Bringing Home Your Pet

Pet Adoption Process

Bringing home a companion animal is an exciting time! Our paws-on adoption experience will match you with your perfect pet.

Thank you for opening your home to a companion animal in need! Adoptions are completed in person on a first come first serve basis. Take into account the time you may need to meet with a potential pet prior to adoption. Our visitor queue closes shortly before the shelter closing time.

Keep reading for more detailed information about the adoption process at Humane Colorado.

When you are ready to adopt, we invite you to come into one of our shelter locations to visit with available pets.

We encourage all family members or people responsible for pet care to participate in the adoption process with you. This may include a meet and greet with your resident dog or a child visit to ensure compatibility and a positive first experience with your potential new pet.

The pet adoption process

Your paws-on adoption experience

Your new best friend awaits!

Step One: Bring the family for a visit.

The Humane Colorado pet adoptions process begins in shelter with our knowledgeable adoption counselors. They will help you understand each animal’s unique history, experience, and needs.   

Browse our available pets, then when you’re ready, note the animal ID number(s) and follow the signage to join our digital queue.

Please sign in only when you are ready to adopt.  

The adoptions queue closes at least one hour before closing to better serve you and the animals in our care. Our queue may be closed at other times due to capacity. 

Step Two: Meet Some of Our Friends

When it’s your turn, visit with the pets you are interested in. We have private rooms for you and your family to interact with our cats and dogs as well as an outdoor area for dog-dog meet and greets.  

Our adoption counselors will answer any questions you have about the pet to the best of their knowledge. This may include medical and behavior reviews, dog walking reports, and foster care notes.  

When animals come to us without prior history, we don’t know their experience or compatibility with small children, other dogs, or cats. Through behavior reviews, we get some idea of qualities and characteristics that will best suit each animal based on their in-shelter experience.  

Step Three: Complete your adoption

Adoptions are finalized on the same day as your visit unless otherwise indicated by your adoption counselor.   

Once you’ve found a pet for your family, you will complete the paperwork, pay your adoption fee, and receive your adoption packet and a free bag of Hill’s Science Diet. Stop by the Sit, Stay. Shop for more accessories and goodies.  

Now, for the best part of your adoption experience; taking your new family member home to start your next adventure together.

What to Bring with you on Adoption Day

  • We recommend bringing the whole family in to make sure everyone has a positive first experience with their potential new pet.
  • Please bring a valid ID with your current address. If your ID does not match your current address, please bring proof of residence, such as a utility bill or vehicle registration.
  • If you have a resident dog, we may ask you to bring them in for a dog-dog meet and greet to ensure compatibility. We do not allow meetings for any animals besides dog-dog meet and greets due to liability and training purposes. 

Adoptable animal pricing

Cats & kittens

Adoption fees for cats and kittens range from $50-$300.

Dogs & puppies

Adoption fees for dogs and puppies range from $50-$350.

Small Pets

Adoption fees for small pets range from $5-$75.

Equines

Adoption fees for equines range from $250-$2,000.

Call our team at our Harmony Equine Center to learn more about our equine adoption experience and inquire about adoption!

Why adopt from Humane Colorado?

Combined with our high standards of compassionate care and an open adoptions process, Humane Colorado invests an average of $958 on each individual pet’s journey – providing specialized treatments, behavioral support, hands-on enrichment with staff and trained volunteers, and a comfort place to rest while they wait for their ideal home. It could be yours!

In addition to the pre-adoption care, we offer post-adoption support, resources, and services to help you and your new pet thrive!

Ready to adopt?

Visit the Buddy Center
Visit the Leslie A. Malone Center
Visit the San Luis Valley Animal Center

Ongoing adoption discounts

We offer adoption discounts to better serve the pets in our care and the animal lovers looking for a new companion animal. Our ongoing discounts are subject to change with the available pet population. Equines are excluded.

  • BYOC—Bring your own carrier when you adopt a cat and receive $5 off your adoption fee
  • Bonded BOGO – One adoption fee waived when adopting a bonded pair
  • Current Military & Veterans—50% off adoption fees (Discount courtesy of Lockheed Martin)
  • Yappy Hour—$50 off adult dog adoptions Monday through Thursday mornings until 11 am.
  • Seniors (65 & older)—50% off adoption fees
  • Seniors for Seniors Tuesdays (65 & older)—Adoption fees waived for pets 8 years and older
  • Small, but Mighty Guinea Pigs—Adopt one Guinea pig and adopt the 2nd one for free (same sex only)

Returning a pet to Humane Colorado

We hope every adoption is a perfect match, but we understand that sometimes things don’t work out. Our judgement-free team is here to help welcome animals back into our care and help you find a pet better suited for your home.

Donate to animals in need today!