Adoptions and Available Animals

How can I adopt an animal?

Chesapeake Animal Services Unit (CASU) may adopt animals to any resident of Chesapeake or adjacent city. Persons who live out of state or who are residents of any city not adjacent to Chesapeake may only adopt animals that are already spayed or neutered. Eligible citizens should visit the shelter and make their selection.

 What kind of animals do you have for adoption?

Some people erroneously assume that most animals are turned into shelters because they are "bad" or something is wrong with them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most animals arrive at shelters because owners lost them and don't look for them, or because owners did not realize what a responsibility owning a pet is, owners may be moving, families break up, or children are allergic, etc., etc. --All reasons that have nothing to do with what a wonderful pet the animal may be. Just look on our "Alumni Board" when you visit the shelter and see for yourself the wonderful animals that have found homes through our shelter.

What is the adoption process?

Visiting and Adoption hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday. The shelter is closed Sunday, Wednesday and holidays.

Some animals are lost, and by law must be held a certain number of days to give their owner time to find them. At the end of the holding period, they become the property of the City and may be adopted. Interested persons will be asked to complete an adoption application. Adopters must have an approved application, landlord permission if they rent, and all lawfully required rabies vaccinations and city licenses on any pets they currently own before adopting a new pet. If the desired animal is not available yet, a citizen with an approved application may put a "First Choice" on that animal. That means the animal is reserved for that adopter. If not claimed by an owner, the adopter may adopt the animal on the available date.

Download an adoption application now:

• Dog Adoption Application
• Cat Adoption Application

To adopt an animal, you must present valid identification showing your current residence. If you rent, you must provide verification that you are permitted to have a pet. Persons convicted of cruelty, abuse or other serious animal ordinance violations may not adopt. Chesapeake Animal Services Unit reserves the right to refuse adoptions not in the best interest of the animal or community. You will be asked to sign an adoption contract promising to keep the animal only as a pet, to abide by the laws for the control and protection of animals. All dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered before transfer of custody to an adopter, unless there is a medical reason prohibiting surgery prior to adoption.

How much does it cost to adopt?

The adoption fee for small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, small reptiles, livestock, etc. will be set administratively and depend on the type of animal. You will need to ask the shelter office staff about the particular animal you want. For dogs and cats, the adoption fee is $35.00 plus the cost of spay/neuter surgery, rabies vaccination and micro chip implantation. All adopted dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered prior to release unless there is a medical reason why surgery cannot be done at that time.

Most adopters will choose the Chesapeake Humane Society Care Clinic, a low cost spay/neuter clinic operated by the Chesapeake Humane Society for the surgery, rabies vaccination and micro chip. The cost is $60 for dogs and $40 for cats. PAYMENT FOR SURGERY, VACCINATION AND MICRO CHIP MUST BE MADE AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION. Adopters who wish to use their own veterinarian for these procedures may discuss those arrangements with the CAS office staff at the time of adoption.

CASU is committed to reducing pet overpopulation. Eight million American dogs and cats are destroyed each year simply because they are surplus. Our shelter handles approximately 4,000 animals each year. Nearly 2,000 of them are euthanized because their owners do not claim them or no one adopts them. Spaying and neutering is the law for dogs and cats adopted from shelters.

Why does it cost to adopt when so many animals need homes, why not give them away?

Free pets are a major reason for the epidemic pet overpopulation in our country today. Cheap and free pets are easily acquired without a true commitment, or thought about the responsibility involved. Often not vaccinated or neutered (why spend money on something free?!!), they are also easily discarded. These animals reproduce at alarming rates further increasing the pet overpopulation problem. In our country today, the birth rate of dogs and cats is six times the human birth rate, and approximately eight million of these unfortunate animals are euthanized each year simply because they are "surplus". Our shelter receives about 4,000 animals each year. Far too many of them are never claimed by their owners or adopted.

Still... $35.00... What do I get for my money?

Well, just look at this. For your $35.00 you get:

• Your pet's first vaccinations valued at a minimum of $25.00
• A worming valued at $10.00
• A heartworm or feline leukemia test in most cases valued at $25.00
• Flea treatment valued at $10.00
• A leash or cat carrier, coupons and samples valued at $5.00

  For a total value of $75.00

We think this is the best deal in town. Better than any "Free to Good Home" pet. So, adopt from Chesapeake Animal Services Unit. Save a life and you will have the only love money CAN buy.

Click here to see a few of the animals available this week