Adoption Procedures
Application
After selecting a pet you wish to adopt, the first step is to complete an
adoption application which will give us more information about you, your
experience with pets, and the household where the pet will be living.
View/print an Adoption Application.
Consultation
When the application is completed, a staff member will answer any questions you
may have, review the cost and responsibilities of pet ownership, and
help you make sure this is the right pet for you. There is a brief waiting
period between filing the application and completing the adoption.
The Cost and What it Includes
Adoption Fee for Dogs / Puppies is $107 and includes:
 - Initial medical exam
- Initial heartworm screening
- Parvo - Distemper vaccination
- Rabies vaccination and tag
- Microchip ID and registration
- Mandatory spay or neuter
- Dog license
Adoption Fee for Cats / Kittens is $89 and includes:
- Initial medical exam
- Initial feluke / FIV screening
- FVRCP vaccination
- Rabies vaccination and tag
- Microchip ID and registration
- Mandatory spay or neuter
- Cat license
Spay/Neuter Requirement
There is a terrible overpopulation of dogs and cats. Every hour, 2,000 dogs
and 3,500 cats are born in the United States. Most of them unwanted. It is
vital that all adopted animals be spayed or neutered so we don’t contribute to
this national tragedy.
All adoption animals are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. Spaying or
neutering is the surgical sterilization of a dog or cat. As part of its
adoption program, Forsyth County Animal Control has implemented an early
spay/neuter program for puppies and kittens who are at least 8 weeks old and
eligible for adoption. The cost of surgery is included in the adoption fee.
Follow-Up Veterinary Care
Adopters are encouraged to take their new companion to a veterinarian soon
after adoption. Your veterinarian will discuss annual health care and
vaccinations with you.
Depending on the animal’s age and how long it has been at the shelter,
vaccinations are given in an effort to prevent disease. We provide the best
possible care for our animals while they are with us. This may include
vaccinations, deworming, observations of health and behavior, bathing and
consultation with the veterinarian or an animal’s previous owner.
Although every effort is made to adopt only healthy animals, your veterinarian
may determine that your animal is ill. Upper respiratory (URI) in cats is of
particular concern for all shelters. Through good nutrition, sanitary housing
and medication, we can control the severity of this highly contagious disease.
However, any cat at the shelter could have previously been exposed to URI, with
kittens being more susceptible. With good veterinary treatment and home care,
cats do indeed recover from URI.
Should your veterinarian determine that your animal is ill, you will have to
make a decision. You may return the animal to the shelter for a refund (within
2 weeks), you may choose another animal, or you may pay the veterinarian to
treat your pet.
When the Animal is Home
To provide a safe and secure environment for your new pet, it should not be
allowed to run loose. Dogs that are to be kept outside must by confined in
accordance with state and local law in a clean and sanitary environment and
with adequate shelter. In the city of Winston-Salem, dogs may not be loose on
the owner’s property. The towns within Forsyth County have ordinances that
require dogs to be tied, fenced or walked on a leash. Although there is no
leash law for cats, we recommend that cats be kept inside for their protection
and allowed outside only under direct supervision.
The Animal Control Ordinance requires that all dogs
wear a current rabies tag and county license tax tag. Cat owners must present
proof of current rabies vaccination and proof of payment of county license tax.
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