Adoption Process

✅ Age Requirement – You must be 21 years or older to adopt.

✅ A Family Decision – Everyone in your household should be aware of and approve of the adoption.

✅ A Lifetime Commitment – Pets can live 10 years or more—are you ready to provide a forever home?

✅ A Smooth Transition – If you have other pets, you agree to introduce them slowly and under supervision to ensure a safe and comfortable adjustment.

✅ Patience & Understanding – Shelter pets may need several days to adjust. They may feel scared or confused at first, and they’ll rely on your love and patience to feel safe in their new home.

✅ Financial Responsibility – Owning a pet comes with expenses, including:

• Annual vet visits & vaccinations
• Monthly flea & heartworm prevention
• Unexpected medical care

✅ Returning a Pet – If, for any reason, you can no longer care for your pet, you must return them to Martin County Humane Society. You agree:

• Not to rehome, list online, or surrender them elsewhere.
• To contact us immediately if you need to return your pet.

✅ Responsible Pet Ownership – You agree to:

• Keep your pet supervised at all times—no allowing them to roam loose.
• Never chain or tie a dog outside as a means of confinement.

✅ Veterinary Care – While we provide initial medical care, we are not responsible for vet bills from outside providers.

By adopting, you’re making a promise of love, care, and responsibility—and we’re here to support you every step of the way!

At Martin County Humane Society, our animals come to us through abandonment or surrender, and we are committed to finding them the best possible forever homes. To ensure a great fit, we carefully assess each pet’s temperament and observe how they interact with children, adults, and other animals.

Because we prioritize thoughtful, lasting adoptions, our process is thorough rather than instant. To help streamline your experience, we encourage you to complete paperwork online in advance and share your preferences with us.

The first step is to fill out our adoption interest form, which is required as part of the adoption contract. Once submitted, our team will review your information and respond as soon as possible.

Our adoption fees help cover the cost of essential veterinary care, ensuring each pet is healthy and ready for their forever home.

🐾 Adoption Fees:

Cats – $45

Large Dogs – $100

Small Dogs & Puppies – $150

(No sales tax)

🐾 Included Veterinary Care for Dogs:

• Heartworm Test & Treatment – Screens for heartworm disease and provides treatment if needed.
• Lyme Disease Test & Treatment – Checks for Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness, and treats if positive.
• Anaplasmosis Test & Treatment – Detects anaplasmosis, another tick-borne illness, and treats if needed.
• Canis Test & Treatment – Screens for ehrlichiosis, a bacterial infection from ticks, and provides treatment if necessary.
• Rabies Vaccine – Protects against the fatal rabies virus, required by law.
• Flea & Tick Treatment – Prevents and eliminates flea and tick infestations.
• Worm Treatment – Treats common intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms.
• DAPP/Lepto Vaccine – Protects against canine distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and leptospirosis.
• Bordetella Vaccine – Helps prevent kennel cough, a contagious respiratory disease.
• Microchip – A permanent form of identification to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
• Spay/Neuter – Prevents unwanted litters and provides health benefits.
• Puppy Vaccination Series – Young dogs receive age-appropriate vaccines to build immunity.

🐾 Included Veterinary Care for Cats:

• Rabies Vaccine – Protects against rabies, a fatal virus, and is required by law.
• FeLV Vaccine – Protects against feline leukemia virus, which weakens the immune system.
• FVRCP Vaccine – Defends against three common feline viruses: feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.
• FIV/FeLV Test – Screens for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), which can affect a cat’s long-term health.
• Microchip – A permanent form of identification to help lost cats return home.
• Spay/Neuter – Helps control overpopulation and provides health benefits.
• Dewormers – Eliminates intestinal parasites that can cause health issues.
• Flea & Tick Treatment – Protects against fleas and ticks, which can spread diseases.

Your adoption fee helps provide these services, ensuring your new pet gets a healthy start in their new home! 🐶🐱💕

We review all adoption applications. We may interview you to make sure the animal you have chosen is right for your home. Our process is thorough to help ensure the best possible outcome for you, your family, and your new pet.

It is always best to bring your whole family (including any pets) to your meet and greet appointment.

If an animal is too young or is unable to be spayed/neutered for any reason, you must sign a contract stating your intent to spay/neuter the animal. This is included in all adoption fees and the animal can be spayed/neutered at our clinic for free.