Adopt a new member of your family today!
Have a look at our Facebook page for information on our small animals.
How to Adopt
1
View our Adoptable Animals
Animals are placed on the website as soon as they are ready for adoption. New animals are added daily, so please keep checking if you do not see one who fits your family right away.
2
Submit an Adoption Request
Once you find an animal you are interested in, click ‘Adopt Me’ on their profile page. You will then be asked to create an Adopets account and answer some questions about you and your family, your lifestyle, and what you are looking for in a pet. This will help us make sure they’re a good match for you.
3
Phone Consultation
LCHS staff will review the information you submit, then call within two business days to go through the animal’s medical and behaviour history and their lifestyle needs.
4
Meet & Greet Appointment
After reviewing the pet’s history, we will schedule a meet-and-greet appointment for your family and potential new pet. Depending on the public health restrictions at the time, your appointment may take place virtually or at the shelter.
If all goes well, we will proceed steps 5 and 6 the same day, so be prepared to take your new pet home!
5
Finalizing Your Adoption
Now that you’ve decided on your new pet, we’ll review what is included with your adoption and answer any remaining questions you have.
You will then sign our adoption commitment form and pay your adoption fee.
See Adoption Fees6
Take Home Your New Pet!
It’s official! Your life with your new family member has begun. If you need more time to get your home ready, please speak with our team.
Important Information For Adopters
Adoption Requests
To give our animals the best possible chance of finding a suitable home quickly, we accept multiple requests for each animal which are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is possible we may already have interested adopters in line when you submit your request. Submitting an adoption request does not guarantee you will be able to adopt the animal you are interested in.
Phone Consultations
If we are unable to reach you by when we call for your phone consultation, we can only hold the animal for 24 hours after leaving a message. It is in the best interest of the animal to place it into a suitable home as soon as we can, so we cannot hold animals for any longer. If we do not hear back from you within that time, your adoption request will be cancelled.
Adoption Fees and What’s Included
Adoption fees vary depending on the type and age of the animal.
Note: an administration fee of $5 or 5% (whichever is greater) will apply to all adoption fees upon checkout.
- Adult Cat – $99
- Kitten (6 months or younger) – $150
- Adult Dog (greater than 25 lbs) – $450
- Puppy (less than 1 year) – $550
- Small Adult Dog (25 lbs or under) – $550
- Bunny – $35
- Guinea Pig – $25
- Budgie – $15
- Fancy Rat – $20
- Hamster – $15
If you are adopting a dog, it is a requirement that you purchase a license for the municipality in which you reside prior to pick-up.
Licenses for St. Catharines and Thorold are available online at docupet.com and licenses for Grimsby are sold at our shelter. Prices vary.
These fees help to partially cover the cost of caring for your new pet’s stay at our shelter. The adoption fee includes:
- All cats, kittens, dogs, puppies and rabbits will be spayed/neutered
- At least one set of vaccinations for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens
- All cats and dogs will have a 24PetWatch Microchip to help your pet return home should they become lost
- All dogs will have completed a behaviour assessment
- Any medical treatments or surgeries that were required while in LCHS’ care