Adoption Applications

Our Adoption Process

• You must be 21 years or older to adopt. Please bring a valid form of I.D.

• We generally do not do same-day adoptions. Please plan a visit to the shelter to work with our adoption counselor and pick out an animal that best fits your lifestyle.

• All members of the household must visit with the potential new family member before the adoption is finalized. We want to make sure it's a good fit for everyone!

• If you are planning on adopting a dog and already have an existing dog, we ask that you leave them at home during your first visit. Once you've picked out a dog you'd like to adopt, you can schedule an appointment with an adoption counselor to bring your dog to the shelter to meet your potential new pet. This is not necessary for cats.

• We then ask that you fill out our adoption application and allow 24-72 hours to process and approve your application.

• Renters - We do need to contact your landlord or rental company to verify the pet policy

• We require a Veterinary reference for adopters who currently or recently had a pet. If you do not have any pets or have not had one recently, we do ask that you make a deposit at a Veterinary clinic (of your choice) to cover the cost for your first visit.

• If at any time you are unable to keep the pet or offer it proper care, we ask that you bring it back to the shelter before alternate arrangements are made.

• Multiple applications can be submitted for the same animal; adoptions are not decided based on a first come basis. Our adoption committee looks at each application in order to decide the best home for the animal. Our mission is to give each of our animals the best environment for their personal needs, in order to ensure they have a home forever.

• Our adoptions include:

  • Feline: Spay/Neuter, Rabies (based on age), Distemper, Deworming, Flea/Tick treatment and preventative, and Microchip. 

  • Canine: Spay/Neuter, Rabies (based on age), Distemper, Bordetella, Deworming, Flea/tick treatment, Heartworm test, and Microchip. 

Adoption Fees: $80 for Cats, $100 for Senior dogs (over 10 years old), $200 for adult Dogs, and $300 for Puppies 6 months & younger.

Our Adoptable pets

Adoption Promotions

Muskegon Humane Society’s SENIOR 4 SENIOR ADOPTION PROGRAM is supported by our Abigail Fund. It was developed to help senior humans enjoy having a cat or dog in their lives. The program places senior cats and dogs (typically over 10 years of age) with senior citizens who are 65 years of age or older.

Our staff will help you select a companion who fits into your lifestyle and housing situation at a reduced adoption rate of $25 for cats and $50 for dogs. The adoption fee includes the animal spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations.

there are many mutually beneficial benefits to our Senior 4 Senior program:

• Studies have shown that pet companionship may improve senior citizen health and outlook on life.

• A loving and affectionate animal can help a person feel less isolated from the rest of the world.

• The company of a beloved pet has been proven to reduce depression.

• The quiet and doting home of a senior citizen is the perfect match for an older animal looking for a new home.

• Senior animals are often gentler, calmer companions, and often are already trained.

• Cats and dogs provide friendship for lonely individuals, and open opportunities for interacting with others which a person may miss if family is far away.

• Caring for an animal can mean daily walks which puts a person in contact with the rest of the world.

• Geriatric researchers have shown that elderly dog owners were more likely to be active than owners dog benefits from a daily walk.

• People who own an animal have more of a sense of purpose. When an elderly person doesn't have a family to care for, the responsibilities of feeding and caring for an animal can give an elderly person a special sense of purpose.

• Elderly persons who own a dog have a lower incidence of depression and, in general, have higher mental health scores than those without pets.

• Dog ownership at all age levels has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

• Those with Animals are less inclined to suffer heart attacks, their blood pressure is lower on average, they report less tension and stress, and they live longer overall.

If you are interested in adopting please fill out an application below, be sure to indicate you are interested in the senior 4 senior program.

If you would like to learn more about this program, what it supports and how to contribution, please click the link below.

Medical Source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/benefits-of-animal-companionship-for-the-elderly/