Adoption Process – Greenville Humane Society

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Adoption Process

Adoption is for Life

Adopting a pet is a big responsibility. Your new fur baby will bring endless joy to your life, but with that joy comes new demands. Consider your lifestyle. Are you prepared to invest the time and resources necessary to care for your pet? Do you have the space at home to accommodate a pet?

Don’t start this journey unprepared. There are lots of resources out there to make pet parenthood easier—be sure you do your research first! Once you know you’re ready, take the first step in our adoption process.

Process Pet Ownership Resources Donate to the Furever Fund

How to Adopt

From The Greenville Humane Society

Our top priority is making sure that our adoptable pets go to homes where they will be cared for, loved on, and treated like part of the family. We have a step-by-step process in place to make sure everything goes smoothly for you and your new four-legged friend!

You must be 18 years or older to adopt.

1. Fill out an application

We like to learn about you and your home situation to get an idea of which pet might be a good fit for your lifestyle. You’ll need to fill out a preliminary Adoption Application in order to proceed with the adoption process. Please print it, fill it out, and bring it to the Humane Society when you visit!

View Adoptable Pets Adoption Application

2. Visit our adoptable pets

Once you’ve filled out your application, we invite you to come visit with our adoptable pets at our Adoption Center. All adoptions are performed on a first-come, first-interviewed basis. We will not schedule reservations for specific animals or place any animal on hold.

3. Bond with an animal

After you meet a pet you adore, we encourage you to spend at least 15 – 30 minutes with him/her in one of our bonding rooms. During your time in the bonding room, one of our Adoption Counselors will answer any questions you have about the animal or the adoption process.

4. Complete adoption paperwork & payment

By now, the cutie you’ve had your eye on has surely won you over. Once you’re ready to move forward, an Adoption Counselor will walk you through the additional adoption paperwork, which includes the Adoption Contract and the animal’s medical paperwork.

5. Bring home your best friend!

The official adoption process might be over, but your pet’s new life has just begun! We do have a few important requirements to make sure your pet is safe and healthy after being adopted:

All animals are required to leave our facility on a collar and leash or in a carrier. If you have these items already, you can bring them with you. You can also purchase them at our retail center during the adoption.
You are required to purchase at least one dose of flea/tick/heartworm preventative for puppies/dogs and are encouraged to get your new pet microchipped.
You are required to take your adopted animal to visit a licensed veterinarian within 15 days of adopting.

And of course, be sure to take our short post-adoption survey to let us know how we did.

Please consider supporting the Furever Fund

The Greenville Humane Society prides itself on finding the perfect family for each and every pet that comes into our care. While it is our greatest wish that every animal would find their best match right away, the reality is that some animals spend days, weeks, and even months in the shelter. The Furever Fund was created to alleviate the costs incurred by our long-stay residents by providing essential services to prepare pets for their forever homes.

$10 – Provide a Shelter Pet with a Blanket and Toy
$25 – Provide Food and Care to a Shelter Pet for a Week
$50 – Provide a Shelter Pet with a Microchip and Core Vaccines
$100 – Provide Spay/Neuter Services for a Shelter Pet
$300 – Provide Behavior Consultation and Training to a Long-term Shelter Pet

donate to the furever fund

Adoption Fees

Any adoption fee paid for an adopted pet is a donation and goes back to the care of the animals. Our adoption fees vary based on species, age, breed and demand. Please keep in mind any adoption fees listed below are subject to change. As a private nonprofit, we do not receive funding from the government to provide for the animals in our care.

Your adoption fee includes:

Your pet’s spay/neuter surgery
Microchipping
All vaccinations
Deworming
Preventative medications
Any medical treatment it may have received in our care

Age	Cats	Dogs
Under 4 months	$200+	$350+
4+ months	$150+	$95+

Pricing above does not include pets that are adopted as part of our Best Friend Finder Program, which is designed for less common animals/specific breeds. Please visit the BFF Program page for more information. Updated pricing effective March 1, 2024.

How long does the adoption process take?

The adoption process will take at least an hour altogether. To start, we require adopters to spend a minimum of 15- 30 minutes bonding with their chosen animal. Bonding rooms and an outdoor courtyard (to meet adult dogs) are available. Adopters will then spend at least thirty minutes reviewing the GHS adoption contract and the animal’s medical summary with an Adoption Counselor.

Will my new pet be spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vaccines when I adopt him/her?

Yes. All of our animals are spayed/neutered before leaving our facility. Some animals may be pre-adopted if they have not yet received spay/neuter surgery at the time of adoption. This means that you can adopt the animal, but you will come to pick up your pet after he/she has received surgery the next weekday.

All animals receive vaccinations on a set schedule while at the Greenville Humane Society. However, some animals will still require additional rounds of vaccines after you adopt. You will be given the animal’s medical and vaccine records and your vet will recommend the proper scheduling of any remaining vaccinations.

I am interested in adopting a specific breed. Do you ever have purebred or “designer” pets (such as doodles or hypoallergenic breeds)?

Certain types of animals or breeds do not end up in shelters very often such as purebred animals, designer mixes such as Goldendoodles, or hypoallergenic animals, but we do have them on occasion through our BFF program. Visit our BFF Program page to learn more.

May I put an animal “on hold” to adopt later?

No. Past experience has proven that, despite good intentions, many people who asked to place an animal “on hold” never returned to adopt that pet. As a result, during that period, many may have missed out on an opportunity to find a forever home. All potential adopters must be present for the adoption process. No payments for adoptions can be taken over the phone.

Can I return a pet I have adopted if things don’t work out?

Our adopters have 15 days to return an animal. You will receive an animal exchange form in the amount of the adoption fee and can only be used to adopt another animal. The exchange form is valid for 90 days towards another adoption and is not applicable to retail/services. After 15 days, one is no longer eligible for an exchange and the animal must be re-evaluated by our Admissions Office.

If you aren’t sure whether you’re ready to adopt, consider our foster program!

Can I bring my other pet in to meet my potential new pet at your Adoption Center?

Yes. We recommend potential adopters bring in their dog(s) to better ensure a harmonious relationship between their dog(s) and the new addition. We require proof that your pet is up to date on vaccinations. Please bring records for the following: Rabies, Distemper/Parvo, and Bordetella.

Ready to Meet Your New Best Friend?

Take a look at our adoptable animals. We’re sure you’ll find one who catches your eye!

View Adoptable Pets