TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Firefighters from Station 16 are teaming up with the City of Tallahassee Animal Service Center to encourage pet adoption, spending time with dogs Andi, Olive, Pie, Penny and Majesty, all of whom are currently available for adoption.
Adoptions cost $30. More information about available animals and the adoption process is available at talgov.com/animals/asc-adopt.
The Animal Service Center encourages prospective adopters to look through its online kennel, which is updated hourly. After choosing an animal to meet, adopters are asked to download and complete a questionnaire. Anyone who has issues submitting the form can fill it out, save it and email the PDF to adopt@talgov.com. An adoption counselor will contact applicants within one business day of receiving an application. Once approved, adopters will be scheduled for an appointment to meet the selected animal. The center notes that visitors are not required to adopt the animal they meet, but the process is designed to help ensure a good match.
For people who would rather walk through the kennels to find a pet, open kennel times are Tuesday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Appointments are scheduled in 30-minute intervals. To help speed up the process, the center asks visitors to bring a current government-issued photo ID showing they are over 18, along with proof of current address, such as a telephone or utility bill. The center accepts cash, charge and checks.
For dog adoptions, the center strongly encourages young members of the household to meet the new pet. People who already have a dog at home are encouraged to bring their dog for a meet-and-greet with the dog they are considering adopting.
In most cases, adopters can take a new pet home the same day. Adoption benefits include a new collar and personalized identification tag, a free bag of Hill’s Science Diet pet food, and up-to-date vaccinations. Dogs over 6 months old receive heartworm testing, and adopters receive a record of the pet’s medical care. Most animals are spayed or neutered at the time of adoption; those that are not will be scheduled for the next available surgery day, and adopters will complete the process after surgery is completed. Unaltered animals do not leave the shelter.
The center also provides literature and information about animal care and behavior and what to expect from a new pet.
Dog adopters of dogs over 10 months of age are offered six months of chewable heartworm prevention to purchase at the time of adoption: Triheart Plus for $30, Trifexis for $75, or Simparica Trio for $110. Adopters of heartworm-positive dogs are required to purchase prevention.
Cat adopters of cats over 6 months of age are offered six months of topical Revolt (Selamectin) for $45, which protects against heartworm, fleas and ear mites.
After adoption, the center encourages adopters to review their adoption contract and pet adoption guide at home. The Animal Shelter Foundation also offers online Doggie Manners Classes.