from shelters and rescues are already house-trained, which means you’re not only saving a pet’s life, you may be saving your rug.

7. Because all pets are good for your health, but an adopted pet is good for your self-esteem.

Not only do animals give you unconditional love, but they have been shown to be psychologically, emotionally and physically beneficial. Caring for a companion animal can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment and lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation in all age groups. And when you adopt, you can also feel proud about helping an animal in need.

8. Because you’re environmentally responsible.

You recycle your paper and plastic so it doesn’t end up in landfills, and you know that recycled materials make all sorts of things. A “recycled” pet can make something even better: She can make you happy.

9. Because The Shelter Pet Project will make it super-easy.

We like easy. Go to the Shelter to find pets near you, of every size, color, temperament and breed. You want an orange cat who likes ear-scratches on alternate Tuesdays? You can probably find one.

10. Because you’ll change a homeless animal’s whole world.

And get a new best friend in the bargain. Seriously, what could be better than that?

Adoption Information

Adoption Regulations:
Applicants must be 18 years of age and fill out an online application to be considered for the interested animal. Applicants who provide conflicting or inconsistent information or who misrepresent information on the adoption application or during the interview will not be considered for adoption.
• Applicants cannot:
• Have a documented history of animal abuse or neglect.
• Use the animal for experimental or research purposes.
• Adopt an animal for another person who has been refused and adoption.
• Have a documented history of animal abandonment including an animal being impounded at the shelter and not reclaimed.
• Have a history of surrendering an animal to a facility for reasons which may be considered irresponsible pet ownership (too many animals, refusal or inability to afford sterilization, etc.).
• Have a history whose animal has recently died of an infectious disease or unknown cause deemed suspicious, or who has failed to seek reasonable veterinary care for a sick animal.
• Adopt a small mammal such as a rabbit or guinea pig to use for eating or breeding purposes
• Reside in a rental property in which the landlord does not allow pets

Adoption Application and Worksheet
In order to alleviate several individuals wanting to adopt the same animal at the same time, animals will be made available to a person based on submission of the adoption application to Animal Control and Rescue for that specific animal. Please access this website to see our adoptable pets. The animal in question will be made available for adoption by the first APPROVED application that was submitted for that pet. If the first adoption application is declined or decides they do not want the animal, the next application will be evaluated and so on until an application is approved and the animal is adopted. If we are unable to reach the first applicant and they do not return our call within 24 hours, we will move on to the next approved applicant.

An Adoption Application can be filled out for an animal during a hold period or when it is already available. If an application is completed for an animal that is being held as a stray or pending a case, the approved applicant will be notified when the animal becomes available for adoption. Approved applications that were not linked to an adoption will be held for six months from the date approved.

Foster animals are an exception to the application rule. Applications shall not be accepted for animals in foster care until the animals are within one week of being placed for adoption. The foster family that is caring for the foster pet shall have priority to adopt the foster animal. Foster families are encouraged to market their foster pets while they are in foster care and therefore may have adopters selected prior to the foster animals returning to the shelter. In this situation, adoptions will be granted to the individuals selected by the foster family. Once a foster animal is returned to the shelter and/or the shelter has begun to accept applications on the animal, the foster family and other individuals must adhere to the adoption application procedures.

Alterations & Vaccinations
It is by Missouri law that all dogs and cats adopted from the shelter be surgically altered by means of spaying or neutering. The surgery will take place before the animal can be taken home with the adopter. Each adopted animal will also be vaccinated upon adoption. Any cat or dog above 3 months of age is required to be vaccinated against the Rabies virus. All cats and dogs will receive their core vaccines.

Adoption Fees
Adoption fees for the animal help to reimburse vet services such as spay/neuter, vaccinations, parasite exam, etc. Prices will vary with the species, sex, and size of the animal and can range from $5 to $130. Adoption fees for 2019 will be reduced by the spay/neuter amount in part of a PetSmart Charities grant-funded program “For Pet’s Sake, Fix St. Joe”. This program reduces the cost of adoption from $30-$90 dollars.

Why