Racine County's Animal Shelter - We are the Adopt-A-Pet people

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my Animal Need a License?
Animals living in Racine County that are 5 months of age or older may need to be licensed. Usually, all dogs, cats, ferrets, and pot bellied pigs are required to be licensed. Check with your area municipality office or call CHS for requirements. Licenses can be acquired at your municipality. All licenses expire December 31 every year. A new license will need to be purchased at the beginning of every year. A late fee may be charged, so don’t delay! A current Rabies certificate is required for all licensing. Licensing discounts are available when you provide proof that your pet is spayed or neutered when purchasing your license.

What happens if animals are not adopted?
It is a sad fact that Racine County, like virtually every other county in this country, has more animals than homes and limited shelter capacity. While we are constantly striving to increase our adoption rate (with the help of many of you in the community) and reunite more animals with their owners, we are still forced to make difficult decisions when we simply do not have room for incoming animals.

How long does an animal have when it enters the shelter?
Unlike many shelters in the country and some in the area, we do not have a set time limit for animals. As long as an animal is healthy and considered adoptable and we have room, we will keep it. If an animal is healthy and adoptable, we attempt to exhaust every resource known to us before we consider euthanasia. In fact, we have placed several animals after having them in the shelter for 6 months to a year.

What do you mean by "healthy and adoptable"?
Sometimes we receive animals in the shelter that have been severely neglected, mistreated, or are in overall poor health. If an animal has a treatable condition, we will do everything we can to treat it. If, however, an animal is suffering due to its health and will not be able to lead a quality life, we will euthanize the animal to prevent further suffering. Sometimes, also, we receive animals that, due to past experiences or sometimes simply poor breeding (sometimes the case with dogs originally coming from puppy mills), are aggressive towards people. A truly aggressive animal is a dangerous animal and will be treated as such. We do not consider an aggressive animal to be adoptable. We will euthanize any animal that is determined to be aggressive, both for the sake of the animal, staff, and the community.

Where do your animals come from?
The majority of animals that enter our shelter are strays. Some of the stray dogs will be reclaimed by their owners; many will not. Unfortunately stray cats are very rarely reclaimed. Those animals that are not reclaimed by owners become the shelter's responsibility. Many animals are turned into the shelter by owners who no longer want them or are unable to keep them. A small number of our animals are taken from owners due to neglect, abuse, or abandonment situations

Several other people are interested in the same dog I want. Who will be able to adopt him/her?
CHS takes multiple adoption applications on every animal. Applications are not accepted on a "first come, first serve" basis. We review all applications and adopt the animal into the home best able to fulfill the animal's needs.

Why can't I come in and go home with an animal today?
There is approximately a 2-4 business day waiting period on an application actually serves two separate but equally important purposes. First, in order to best place our animals, we must perform certain checks on applications and often schedule veterinarian appointments and this takes some time. Second, the time helps to prevent impulsive adoptions--our animals are much more likely to stay in homes if the adopters have seriously considered the animal and the responsibility. The time spent waiting gives potential adopters a chance to think seriously about whether they are ready for an addition to the family.

I looked around the shelter and saw a gorgeous purebred I would like to breed. Can I skip spaying or neutering?
No. We will not adopt any animal to anyone at all without spaying or neutering. Over 25% of the dogs that pass through our shelter are purebreds-yet they are in the shelter because they are unwanted or unclaimed. It is our goal to stop overpopulation--not to further it. Also, even though we may know an individual animal very well we generally do not have extensive information on its bloodlines and any genetic defects it may be carrying and pass on to its offspring.

I really think my friend/parent/grandchild will want a dog or a cat. May I adopt one for him/her as a surprise?
No. An animal is not a good surprise gift for anyone. Companion animals affect the lifestyle of those who care for them and require a major commitment of time (often over a period of 15-20 years or more) and money. All people who will be responsible for an animal need to have the opportunity to consider the animal and decide if they are ready and willing to commit to it. CHS does not participate in "gift" adoptions.

My dog or cat does not listen, misbehaves, or is not housetrained and I just can't take it any more. Should I turn it in to the shelter?
Animals with behavior or housebreaking issues can be a handful, and we realize that. Before giving up on your furry friend, however, we hope that you will contact us or an appropriate specialist for help. It is amazing how often problems that can seem insurmountable can be solved! A visit to the veterinarian is a must when dealing with house soiling issues--in fact, the top cause of litter box problems in cats is medical! Some other behavior problems can be rooted in a medical issue, too. Spaying or neutering your pet will actually help to reduce several common behavioral problems, and spare a litter of unwanted puppies or kittens a bleak future. A good trainer or behaviorist can help tremendously in solving other problems when there seemed to be no solution. If you contact us before your problems escalate, we may be able to help you find solutions, or provide literature or referrals to someone who can help. Animal Shelters should only be used as a "last resort", and only after all options have been exhausted.

My cat/dog has had another litter of kittens/puppies, and I just can't find homes for them. What do I do?
If you live in Racine County we will be willing to take the kittens/puppies in and try to find them homes, but the root of the problem is the fact that your cat/dog has not been spayed, and until she is, she will continue to bring unwanted kittens/puppies into the world. The sad reality is that millions of cats and kittens, dogs and puppies die in shelters each year because there just aren't enough homes. Please make an appointment to have your cat/dog spayed as soon as possible. If you surrender the litter of kittens or puppies to us we will spay the mom for FREE.

I am moving and am not taking my 15 year old diabetic cat or my geriatric arthritic dog with me. Can I turn him in to you?
Although we make an effort to give a second chance to every animal that comes through are doors, geriatric animals, especially those that already have significant health problems, are difficult to place. In addition, some of these animals, after spending their lives in the comfort of a home with a family they love, are not equipped to deal with the chaos and over stimulation of the shelter environment. These animals may become severely depressed, stop eating, or become very ill due to their overstressed immune systems. Their quality of life in the shelter may be very low, with little or no chance for improvement by adoption. If your animal is geriatric or has significant health problems, we ask that you consult with your veterinarian as to what would be best for your furry family member. In addition, our staff will be happy to discuss your situation and whether surrendering your animal to us is an option for your pet.

I took in a stray animal 3 months ago and have been feeding or caring for it ever since. Can I bring it in to the shelter as a stray animal?
In most cases, No. After 7 days you are considered the owner of the animal. You would have to surrender the animal.

If I surrender my animal to you, can I get a guarantee that the animal will be placed?
Unfortunately, No, CHS is unable to guarantee the outcome of any animal. The shelter staff works very hard to ensure that we act in the best interests of the animal and the community. In some cases, due to health or temperament issues identified while the animal is in the shelter, re-homing is not in the best interests of the animal. The decision not to place an animal is often a difficult one, and is not taken lightly, but at times, euthanasia is the best option for the animal.