Pre-Adoption Services A general wellness exam Spay/Neuter services – every pet that comes into our care is spayed or neutered, and we provide spay/neuter aftercare instruction resources. Home Again Microchip ID implanted and registered to you. Preliminary vaccinations, including rabies (if age appropriate), and routine deworming and flea prevention. Following best practices, Humane Colorado no longer tests for Felv/FIV unless there is a medical concern.
Post-Adoption Support A complimentary wellness exam at any GoodVets veterinary practice or another vet participating in the Connect for Care program. Connect for Care is good for 14 days after adoption to establish your pet with a local veterinarian. The best Resources to help set you and your new pet up for success in your home. Our free behavior helpline to assist if problems arise.
Continued Care People who adopt a cat or dog from Humane Colorado now have the opportunity to protect their new friend by enrolling in Fetch Pet Insurance!* For more information, Humane Colorado adopters can call Fetch Pet Insurance directly at 866.467.3875.
Before You Visit a Humane Colorado Location Family members may have different ideas of what they are looking for in a companion animal. Consider talking about the ideal pet qualities together – from “couch potato” to “wilderness explorer”, pet size, coat length, and more. We recommend starting your search for a new pet online. If you see a pet you want to meet, note their location and write down their ID number. We have three adoption facilities: Leslie A Malone Center in Denver, The Buddy Center in Castle Rock, and the San Luis Valley Animal Center in Alamosa. Adoptions are on a first come, first served basis. We regularly update our available cats, dogs, and small mammals online, but there’s always a possibility that the pet you saw on our site will find a home before you get a chance to visit. You can check our Pets Adopted Today for daily happy tails. For horses, donkeys, and other equine adoptions, visit the Equine Adoptions Process. Our Equine Adoption Process
What to Bring with you on Adoption Day We recommend bringing the whole family in to make sure everyone has a positive first experience with their potential new pet. Please bring a valid ID with your current address. If your ID does not match your current address, please bring proof of residence, such as a utility bill or vehicle registration. If you have a resident dog, we may ask you to bring them in for a dog-dog meet and greet to ensure compatibility. We do not allow meetings for any animals besides dog-dog meet and greets due to liability and training purposes.
Step One: Bring the family for a visit. The Humane Colorado pet adoptions process begins in shelter with our knowledgeable adoption counselors. They will help you understand each animal’s unique history, experience, and needs. Browse our available pets, then when you’re ready, note the animal ID number(s) and follow the signage to join our digital queue. The adoptions queue closes at least one hour before closing to better serve you and the animals in our care. Our queue may be closed at other times due to capacity.
Step Two: Meet Some of Our Friends When it’s your turn, visit with the pets you are interested in. We have private rooms for you and your family to interact with our cats and dogs as well as an outdoor area for dog-dog meet and greets. Our adoption counselors will answer any questions you have about the pet to the best of their knowledge. This may include medical and behavior reviews, dog walking reports, and foster care notes. When animals come to us without prior history, we don’t know their experience or compatibility with small children, other dogs, or cats. Through behavior reviews, we get some idea of qualities and characteristics that will best suit each animal based on their in-shelter experience.
Step Three: Complete your adoption Adoptions are finalized on the same day as your visit unless otherwise indicated by your adoption counselor. Once you’ve found a pet for your family, you will complete the paperwork, pay your adoption fee, and receive your adoption packet and a free bag of Hill’s Science Diet. Stop by the Sit, Stay. Shop for more accessories and goodies. Take home your new family member.
Ongoing adoption discounts We offer adoption discounts to better serve the pets in our care and the animal lovers looking for a new companion animal. Our ongoing discounts are subject to change with the available pet population. Equines are excluded. BYOC—Bring your own carrier when you adopt a cat and receive $5 off your adoption fee Current Military & Veterans—50% off adoption fees (Discount courtesy of Lockheed Martin) Yappy Hour—$50 off adult dog adoptions Monday through Thursday mornings until 11 am. Seniors (65 & older)—50% off adoption fees Seniors for Seniors Tuesdays (65 & older)—Adoption fees waived for pets 8 years and older Small, but Mighty Guinea Pigs—Adopt one Guinea pig and adopt the 2nd one for free (same sex only)