GHS Feline Adoption Process

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Before beginning the adoption process, ask yourself these two (2) important questions:

Will my cat be left alone at home for 8 to 10 hours per day?

Cats enjoy the company of others and often form intense pair bonds either with their human companions or other animals. Leaving a cat or kitten alone for long periods of time, without human or feline/canine companionship, can lead to problems such as scratching, aggressive play, dietary and/or litter box issues.

If you work long hours (don’t forget to count commute time, children’s after school activities, etc.) and don’t have someone else to provide care and companionship for your cat while you are away, consider adopting two cats. Two cats adopted together are easier and happier and have fewer problems than one lonely bored animal. This is especially true for kittens who require a great deal of socialization in order to develop appropriate and acceptable household behavior.

Am I willing and able to pay an adoption fee of $135?

Glendale Humane Society is looking for “rescue partners” who understand that in order for GHS to continue saving cats, we must find adopters who are prepared and able to make a life-long commitment to a cat.

Although the ability to pay a $135 adoption fee is not the primary consideration when GHS evaluates an adoption application, it is certainly part of our decision. The inability to pay an adoption fee raises a warning flag: can the new adopter truly afford to care for a pet?

If you can’t afford a $135 fee, perhaps you should re-examine your decision to adopt. Vet bills can be expensive and unforeseen. Even routine veterinary and dental care is expensive, as are grooming, day care, pet sitting, etc. GHS needs to feel certain that the cats we place will not be affected by an adopter’s financial instability: many, if not most of the cats we rescue wind up in the shelter due to the inability of their original owner to care for them. We intend to make sure, as far as is humanly possible, that this never happens again.

Rescue is not a convenient place to look for a bargain pet. It is a place to make a difference in your community and in the life of a cat: an opportunity to do what’s right.

The Glendale Humane Society’s adoption process consists of the following:

Complete and submit an adoption application. Take the time to thoroughly and completely answer all questions. If an application is not completed in its entirety, the adoption process ENDS. A complete application helps us to know which of our cats might be a good match for your family. We have gotten to know our cats’ personalities and can be very helpful to you in selecting the right cat. These cats are like family to us and we will not place them hurriedly or carelessly.
Meet the cat. Once your application is approved, a GHS representative will introduce you to our cats and assist you in selecting an appropriate cat for your family. When selecting a new cat or kitten, be sure to consider your current pets. Since this cat will be a new family member, we would like everyone, including your current pets, to be happy with the choice.
Take your cat home. Before you take your new cat home, a contract outlining the specific responsibilities of the adopter will be signed. All adopters must have an appropriate carrier on hand to take home a cat, or reimburse GHS for a carrier. GHS will NOT allow a cat to leave the shelter if it is not secured in a carrier.