Admission to Adoption
How DHA Cares for Animals
DHA Pets
All dogs and cats available at the shelter for adoption are:
Spayed/neutered
Examined by a veternarian
Vaccinated
Fitted with collar & ID tag
Negative for heartworm
Evaluated by the trainer
Exercised daily
Loved!!!
All animals receive microchipping, free collar, leashes, and ID tag with every adoption.
When visitors come to our shelter in search of a pet, the animals they see in the adoption rooms and kennels are actually at the end of what may have been a long process. Not all of them were cute, cuddly, healthy, and sociable when they first arrived at the shelter. We thought you’d be interested to know just what happens from admission to adoption.
Behavior and health assessment
The first step in the admission process is a behavior and health assessment of the animal to determine if it has a reasonable expectation of doing well in a shelter environment. Dogs are tested for heartworm, and cats are screened for FeLV (feline leukemia) and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). If an animal is deemed inappropriate for shelter life, the owner will be given alternative avenues to follow. For more information about the assessment process, please read Getting an Animal Admitted to DHA.
Medical care
Once admitted, all DHA animals are under the supervision of our medical staff. The animals receive age-appropriate vaccinations and are also checked for fleas, ticks, earmites, intestinal parasites, and ringworm. Some animals may have to undergo several weeks of treatments before they are rid of these ailments.
Another aspect of the animals’ health care involves monitoring them for signs of illness. Manageable illnesses, such as upper respiratory infections, are treated with antibiotics or other medications. More serious health problems may require specialized veterinary treatment, either by our medical staff or by one of DHA’s partner vets.
Special Needs
Other factors that DHA staff must consider are the “special needs” that some animals have. For example, pregnant animals, puppies and kittens under 8 weeks old, and animals with health problems will require special care before they are ready for adoption. Typically they are placed in foster homes until they are old enough and/or healthy enough to return to the shelter and have spay/neuter surgery. Before they go up for adoption, even puppies and kittens, if they are healthy and meet the minimum weight requirements, are spayed or neutered by specially trained vets.
Aside from all these physical concerns, the emotional needs of our animals must also be addressed. For example, a kitten that has never had the opportunity to play with other kittens may need socialization. An animal that was abused or neglected will require special nurturing to help it learn to trust humans. Fortunately we have a dedicated group of volunteers who come to the shelter regularly to help staff work with these “special needs” animals. Also, whenever possible, an animal that needs socialization will be placed in foster care in the home of a trained volunteer. When even these efforts don’t work, DHA consults with animal behavior experts.
As you can see, the process from admission to adoption is often complex. DHA does its best to provide every potentially adoptable animal in our care with a good preparation for a healthy, happy life. Through our many sheltering services, we address our animals’ behavioral and physical needs to help them develop into adoptable family pets.
