Adoption Policies

We require a personal interview before any animals may be adopted. Please read the following information, and if you're interested in adopting one of our animals, please call (530) 587-5948 or e-mail us.

The Humane Society is dedicated to saving and improving the lives of pets through adoptions, community spay/ neuter services and humane education programs. Our adoption policies are designed to ensure permanent, loving, and safe homes for the animals entrusted to our care -- the lifelong well being of each animal is our primary concern.

Each of our pets is altered and is current on vaccines prior to adoptions. In addition, our cats have been tested for certain diseases and our dogs have been microchipped. Our adoption fees are $75 for cats and $100 for dogs. They are $150 for puppies and kittens under four months of age.

If you are interested in adopting one of our pets, please review the following criteria. You may also download our adoption policies in a pdf file.

1. LOCAL RESIDENCY — We need identification showing your local physical and mailing addresses.

2. MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTERING — All of our pets are surgically altered before they go home if they are old enough. Alternatively, we take a deposit for puppies and kittens to ensure they are spayed or neutered as soon as they are old enough. This is required by law.

3. ANIMALS MAY NOT BE ADOPTED AS GIFTS — The animal must be chosen and adopted by the person/family who will be responsible for it.

4. ADOPTIONS OF YOUNG PETS TO FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN — Puppies and kittens should be at least four months old before being placed in homes with children under six years old. Mishandling may result in an injury to the pet and/or the child.

5. ANIMALS ADOPTED AS PETS ONLY — Cats will not be placed solely as “mousers” or barn cats. Dogs will not be placed solely as guard dogs or hunting dogs. Also, we strongly believe that a cat is only truly safe when kept indoors at all times.

6. FENCED IN YARDS FOR DOGS — Anyone adopting a dog must have a confined area in which the dog can exercise and roam. There must be direct access from the residence into the yard or kennel (pen) area. You may consult a Humane Society staff member for further information. Humane Society personnel who will be looking for a secure area and potential pet hazards may inspect each home. In the event that an area cannot be made to comply with Humane Society standards, the potential adopter may apply for a fence check waiver.

7. SHELTER FOR DOGS — The Humane Society believes that dogs should be accepted in your home as an extension of your family, and as such should live in your home. Only dogs over one year old and who can acclimate to very cold weather should be left outside -all others must be given indoor shelter. If dogs must be left outside for any period of time, they require direct access to shelter --doghouse, dog door into garage, etc. Simply chaining the dog unsupervised in the yard for an extended period violates the provisions for both adequacy of exercise and humaneness of control.

8. IF YOU RENT, WE NEED TO CHECK WITH YOUR LANDLORD — May of our animals have been given up because a landlord won't allow them on the property. We want to ensure that once you take a pet home, you won't have to bring it right back.

9. IF YOU CAN'T KEEP THE ANIMAL — If you can no longer keep your adopted pet or care for it humanely, you must return it to the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. You may not sell it or give it away to another person.