The Adoption Process -

Adoption is for Life

Adopting a pet is a big responsibility. Your new fur baby will bring endless joy to your life, but with that joy comes new challenges and demands. Consider your lifestyle. Are you ready and prepared to invest the time and resources necessary to care for your pet? Do you have the space at home to accommodate a new pet?

Do not start this journey unprepared. There are lots of resources to make pet parenthood easier—start on our Resources page! Once you know you are ready, take the first step in our adoption process.

How to Adopt

Our top priority is making sure that our adoptable pets go to homes where they will be cared for, loved on, and treated like part of the family. We have a step-by-step process in place to make sure everything goes smoothly for you and your new four-legged friend!

You must be 18 years or older to adopt.

1. Fill out an application

We like to learn about you and your home situation to get an idea of which pet might be a good fit for your lifestyle. You will need to fill out a preliminary Adoption Application to proceed with the adoption process. To adopt a dog, please fill out and submit our Online Adoption Application or print our Printable Adoption Application, fill it out, and bring it to the Humane Society when you visit. To adopt a cat, please use the Printable Adoption Application only. You can also pick up an application while you’re here!

2. Visit our adoptable pets

Once you have filled out your application, we invite you to visit our shelter with our adoptable pets. All adoptions are performed on a first-come, first-interviewed basis. We will not schedule reservations for specific animals or place any animal on hold.

The NWA Humane Society for Animals, Inc. adopts both in-state and out-of-state, however, we do require all adopters to be physically present for the adoption process.

3. Bond with an animal

After you meet a pet you adore, we encourage you to spend at least 15 – 30 minutes with him/her at our dog park and or transport hub office. During your time here, one of our Adoption Counselors will answer any questions you have about the animal or the adoption process.

4. Complete adoption paperwork & payment

By now, the cutie you have had your eye on has surely won you over. Once you are ready to move forward, an Adoption Counselor will walk you through the additional adoption paperwork, which includes the Adoption Contract and the animal’s medical paperwork.

5. Bring home your best friend!

The official adoption process might be over, but your pet’s new life has just begun! We do have a few important requirements to make sure your pet is safe and healthy after being adopted:

All animals are required to leave our facility on a collar and leash or in a carrier. If you have these items already, you can bring them with you. We will provide a collar and leash for dogs. You can purchase a cat carrier from us for $10.
All appropriate vaccinations are up to date at time of adoption.
Please plan your initial visit to a licensed veterinarian.