Adoptions
Adding a pet to your family calls for a plan:
- Make sure that each family member understands what this means to your family. Everyone will have to share time and financial resources with your new pet. This is especially important for families with children, elderly members, or busy schedules that require the pet to be home alone.
- Research the needs of your desired pet. Visit the library, read books & magazines, research on the internet, visit friends who have animals and ask them to share their experiences.
- Find out the life span of your chosen pet and be prepared to make that kind of commitment. Adopting a pet is not a casual activity, and most cats and dogs will live from 12 to 20 years.
- Educate yourself and your family on how to introduce a new pet into your household.
- Visit our Shelter to observe animal behavior.
Our Shelter is a great source of information regarding companion animals. Everyone, it seems, wants a little kitten or puppy, and fails to consider how wonderful older animals can be. Adopting an older animal means that you will have a better understanding of the temperament and behaviors you can expect from your new pet. Older animals are often altered, housebroken, immunized, trained & socialized, making the transition into your home much less stressful. Older animals most often are the best choice for families with children.
Once you have done your research, and have made your decision to adopt, please keep in mind that your new pet will need:
- Regular vet care. Immunizations, yearly checkups & vaccination boosters, and yearly dental care, can be just the beginning of your pet's health needs. Birds and reptiles will need specialty vet services.
- Nutritious food and fresh, clean water. Pets need the properly formulated food for their species. Human scraps just aren't good enough. You will need to wash your pet's food and water dishes daily.
- A sleeping space that is indoors, warm, clean and safe. If you wouldn't sleep or live there, your pet shouldn't have to.
- Being allowed to roam outdoors threatens your pet. Outdoor cats face dangers to their health and life. In cold weather, there is no such thing as an outdoor cat! Dogs need to be on lead when out of the home, and under control at all times. Don't forget collars, harnesses and leashes.
- Dogs and their families need obedience training.
- Small animals need a carrier for vet visits.
- All pets need daily attention, regular play, exercise, training and attention. Interactive toys are essential to your pet's well-being. The same goes for regular grooming. You will need brushes, combs, nail clippers and pet shampoo.
- Cats will need proper scratching posts and litter boxes. You will need a yard scooper for your dog.
- Licenses are required for all dogs in Racine County. Many municipalities require licenses for cats and other animals, as well.
Now, compare the needs of your new pet with what your family is able to provide.
You're well on your way...the next step is to visit our Shelter. Sometimes people find the perfect pet during their first visit to our Shelter but, most often they don't. Do not feel discouraged. Visit again, soon and often. Taking time during this part of the process will help insure that you are making the right choice for the right reasons.
When you have found the right animals, allow the Pet Counselors at our Front Desk to share whatever information we have regarding the animal and fill-out an Adoption Application. Our Adoption Counselors will process your application and get back to you as soon as they are able. This usually takes about 2 to 4 business days. Adoption Applications are not processed on Saturday and Sunday. Fees and other details, will be discussed with you during the call-backs. Adoption fees vary, depending on the individual animal, but include (where appropriate) primary vaccinations, free wellness check-up, microchip and spay or neuter.
Adding a new family member can be an exhilarating experience. We want you to be excited, motivated and absolutely sure that adopting a new pet is the right thing for your family at this time.
Just a few, final thoughts. Obtaining your new pet from backyard breeders, puppy mills and their outlets, and free-to-a-good-home ads supports the overpopulation and the ultimate destruction of unwanted animals. Animals from shelters do not have any more frequent or serious problems than animals obtained from other sources. In addition, shelter animals seems to know that they are being rescued, and will reward you with many years of grateful, loving devotion.
Now that your family is ready to adopt a new pet, please visit our animals!
Plan to arrive at least 40 minutes prior to closing so that you will have plenty of time to visit with the animals.
To help process your Countryside Adoption Application promptly please include the following paperwork…
- Proof of home ownership. If you own your home, please include a copy of one of the following documents:
- Property tax bill
- Property title
- Mortgage statement
- Permission from landlord. If you rent or lease your house/apartment, you may bring a copy of your lease agreement if it addresses conditions for owning a pet. Otherwise, CHS will contact your landlord to confirm permission to own a pet and stipulations for the animal.
- Current pet(s) vaccination records and spay/neuter documentation. CHS needs proof your animal(s) have been spayed/neutered and its vaccinations are current. You can bring your vet records to CHS or ask your veterinarian to fax this information to us. Please ask the veterinarian to include a cover letter addressed to CHS Adoptions.
Everyone living in your household must meet the animal. Countryside strives to place animals in “forever” homes. We want to make sure everyone is agreeable to the adoption and compatible with animal. If you are applying on a dog and currently own a dog we may request a dog meeting to ensure both dogs are compatible.