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Adoption Process
Once you/your family have decided to adopt an animal into your home, you first need to determine what type of animal would be the best fit for your lifestyle -- a cat, dog, kitten, puppy or other and whether you'd like to adopt one or more.
Then you need to ask yourself if you have the time, energy and money to properly care and provide for this animal(s). CSHS Adoption Counselors and Foster Homes can aid you in this decision making process and lead you through a friendly conversational adoption process in order to best match an animal with you/your family. CSHS's goal in all adoptions is to prepare the adopter, make the best possible match for the people and the pets, and encourage a pet-for-life attitude.
The best place to visit CSHS animals available for adoption is at a Pet Adoption Day (PAD). Adopters who attend PAD can view many of these animals first hand at one location and speak directly with the Foster Home.
You can visit CSHS foster homes by calling 952-368-3553 and leaving a message on line 1 for cats and line 2 for dogs. The Cat or Dog Coordinator will call you back and discuss what you're looking for over the phone. They can then have a Foster Home contact you to schedule a time to see a particular animal.
CSHS typically has over 60 cats/kittens to choose from and 10-15 dogs/puppies at a time. Animals are adopted from and come into the program daily. Occasionally there is a rabbit or bird available for adoption. Animals in the CSHS program can be viewed by clicking on the petfinder.com link.
Adopting an animal does take time so if you attend a Pet Adoption Day, come early so you have time to make an informed decision and fill out the paperwork. Paperwork includes an application, adoption contract, return policy, medical form and AKC registration (for the microchip). You can download the application now (PDF), fill it out and bring it with you to Pet Adoption Days or a Foster Home to expedite the process.
More than half of CSHS animals are adopted directly from the Foster Home in between Pet Adoption Days through an appointment set up between the Adopter and Foster Home to view a particular animal. Animals go home with their adoptive families the same day.
The initial cost of an animal from CSHS is $150 and up for a dog/puppy and $125 and up for a cat/kitten. Keep in mind that the costs of sharing your home go beyond what you initially pay for the animal. Be prepared for the costs of food, supplies, vet expenses (annual and emergency), etc.
Upon entering the CSHS program, all animals go through a veterinarian intake, which includes a general examination of the animal to determine age, whether it's spayed or neutered, weight, temperature, eyes, ears, mouth, and skin. The vet also checks for parasites and vaccinates against rabies, distemper, kennel cough (bordetella). CSHS also provides feline leukemia testing, heartworm testing and heartworm preventative.
Animals with known health problems such as heartworm are treated and are often not available for adoption until a particular treatment is concluded. Exceptions to this, such as an eye infection, are disclosed to the adopter and all medicines are sent home with the animal and adopter. CSHS animals are also microchipped and spayed or neutered if over 6 months of age. Some kittens receive pediatric steralization at a younger age.
CSHS's value-added service lies in the veterinary care provided to each animal that comes into the program. CSHS vaccinates puppies against rabies, checks for feline leukemia, uses the most accurate heartworm test available, and provides heartworm preventative to healthy dogs or give dogs who test positive for heartworm a second chance by treating them.
CSHS further sets itself apart by using microchip technology and spaying/neutering adult animals prior to adoption (see above). In addition, being a foster-home-based society means adopters can speak directly with Foster Homes about the animal, its temperament and habits, which improves the odds for a good match.
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