ADOPTION INFO

Age & Cost: Did you know that cats and dogs can live to be 10-20 years old? That is a long time to spend with your new best friend. We suggest thinking about where your new pet would go if something happened to you or what you would do if you had to move. Food, litter, and basic care for your cat typically costs about $600 – $1,000 a year. For dogs, the yearly average for dog ownership is between $1,100-$3,500. This is largely affected by the age, type, and size of the dog. This can increase if your pet gets sick and needs additional care or emergency care. If you are concerned about emergency costs, you might want to consider pet insurance.

No-Declaw Policy (cats): We do not allow cats or kittens adopted from us to be declawed. For more information on this and alternatives to declawing, please read this brochure from the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Soft Claws are available for purchase at the shelter and we can place them on your cat for a minimal fee. If you have made up your mind about getting a declawed cat, we do occasionally take in cats that have already been declawed. Call the shelter for more information on these cats.

Indoor-Only Policy (cats): Animal Friends Alliance adopts our cats as indoor-only cats. You can take your adopted kitty outside if you are present and we encourage adopters to consider harness training their cats or building cat enclosures. If you are looking for a barn cat please check out our Working Cats program and apply to “hire” an outdoor helper.

Adopting multiple dogs: Animal Friends Alliance discourages adopting littermates or two non-bonded dogs at the same time. Read more about “littermate syndrome.” If you’re interested in adopting two dogs at the same time, please contact us at adopt@savinganimalstoday.org or call (970) 484-8516.

Licensing: It is your responsibility to follow local laws on animal ownership. This includes licensing and vaccinating your animal. Please visit your local county’s animal control website for more information.

Transporting Kitty Home: Cats and kittens are required to leave our shelter in a carrier designed to carry cats. Laundry baskets, totes and cardboard boxes are not acceptable. The shelter has plastic carriers for $20 and cardboard cat carriers for $6.

The first step to adopting a cat or dog from Animal Friends Alliance is to fill out an adoption questionnaire. You can do this online or in the shelter (2200 N Taft Hill Rd Fort Collins, CO).

The next step is to pick out a cat or dog! Check out our adoptable cats and adoptable dogs for pictures and short descriptions or come into the shelter for cats or dogs, Poudre Pet & Feed Supply Loveland (2400 N. Lincoln Ave.), or PetSmart Fort Collins (4432 S. College Ave.) to see them in person.

Note: not all available cats and dogs reside at our campuses. Some are at off-site adoption partners or in foster homes. If you are interested in a particular cat or dog, please call our shelter at (970) 484-8516 for their current status and location.

We do not ship animals. You are required to come and meet your new addition prior to adoption so that we can ensure a good match.

Once you have found your perfect match, we will review our adoption policies with you, you will complete an adoption contract, and pay the adoption fee with a credit or debit card on your mobile device.

Please note that we will make a copy of the adopters’ State ID card, Driver’s License or passport at the time of adoption.

Yes, but if you live somewhere that pets aren’t allowed or you need documentation to have an Emotional Support Animal, please bring all paperwork showing qualification for an ESA to your meet & greet/adoption appointment. We cannot complete adoptions or place holds for Emotional Support Animals without the accompanying documentation.

Note: For the safety of the animals, we do not adopt animals to people who live in dormitories regardless of ESA documentation.

We typically do not refund adoption fees. We want every animal to be in a safe and happy home and we know that circumstances change, so we will always take back any animal adopted from us, but we cannot guarantee your adoption fee will be returned to you.

We encourage adopters to frankly discuss any concerns with our adoption staff prior to adoption so we can be sure we’re matching you with the right family member and setting you up for success. We are also happy to answer questions and discuss challenges after your adoption to help your new pet settle in.

On a case-by-case basis, we may offer a refund of the adoption fee if the 14-day post-adoption vet visit reveals a medical condition that was unknown at the time of adoption. We may also, at our discretion, transfer the adoption fee to a different animal within 30 days if we determine there is an unresolvable conflict that makes the animal a bad fit for your home.

We want you to take the commitment to your new family member seriously and give your new dog or cat a chance to acclimate to your home—and we want to support you in a smooth transition. Please contact us if you have any questions either before or after adoption!

Our staff will call you one week after you adopt your new pet to see how everything is going. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please call us at (970) 484-8516. There will also be an e-mail survey 2-3 months after adopting following up on your new life together.

Please remember that Animal Friends Alliance staff and volunteers are here for you and your new pet. If something does not work out or seems off, we are here to help you.

We are the safety net for your pet and will take your animal back into the shelter if something unavoidable happens and you must give up your friend. Do not feel afraid or embarrassed to call; we want to help you and your animal!