Ready to Adopt?
Tips for deciding if this is the right time
• Are the other dogs and cats in your home neutered or spayed and current on shots?
• Have you researched the breed of pet you are interested in?
• Have you done your homework? How will you deal with housebreaking, training, behavioral problems and daily care of a pet?
• What kind of pet is best for you and your family?
• Will your working hours allow enough time to provide the care, attention
and exercise a pet needs every day?
• If you have children, are they prepared to be respectful to an animal
that lives in your home and prepared to share the responsibilities
involved in pet ownership?
• Do you have the means to provide food, toys, annual vet exams,
vaccinations, monthly heartworm preventative, flea control, unexpected
medical costs, grooming, training, and boarding the pet when you travel?
• Are you ready to live with a pet? Can you depend on your children to help care for your pet?
• Have you read about potty training, behavior problems, and daily care of your pet?
• What traits are common in that breed? Do those behavioral traits fit your lifestyle?
Adoption process
What should you expect when you enter our shelter to visit with our dogs and cats and how do you adopt? See the steps below so you are prepared for your visit.
1. Adoption requirements
If you have a cat or dog living in your home already, that pet must be neutered or spayed and current on shots. If you rent your home you will need to have approval from your lanlord and any pet deposits paid before taking home your new pet. You will need to bring a leash and collar or a suitable crate or carrier when you pick up your new pet.
2. Pre adoption application
When you enter our shelter we will ask you to fill out a pre adoption application. Even if you have seen one of our animals you are interested in on our website, television or other source, we want to make sure we gather as much information as possible about your expectations in a pet to best help you find your future companion.
Take a look through our binder to see pictures, details about each dog or cat’s behavior and what type of home would be best for that pet. Make your selections of animals you would like to see and we will take you into our socialization room to visit with dogs or into a cat room to visit with the cats.
3. Visit with the pet
Spend time interacting with the animal and ask our staff questions you may have about how we received the animal, any behavioral information about the animal. We are there to help you get as familiar as possible with the animals.
4. Application process
After you have visited with the pet, you may feel you would like to make it a part of your family. If you do, you will fill out an application. This application ask questions about your past pet history, your thoughts on the long term care of a pet and questions about your living arrangements. This application is completed and turned in to an animal care specialist. The following day you will need to call us by 10 am and leave us a message confirming your interest in adoption. We then begin the processing of your application. This process takes about 48 hours to complete.
5. Fees and taking your pet home
Our adoption fees include spay or neuter surgery, distemper combination vaccination, rabies vaccination, flea prevention, canine heartworm test and prevention, registered microchip for permanent I.D. and a starter bag of pet food. This is a value of $300 to $400.
Adoption fee does not include $5 City of Fort Wayne pet tag/permit required for Fort Wayne city residents.
Fees:
Dogs $85
Puppies $100 (under 5 months old)
Cats $70
Senior Cat or Dog 6+ years old $50
Littermates or "Pals" $110 for 2 cats, $130 for 2 dogs
Special Needs Dog or Cat $50 (medical, health or behavioral reason)
Special Needs Littermates or "Pals" $75 for 2 cats or 2 dogs
Long term residents are FREE - ask for details.
Bring a leash and collar for dogs or if taking a cat home, bring a suitable crate.
Adoption applications available for download
Want to help
homeless animals?
Sat, May 25, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
1760 Apple Glen Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Jun 1, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
10260 Maysville Rd &
10035 Lima Rd
Mon, Jun 3, 5:30 pm
Foster Reception
at the shelter
All Allen County SPCA
Foster parents invited!
Interested in joining our foster program?
Call Mark at 744-0454, x204
to reserve your spot.
Sat, Jun 8, 11 am - 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus Community Outreach
4714 Coldwater Rd, Ft Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat & Sun, Jun 8 & 9, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO National Adoption Weekend
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Jun 15, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
1760 Apple Glen Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Jun 22, 10 am - 4 pm
PugFest at the Coliseum
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Jun 22, 11 am - 2 pm
RiverFest at IPFW
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Jun 29, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO Community Outreach
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Jul 6, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
10260 Maysville Rd &
10035 Lima Rd
Fort Wayne, IN
Sat, Jul 13, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO Community Outreach
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Jul 13, 11 am - 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus Community Outreach
4714 Coldwater Rd, Ft Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Jul 13, 11 am - 4 pm
Bikini Car Wash & Dog Wash
Boudoir Noir
512 W Superior St
Fort Wayne, IN
All donations benefit our shelter!
Sat, Jul 27, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
1760 Apple Glen Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Aug 3, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
10260 Maysville Rd &
10035 Lima Rd
Fort Wayne, IN
Sat, Aug 10, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO Community Outreach
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Aug 10, 11 am - 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus Community Outreach
4714 Coldwater Rd, Ft Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sun, Aug 18, 3 pm - 9 pm
Piere's WingFest
Piere's Entertainment Center
5629 St. Joe Rd
Fort Wayne, IN
To benefit our shelter!
Sat, Aug 24, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
1760 Apple Glen Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Sep 7, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO Community Outreach
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Sep 7, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
10260 Maysville Rd &
10035 Lima Rd
Fort Wayne, IN
Sat, Sep 14, 10 am - 4 pm
Hope Adopt-A-Thon
H.O.P.E. For Animals
1333 Maycrest Dr, Ft Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Sep 14, 11 am - 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus Community Outreach
4714 Coldwater Rd, Ft Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Sep 21, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
1760 Apple Glen Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Oct 5, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO Community Outreach
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Oct 5, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
10260 Maysville Rd &
10035 Lima Rd
Fort Wayne, IN
Sat & Sun, Oct 5 - 6
Fraternal Order of Eagles
3rd Annual BBQ Cookoff
4940 Bluffton Road
Fort Wayne, IN
Sat, Oct 12, 11 am - 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus Community Outreach
4714 Coldwater Rd, Ft Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Oct 26, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
1760 Apple Glen Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Nov 2, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
10260 Maysville Rd &
10035 Lima Rd
Fort Wayne, IN
Sat, Nov 9, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO Community Outreach
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Nov 9, 11 am - 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus Community Outreach
4714 Coldwater Rd, Ft Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Nov 9
Cat Walk
- Wild India!
Grand Wayne Center, Ft Wayne, IN
Doors open at 5 pm
Performance at 7 pm
www.acspcacatwalk.org
Sat, Nov 23, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
1760 Apple Glen Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Dec 7, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO Community Outreach
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Dec 7, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
10260 Maysville Rd &
10035 Lima Rd
Fort Wayne, IN
Sat, Dec 14, 11 am - 2 pm
Pet Supplies Plus Community Outreach
4714 Coldwater Rd, Ft Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Dec 28, 11 am - 2 pm
PetSmart Community Outreach
1760 Apple Glen Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Sat, Dec 28, 11 am - 2 pm
PETCO Community Outreach
315 E Coliseum Blvd
Fort Wayne, IN
See who is available for adoption!
Article written by volunteer Debra Lockhart
I’ve been volunteering with a local rescue for about a year now and have loved every minute of it. In the past year, I’ve transported dogs, helped rescue dogs off of a chain, helped a dog give birth, adopted and said goodbye as some of my favorites have found their forever home. I’ve gotten to know some dogs more than others and have cheered nearly every adoption and only shed a tear or two for a few who have especially touched me in some way.
Still, there was something missing. This rescue is foster based, and at this time that is the one thing I’m not able to do, so most of my interactions come from adoption events or transport services. If I could bring my dog to work with me things might be different, because sometimes you just need to hug a dog or play with a kitty, so I began volunteering at our local SPCA. I figured that they were located close enough to my office that I could spend a lunch hour or two each week relaxing in the company of a furry little friend under the guise of helping them while in all actuality, reaping the benefits that come with cuddling a pet. Orientation was in two parts so after part one, I was able to ‘socialize with cats’ and I spent a good portion of a lunch hour on the floor of a kitty room getting and giving some soft purr-y love.
Part two allowed us to interact with the dogs and there was a special boy whom I met at both orientations and I was eager to go back and really interact with him on my first “dog day.” Its funny how a dog (or any animal, really) can grab your heartstrings and how it varies from person to person as to who that special furry pal may be. A fellow volunteer nudged me and pointed at a dog, “That’s my dog. I’m going to adopt that one.” “Hmmm, cute dog, nothing special,” I thought. He or she was the kind of dog I might not have given a second glance at if I weren’t here to generally socialize with the dogs.
In the kennel next to “her dog” was the special someone who had me at first glance. Truth be told, “special boy” is not usually someone who would grab my attention… except he did. He was just a medium sized dog, medium hair, medium build but with a deep chest and funny white paws that were too big for his body. (As a further testament to how perception skews what we actually see, he is listed as a large dog with long hair.) There was nothing exceptional… but his eyes. Ah, those soulful cinnamon eyes peering at me over the chew toy he hopefully offered me, they had me at hello.
Paws up for Girl Scout Troop 20451 from Haverhill Elementary School. They made lots of bandanas for our adopted dogs to wear home and collected much-needed supplies for our shelter. Plus, the girls listened to a talk given by shelter director, Jessica Henry, and asked very good questions. The scouts pledged to be kind to animals and to remember to adopt instead of shop! Thank you, Troop 20451!
