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Q:
Where are you located?
A:
We are located at 100 Savannah Rd. in Fort Pierce. For further
directions and a map, click here.
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Q: How much does it cost
to adopt a pet?
Cat
or Kitten adoption fee is $75.
Dog or Puppy adoption fee is $90.
Adoption Fees Include:
-
Animal
health check.
- Age-appropriate
vaccinations (includes rabies).*
- Spay
or Neuter.
- Initial
de-worming.
- Microchip.
- Medical
examination by a veterinarian.
- Feline
leukemia testing for cats.
- Pre-Adoption
Counseling Session.
*Some
pets adopted through The Humane Society are too young to
receive the rabies shot. Adopters will be required to come
back at a later date for a rabies vaccination (already included
in adoption fee) which is required by law.
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Q:
How many pets do you adopt?
A:
Every day animals at The Humane Society of St. Lucie County
find new homes. Each year the Society finds homes for approximately
2,500-3,000 cats and dogs. We are proud of our efforts and
are committed to placing as many adoptable animals into new,
loving homes as possible.
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Q: Where do your animals
come from?
A:
Lost or stray animals, and pets surrendered by their owners
make up the majority of the animals received at The HSSLC.
If you have lost or found an animal, please visit the Lost
and Found section of our website for more information
and instruction. Animals are also admitted through Animal
Protection Services.
Shelter
Transfer Program
We occasionally receive pets that need extra assistance, whether
medical or behavioral. We work with many breed rescues to
place them into foster homes and open room in our shelter
for incoming homeless pets.
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Q: What's the adoption
process like?
A:
As your local humane society, we have a responsibility to
place animals in suitable environments that will promote loving
bonds between adopters and their pets. Through our adoption
process, we will help you find that perfect pet, the one that
fulfills your expectations, and suits your lifestyle. An adoption
counselor will guide you to ensure that the adoption experience
will prove positive for both you and your new companion animal.
The long-term well-being of the animals in our care is our
main concern; therefore, not all adoption requests may be
successful.
As
part of the process potential adopters are asked to complete
a questionnaire. This questionnaire will supply the adoption
counselor with information about you, your lifestyle, and
the type of pet you are looking for.
The
Adoption Agreement you sign when you adopt an animal will
clearly explain your obligations and responsibilities when
you adopt an animal from us.
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Q:What
do I need to bring with me to complete an adoption?
A:For
all adoptions, you will need to provide a piece of governent-issued
photo identification for yourself with your current address.
If you have recently moved, a piece of photo identification
along with a utility bill, your lease or a bank statement
will suffice.
Every
member of your household must do a "get acquainted meet
and greet" with the adoptable pet. This includes family
dogs. We want to ensure that everybody gets along before your
new pet goes home.
Dogs
and cats must go home wearing a proper collar. If you do not
bring a collar with you at the time of adoption, you may purchase
one at The HSSLC.
Cats
must go home in an appropriate carrier. If you do not bring
one with you at the time of adoption, you may purchase one
at The HSSLC.
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Q: How do you decide
who is adoptable?
A:
Our goal is to place as many of the adoptable pets as possible
received at our shelter. This can be quite a challenge because
we accept all companion animals brought to us regardless of
their health or temperament. Animals placed for adoption need
to be of sound temperament and in good health and must be
able to adapt to the shelter environment. Pets with a history
of severe aggression or that show signs that they are likely
to be dangerous in a variety of settings are not suitable
for our adoption program. Animals that do not adjust to the
shelter environment for whatever reason, are typically highly
stressed, much more susceptible to becoming ill and more likely
to demonstrate aggressive behavior. Sadly, this often makes
them unadoptable. While our team of animal health professionals
ensure every medical option within our resources is explored
in order to save an ill or injured animal, we also believe
that it is not humane to keep an animal in a state of physical
or emotional suffering when its prognosis is poor.
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Q: How long do you keep animals?
A:
We keep all healthy, adoptable animals as long as it takes
to find them a new home. For some animals this can mean living
at the shelter for six months or more until the right home
is available. The length of stay for animals varies. Pets
that are in a shelter environment for too long become "cage
crazy" and we do not feel that it is humane to continue
to keep them in that emotional state.
The
HSSLC does have foster families who care for newborns, pregnant
cats, and recuperating dogs until they are ready to be placed
up for adoption. If you are interested in fostering, please
see the Foster Program section
of our website.
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Q: Do you ever get purebred
dogs or cats?
A:
The national statistic shows that shelters receive approximately
30 percent purebred animals; however they tend to be adopted
very quickly. If you are interested in a specific breed or
type of pet, view the Dogs
for Adoption and Cats for
Adoption pages of our website frequently.
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Q:
Do you require spaying or neutering of adopted cats and dogs?
A:
Yes! We are committed to ending pet overpopulation and consider
spaying and neutering one solution to this tragic problem.
The HSSLC in-house veterinary clinic's main goal is to spay
or neuter all shelter cats and dogs, prior to putting them
up for adoption. However, the occasional animal is not suitable
for surgery prior to adoption. Therefore, we may hold the
adopted pet for several days until the pet is spay or neutered.
Spayed females are required to have a three-day hold before
going home to ensure she is healed properly.
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Q:
Do you adopt out animals with special needs?
Yes!
We do adopt pets with special needs if the pet's temperament
is suitable for adoption. Although these pets take longer
to adopt typically, we feel they should have a chance at life.
If you are willing to adopt or foster
a pet with special needs, please inform the adoption counselor
or foster program coordinator during the application process,
and "thank you" for having a big heart.
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Q: Are there laws in St. Lucie County
about having pets?
A:
Yes! You should be aware of the City of Fort Pierce, City
of Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County's bylaws and your responsibilities
as a pet owner. Visit the city's websites for more information.
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Q:
What if I have challenges when I bring my new pet home?
A:
Adopting an animal is the easy part. The challenge usually
begins when you get your new pet home. Common pet issues are
discussed on our Companion
Animal Tips page. We also have trained personnel on staff
to answer questions you may have about your new pet. They
can be reached at info@hsslc.org or 772-461-0687.
As
well, The HSSLC has numerous informational brochures and fact
sheets available to provide you with much needed resource
material.
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Q:
I adopted a pet from you, and now need to update the microchip
information!
A:
After your adoption, paperwork will be mailed to your current
address with the microchip information along with the phone
number to change it. Make sure you change your information
if you change phone numbers, your physical address or mailing
address.
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Q:
How do I surrender an animal to you for adoption?
A:
Giving up an animal is never easy, for the owner or for the
pet. Please visit our Giving
Up Your Pet page for more information.
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For
answers to other questions about The HSSLC, please e-mail
info@hsslc.org and
a staff member will get back to you.
