What is the process for adoption and what is the cost?

• Select an animal from the adoption center
• Fill out the adoption form
• Spend time with any animal you think would be a good companion
• Ask adoption counselors questions
• Make a final decision about the right pet for your family. Please remember adoption is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Pets deserve a “forever” home.
• Adoption cost is $63.00 for an adult dog or cat
• Adoption cost is $55.00 for a puppy or kitten.
• Fee includes: spay/neuter; city license; vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvo virus, rabies; deworming; heartworm testing/feline leukemia testing (if over 4 months of age); and 30 days free health insurance. If your adopted pet is less than three months old, you will have to return at a scheduled time so that your pet can receive it’s initial rabies vaccination.

Why does my new pet have to spayed/neutered? OR
Why should I spay/neuter any pets that I currently own?

• State code (Texas Health and Safety code, Animal Sterilization Act, Section 828) requires that all animals be sterilized, if adopting from a shelter.
• Spaying/neutering of all pets is encouraged at an early age for the better health of the pet. It has been documented that early spaying of females alleviates health issues later such as mammary tumors. The early neutering of males will reduce the incidence of prostate problems, testicular cancer and discourage territory marking, running off issues, etc.
• Spaying/neutering, most importantly, helps greatly reduce our current overpopulation problem. Last year, more than 50,000 dogs and cats were euthanized at the Animal Care Facility. Many of these animals were unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.
• Spaying/neutering reduces the pet owner’s cost to license the pet.

Why do I need a city license and what is the cost?

• A city license will identify your pet should it get lost.
• Place the license on the collar of your pet and keep it there at all times.
• Renew your license every year to keep information current with the Animal Care Facility.
• Should your pet become lost and be wearing its license, the Animal Care Facility will contact you that we are holding your pet. Please maintain up-to-date license with current contact information.
• City Licenses are $5.00 per year per spayed/neutered pet
• City Licenses are $20.00 per year for pets that have not been spayed/neutered
• City licenses can be purchased at the Animal Care Facility (link to page with address/contact info), HEB, and some local veterinary facilities.
• The city license is required for each pet by the City of San Antonio for all pets inside the city limits and Bexar County . (City Code Section 5-156)

Why do I need to vaccinate my pets?  

• State of Texas requires that all pets be vaccinated for rabies (Section 5-176)
• Vaccinations should be done after the dog/cat is three months and before it becomes 4 months old, with a booster shot given 12 months from the date of the first rabies vaccination. After that it must be vaccinated for rabies every 3 years.
• A rabies tag and vaccination certificate will be provided that identifies each pet that they are current on their vaccinations.
• Distemper, parvo and other disease vaccinations are given initially to puppies and kittens between 4 and 6 weeks of age.
• Your veterinarian will give you a proper vaccination schedule to follow for adequate protection for your pet.
• Distemper and parvo are almost always fatal and highly contagious. For the health and well being of your new family member, we highly encourage keeping current with their vaccinations.

Why do I need a heartworm preventative?  

• Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes and develop in a dog’s heart, eventually killing the pet.
• Heartworms are very prevalent in the Southern states.
• A monthly preventative and annual heartworm test will keep your pet healthy from this devastating parasite.
• A monthly flea preventative can help keep your pet and home free of disease bearing fleas. Fleas can carry diseases and parasite eggs. One such parasite which affects dogs and cats is the tapeworm.

Why do I need to restrain my pet on my property?  

• City Code (Section 5-1) requires that all pets, including cats, be confined to their owner’s property.
• Pets are not allowed to run free of restraint. The city requires that all pets be on a leash and properly restrained when off your personal property.
• Proper confinement and restraint helps keep the pet, drivers, children and other pedestrians safe.
• Proper confinement and restraint helps prevent overpopulation by insuring your pet is not breeding with another.

How many pets can I have in the city?  

• The City of San Antonio allows 3 cats and 5 dogs per household. Any pets above these numbers are a violation of City Code and will result in fines and potential legal action.

Are the Animals healthy from here?  

• There is always a chance that an animal is incubating a disease or infection. Our animals arechecked by our veterinarian before being put into the adoption program for overall health and are monitored until adopted. We do not guarantee the health of our animals that is why we require that you take the animal to your own local vet for a physical exam. This is to ensure that the animal is not incubating some sort of problem.
• We do monitor our adoption animals for illness and if we find that an animal is not well, we will put it in our infirmary and treat the illness, if possible.
• This is also why we encourage you to sign up im media tely for your free 30 day health insurance that is offered through Pet finders and Shelter Care which covers some of the common shelter illnesses.