Q.  How do I go about adopting a pet?
It’s simple!  All you need to do is fill out our adoption application.  Once this application is completed, it will take approximately 24 hours to process it.  You can place a hold on the animal you like and holds are good for 24 hours.   We take up to 3 holds on an animal.

Q.  Is there a waiting period?
Yes.  It takes approximately 24 hours to approve your application.  Once you are approved, you can schedule a time and day to adopt the animal.

If you are adopting a dog and currently own a dog, a “meet and greet” will be scheduled to ensure your animals are compatible.

Q. Why should I adopt when I can just get a free animal?
If you take a look below, you will see that an animal you could get for “free” really costs you more than an animal you would adopt from the shelter.

* Estimated vet costs.
When you adopt from the shelter, you get a bargain as well as an animal that deserves a second chance for a loving home!

Q.  Do you have a spay and neuter program?
We offer a program called the S.T.O.P program (Stop The Overpopulation Of Pets).  This program is available to a limited number of low income families.  If you are approved, the Humane Society pays up to $100 towards the spay/neuter of the pet.

Q. Why don’t you spay and neuter the shelter animals?
Unfortunately, we don’t have a veterinarian on staff.  We do sometimes have grants made available so that we can get some of our animals spayed or neutered prior to adoption, and we sometimes get animals turned into us that are already spayed or neutered.

It is required that persons who adopt from the shelter get their unaltered adopted cats and dogs spayed and neutered within one month from the adoption date.   If the adopted animal is under six months of age, it must be spayed/neutered once it reaches 6 months. 

Q.  My pet is missing. What advice can you offer me?
As soon as you notice your pet is missing, give us a call and we’ll complete a lost report. We are the only Humane Society in Elkhart County, and people often bring stray or found animals to our shelter or call us to report a found animal.  Additionally, we serve as animal control for the county and often pick up stray or running at large animals which are then housed at the shelter.

We’ll also ask that you come into the shelter and look for your animal.  Only you know what your pet looks like, and we often get similar looking animals of the same breed.  

Contact your local newspaper and check ads for lost and found.  Some of the area newspapers will print a missing pet ad in their classifieds at no charge to you. 

Post flyers in your neighborhood including a photograph.

Q. What do I do if I find a stray animal?
First and foremost, contact the Humane Society to file a found report.  Bring the animal to the Humane Society or take it to a local vet office to check for a microchip which readily identifies possible owner. 

Follow up by checking in the neighborhood to see if someone is missing the animal.  You may also contact your local newspaper to see if they run free ads in the classifieds for found animals.

Q.  What happens if I release my pet to you?
Once you release your pet to us, you are giving us the right to determine appropriate disposition of the animal.  Not all animals that come to the shelter are considered adoptable, and we received almost 7,000 animals in 2009.   Some animals will be selected for adoption; some may go to other collaborating animal welfare and rescue agencies; some may be sent to foster locations until they can be adopted; and some may have to be euthanized.  

Q. Are sick and injured animals immediately euthanized?
No.  Based on the nature of the illness or injury and sometimes in consultation with outside veterinary support, we treat a limited number of animals in our rehabilitation area.  Depending on the prognosis and adoptability of the animal, we sometimes have individuals who provide financial support to help obtain outside veterinary care for special cases.

Q.  How long does the Humane Society keep stray animals that are turned in at the shelter?
Stray animals found in Elkhart County may be turned in by the general public or impounded by law enforcement or Humane Society animal control officers.  Strays may be held for 3 days.  If there is some identification such as a microchip or tag that indicates an animal is owned, the animal may be held up to 10 days.  Animals meeting adoption criteria may be placed in adoption after this holding period.   Generally, all of the adoptable animals stay in adoption until they find their forever homes.  However, sometimes an animal is moved out of adoption to be treated for an illness; is sent to another animal welfare or rescue group to provide additional options to get the animal into a new home or may be euthanized.

Q.  How is the Humane Society funded?
The Humane Society is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization that greatly relies on donations.  All donations received are fully tax deductible.  Additionally, we collect fees through our adoption program and other services offered.   Elkhart County and some of the cities within the county contract with the Humane Society to provide animal control services for Elkhart County and their cities.  It should be understood that this is a private contract with the Humane Society and therefore, is not automatically supported by tax dollars like other municipal services such as law enforcement and other city and county offices.

Q.  Can you call me when you receive the type of pet I am looking for?
Unfortunately, no we cannot. However, the Humane Society’s website is a “live” website which means as soon as an animal is moved up for adoption, it will be listed on the site.  And, if the animal is adopted, it will be removed from the site as soon as it is adopted.  This gives you a quick and up-to-date listing of all of the great animals we have available.  Check out the website at www.elkharthumanesociety.org

Q.  I already have a dog at home. Can I bring him to meet the dog that I want to adopt?
Yes.  Once you have successfully completed the adoption application process, we schedule “meet and greets” prior to finalizing any adoption.  We require this as part of the adoption process to ensure that your dog or dogs and the shelter dog will be compatible.  We want a healthy and happy blending of the animals.  Incompatibility can create unnecessary and unhealthy stress on the animals.

We’ll also ask that all the family members come and meet the animal, too.  There are rare instances where a dog just doesn’t like someone in the family possibly due to a past experience with another man or woman or child in their life history.

Q.  What should I do if I suspect someone is being cruel to or neglecting an animal?
You should call us right away.  If you suspect and see signs of evidence that someone is mistreating their animal, give us a call so we can investigate.   If the animal is in immediate danger, you may also want to contact local law enforcement so that we may coordinate our work with them to address the issue.

We may ask you for your name and address, however, your call is confidential.  This information is necessary for our records and would be needed if we work with law enforcement to prosecute a case.

Everyone needs to take a stand and speak out to prevent animal abuse!

Q. Do you require fenced in yards in order to adopt?
No.  However, we want to ensure that the adoptive family will provide proper exercise and spend time with their animal. 

Q. Can we keep our dog or cat outside?
Currently, all of our animals are to be adopted as inside pets.  When providing outside time for an animal, we ask that the owner be with the animal or provide a safe location where the animal can be left to exercise with minimal supervision. 

Animals should not be left for prolonged periods of time outside without food, water or shelter nor should they be tethered for extended periods of time.