Thank you for your interest in adopting an animal from Larimer Humane Society. When you adopt an animal from Larimer Humane Society, you save a life.  Since we are an open-door shelter and accept every animal in need of compassionate home, you might be surprised by the variety of animals we have available for adoption.
 
We, of course, have dogs, cats, puppies and kittens awaiting loving homes. Did you know we also adopt out other animals including mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, chinchillas and ferrets? We also have exotic and barnyard animals for adoption including iguanas, birds, fish, turtles, lizards, chickens, geese, pigs and goats.* (*The types of animals we have in the shelter varies at any point in time, so please check out the adoptable animals pages to learn more about the animals currently in our shelter.)

When it comes to cats and dogs, Larimer Humane Society has virtually every type, size, age, breed, energy-level and personality you can imagine. Utilizing ASPCA’s ® Meet Your Match ™ Program (including the Canine-ality and Feline-ality assessments), our trained staff and volunteers are dedicated to helping you find the animal that best suits your lifestyle and needs.

Not ready to make a full-time commitment to a pet? Consider volunteering for Larimer Humane Society. Our volunteers assist with daily care and enrichment of the animals; foster sick, injured, underage and under-socialized animals; and perform a variety of administrative tasks. Visit the ‘Volunteer’ tab on our website to learn more.

• When you first arrive at Larimer Humane Society, please check in with the customer service representative at the host desk. This will ensure that your name is immediately placed on the list to speak with a staff member. Our customer service representatives can help you with animal adoptions, finding your lost pet and more.
• Before you head back to the adoptable cat or dog rooms, ask our host desk representative for a copy of our dog adopter or cat adopter survey to complete so we can ensure you go home with an animal that fits your personality and lifestyle. Upon completion of the survey, visit the adoptable cat and dog rooms to find an animal that matches your personality and lifestyle.
• If you believe you’ve found a dog or cat that might be the perfect match for you, take note of the animal’s name and kennel number you wish to visit with and inform the host desk upon your return from the adoption rooms.
• When your name is called by the host, you will have the opportunity to meet with one of our customer service representatives to learn more about the pets you’ve selected to meet. Feel free to ask a customer service representative for recommendations on animals that might best suit your personality and lifestyle as well.
• When you’ve found a pet you think is a good fit, our customer service representatives will arrange for you to meet with the pet you’re interested in adopting in one of our visitation rooms. If you are interested in adopting a dog and have another dog at home, we encourage you to bring your dog to the shelter for a dog-meet-dog introduction as well. (This can be done following your initial visit with your potential new dog.)

• Please plan on spending a minimum of one hour at the shelter. During our high traffic periods, there can be a wait of up to 30 to 45 minutes to visit with an animal. We apologize, but due to the constraints of Larimer Humane Society’s current facility, we are limited on the the number of animal visitations we can accomodate at a time.
• To minimize your wait time, we encourage you to visit the shelter during the mid-morning (one hour after opening) and again in the mid-afternoon at times when there is less traffic.

• Please bring a valid photo ID.
• If you’re under 18, bring a parent or guardian with you. You must be 18 years of age or older to adopt an animal from Larimer Humane Society.
• Bring the family! We encourage you to bring anyone who will be living at home with the animal to the shelter in advance of the adoption to ensure that the animal interacts well with each family member.
• If you have another family dog at home, we encourage you to bring your current dog with you to meet the potential new family member. Dog-meet-cat and Cat-meet-cat visits are not permitted. Please bring an additional friend or family member along for dog-meet-dog visits so you do not have to leave your current pet locked in the car.

Although it can be tempting to bring home a cuddly critter after visiting him or her for the first time at the shelter, it’s important to ask yourself some very important questions before adopting an animal. Before you adopt, please ask yourself the following questions:

• How many hours will you be home each day to spend with your pet?
• Where will your pet be at times when you’re not home?
• What is your (and your neighbor’s) tolerance for barking?
• Do you have an enclosed fence? For ‘escape artists,’ we recommend a minimum of 6 foot tall fence.
• Are you willing to train your new pet?
• Do you have the time to exercise/train your pet each day?
• What is your tolerance for naughty pet behavior (that can be corrected with proper training) including chewing furniture and shoes, and housetraining accidents?
• Do you (or another member of your family) have allergies to animals?
• What level of energy are you willing to work or live with?
• Will you be able to afford ongoing veterinary care? Training classes?
• Will you be moving soon?
• Does your landlord and/or HOA accept pets? Do they have policies on certain breeds? Click here for information on pet-friendly housing in Larimer County.

Larimer Humane Society endorses a thoughtful approach to giving pets as gifts. Since the recipient will be responsible for the animal’s lifelong care, all members of the household should be in agreement about their desire and readiness to adopt a new pet. The selection of an ideal pet is a very personal decision, which can make it challenging to choose the right animal companion for someone else without their input. As alternatives to gifting a pet, we recommend gift certificates for future adoption, sponsoring adoptable animals via a financial donation, and involvement in animal care through volunteer service.

The best gift that a homeless animal can receive is the promise of an owner who is prepared for the commitment of pet ownership. We recognize that even in households in which everyone wants a pet and is committed to its care, a small percentage of adoptions do not work out. In these cases, Larimer Humane Society will accept the animal back through our doors and do everything we can to make their stay as comfortable as possible.