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The Adoption Process

1

SUBMIT A QUESTIONNAIRE

Complete an application online or come in to complete it in person. To start the process, you must come in to meet with the pet you're interested in (no appointments, first come first served.) Our Adoption Counselors will review your application after you've visited with the pet.

2

MEET THE SHELTER PET

All members of the household are asked to meet with one of our SAHS Adoption Counselors and the desired pet during normal business hours (12-7pm daily).

3

SPEAK WITH AN ADOPTION COUNSELOR

The Adoption Counselor will review your application with you and provide you with more information about the pet you are looking to adopt. 

4

APPROVAL AND INTRODUCTIONS

Once your application is approved, any current dogs in the home are encouraged to come in for a scheduled dog introduction. Potential adopters must speak with an Adoption Counselor to schedule a dog introduction at the SAHS.

5

BE PREPARED

To expedite the process, please bring proof of residence, your pet policy if applicable, and any current pets’ vet records with you. 

Adoption Requirements

18+ Years of Age

You must be at least 18 years of age with a valid form of identification, valid photo ID & proof of residency.

Proof of Pet Policy

Must be able to provide proof of your current residence's pet policy.

Pet Vaccinations

Cats and dogs living in the home must be up to date on their rabies vaccination, as required by state law.

Primary Caretaker

The primary caretaker of the pet must be present to complete the adoption process.

Adoption Screening

Potential adopters must go through an adoption screening process.

Adopting a Specific Pet

If you want to adopt a specific pet, you must come in and spend 20-30 minutes with them to ensure a good fit before your application is reviewed by our Adoption Counselors.

cat adoption
  • FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

    Applications for a specific pet are taken on a first come, first serve basis after meeting with the pet of your choice. We do not hold animals and we reserve the right to refuse adoption to anyone for any reason.

  • APPLICATIONS VALID FOR 90 DAYS

    General applications are good for 90 days until you decide which animal you would like to adopt.

Adoption Fees

Thank you for considering adopting a pet from the San Antonio Humane Society. You’ll find our prices listed below based on the age and species of pet you're looking for. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us. All prices are subject to change without notice.

Ambassador and Guardian Angel pets vary in price.

DOGS

1 YEAR AND OLDER

$75

PUPPIES

UNDER 1 YEAR

$150

Fees vary for our Guardian Angel and Ambassador pets.

What's Included

  • Spay/neuter surgery

  • First set of vaccinations

  • Microchip with free registration

  • De-wormer, flea and heartworm prevention

  • GoodPup Dog Training: 1 FREE week of training + 10% Off for Life

  • Complimentary wellness exam and follow-up care (within 14 days of adoption) at any VCA Animal Hospital

CATS

1 YEAR OR OLDER

$75

KITTENS

UNDER 1 YEAR

$150

Fees vary for our Guardian Angel and Ambassador pets.

What's Included

  • Spay/neuter surgery

  • First set of vaccinations

  • Microchip with free registration

  • De-wormer, flea and heartworm prevention

  • Complimentary wellness exam and follow-up care (within 14 days of adoption) at any VCA Animal Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions

– Monday through Sunday, 12-7pm.
– We stop taking applications at 6pm, so that we have time to meet with everyone before we close.
– We are closed on some major holidays (including but not limited to Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day). We occasionally have varied hours for staff development, those will be posted on our social media pages and the front page of our website.
– You can reach us on 210-226-7461 between 12-7pm.

All guests interested in meeting one of our pets must provide SAHS staff with a valid photo ID, be a minimum of 18 years of age, and provide an Acceptable Proof of Residence. Guests under the age of 18 are unable to meet our pets unless accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. Before applying to adopt, we ask all visitors to first socialize with the pet for at least 20 minutes to help ensure compatibility. Under special circumstances you may be required to spend longer than 20 minutes with a pet. When you’re ready to move forward with the adoption process, kennel staff will direct you to the front lobby where you will complete an application and sit with an adoption counselor for review.

Depending on the number of applications pending, the wait to meet with an adoption counselor can range between 30 minutes to 2 hours. Depending on wait time, we are currently utilizing text message alerts for visitors who wish to leave our campus while they wait.

All of our adoptions are done on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not hold/reserve pets. 

We would like you to have the opportunity to get to know our pets before they get to know yours. For the safety of your pets and ours, we ask that you please leave your pets at home.

We do offer dog introductions here at our shelter by appointment! Once you find a great match, you can speak with our adoption counselors about setting up an appointment to bring in your dog(s) so we can help you introduce them to their potential new sibling. Any dogs coming into our shelter need to be up to date on their vaccinations (rabies, DAPP, bordetella), so please be ready to show vaccine records before setting up your dog intro appointment.

Dogs
Puppies up to 1 year – $150
Dogs over a year – $75

Cats
Kittens up to 1 year –  $150
Cats over a year – $75

Dogs – Adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, first set of vaccinations, microchip, de-wormer, flea and heartworm prevention, complimentary wellness exam and follow-up care (within 14 days of adoption) at any VCA Animal Hospital, and GoodPup Dog Training: 1 FREE week of training + 10% Off for Life.

Cats – Adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, first set of vaccinations, microchip, de-wormer, flea prevention, complimentary wellness exam and follow-up care (within 14 days of adoption) at any VCA Animal Hospital.

Fees vary for our Guardian Angel and Ambassador pets.

Guardian Angel pets – Guardian Angel pets are sponsored, reducing their adoption fees. Contributions from the community to the Guardian Angel Program make it possible for us to reduce the adoption fees for dogs and cats at our facility, thus increasing their chances of adoption. We appreciate all of your efforts to help our animals find their forever homes.

Ambassador pets – The San Antonio Humane Society is a no kill shelter that does not euthanize for space. As a result, any dog or cat can reside at SAHS until they are adopted. Ambassador pets have a raised adoption fee that helps lend a paw to other pets looking for a forever home. What makes an ambassador pet? An Ambassador pet can include any highly adoptable dog or cat of any age or breed. 

For more information, visit the San Antonio Humane Society at 4804 Fredericksburg Rd. or call 210-226-7461.

Once your adoption application has been reviewed/approved, you will be able to take your new best friend home on the same day! 

As stated in the Texas Health and Safety Code, Animal Sterilization Act, Section 828, sterilization of an animal is required when adopting from a shelter. All animals adopted from the San Antonio Humane Society will be spayed/neutered before going home with their new family.

Depending on the number of people adopting, the adoption process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Adoption applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Upon arrival to the SAHS, all pets are examined by our Animal Health Technicians. The pet’s health is routinely monitored while in our care, but there is always a chance a pet is incubating a disease or infection. As they are living creatures, we cannot guarantee their health. We do require you visit with a VCA Animal Hospital or your own veterinarian for a physical exam for you new pet within 5 days of the adoption. If you adopt a pet and he/she becomes ill during this time the VCA coverage will help cover the cost of most common shelter illnesses*. *Some out-of-pocket expenses may be required should the pet become ill after adoption.

sosy and sasha's adoption special
closing at 3pm January 15
sahs holiday hours
holiday hours