Adoption Process

We’re happy to help you find a new pet to welcome into your family. Below you will find everything you need to know as you begin your adoption journey! 

Prepare for adoption

• Consider what kind of pet is best-suited for your lifestyle. You’ll want to think about your pet care experience and household dynamics when choosing an animal. Each pet is one-of-a-kind and has a unique story - just like you! Ask yourself how much time, training, and energy you’re open to providing your new pet as you consider available animals. We’ve crafted pet profiles to provide key details about each animal’s personality, background, and care considerations to help guide you to your best match. Note that what we know about each pet is limited to the history provided at admissions, along with what we’ve observed while they’ve been in our care, so the profile is just a snapshot of their full persona.
   
• Get your family and home ready. There’s lots of preparation you’ll need to do before bringing home a new pet. That may include getting a roommate or partner’s consent, double-checking pet parameters on your lease if you rent, verifying association rules if you own, puppy- or kitten-proofing, or getting existing pets ready for a new sibling. Also consider your personal schedule. If you have travel planned in the coming weeks, now may not be the best time to adopt. Adopters should be prepared to provide additional supplies like food, bowls, treats, bedding, toys, litter box supplies, and flea/tick preventative.  Whether it’s logistical or relational – make sure you take the time to prepare yourself, your family, and your household ahead of bringing home an adopted pet.
• Have your ID ready. You’ll need a government issued identification, like a driver’s license or passport, to complete an adoption. If the address on your ID is not up-to-date, make sure you have a utility bill available to bring with you for your visit. Note that only adults who are 18 years of age or older qualify for adoption.
   

Choose a pet

• View available pets in our adoption gallery. Animals are posted to the gallery in real-time. Each listing includes a pet profile which shares basic information about the animal’s age, size, personality, and any additional information that may be important to potential adopters like training needs, compatibility to other pets, or special care considerations.
   
• Meet the animal in-person. To start planning your visit, take a look at our Locations & Hours.  Drop by any of our adoption centers to meet with our available pets! Please note, we process adoptions the same-day and do not place holds on animals. See the “Prepare for adoption” section above for details on what to bring. If the pet you are interested in is currently noted as “In Foster Care,” or is part of the “Home to Home” program, follow the instructions noted in the pet’s profile to schedule a meet and greet. 

Make it official

• Complete an adoption questionnaire. When completing the form, share as many details as possible to help us confirm the adoption match. Make sure you have everything you need to complete the adoption with you at the time of your visit. See the “Prepare for adoption” section above for details. Note that adoptions are on a first-come, first-served basis. The adoption team reserves the right to postpone adoption to individuals who are not fully prepared to welcome home a new pet.
  
  Once you find an animal you would like to adopt, click "adopt me" to the right of the animal's biography. 

• Meet with us to complete an adoption consultation. Our team will provide you with a customized adoption consultation to review your questionnaire and answer any questions you may have. We’ll review the pet’s medical and vaccination history, provide tips on training and care, and go over important information about their microchip, pet insurance trial, and post-adoption support services. Our team will then finalize your adoption by creating your adopter profile, processing your adoption fee, and snapping your first family photo.
   
• Bring your new pet home! Once your adoption consultation is complete, you’re ready to head home with your adopted animal. We’ll check in with you at the 3-day, 3-week, and 3-month marks to see how you and your new pet are adjusting. In the event that the pet you adopted is not a good fit for you or your household - we encourage you to reach out to our team so we can provide support. We offer an “Adoption Match Guarantee.” Learn more About Adoptions.

Click here to read Adoption FAQs

Our adoption team is here to support you through your adoption journey. Reach out to us if you have any questions regarding the process of bringing home a new pet. Email us at adoption@anticruelty.org or call 312-644-8338.