Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put an animal on hold for me?
Our adoptions are first come, first serve. We cannot put animals on hold, as we want to get them out of the kennels and adopted as soon as possible! 
Can my animal go home the same day I adopt?
It's best to assume every animal will be ready to go home if they are available for adoption. We require that they leave when they are ready- we are not able to board animals past that point.
How long does the whole process take?
The consultation process, which is required before meeting any animal, takes about 15-20 minutes on average. Once the consultation is complete, potential adopters are able to meet with animals they're interested in. 
What is he/she mixed with?
​Without a DNA test there is no way to know exactly what breed an animal is mixed with. Animals are listed with the breed that is provided to us upon intake in some cases or our best educated guess.
Is this dog house trained?
​When an animal is surrendered to us by their owner, we may know the answer to this. However many of our dogs are brought in as strays and transferred to HSWM from other shelters, making it hard to know the dog’s history. Even a house trained dog may have accidents in a new household. We always recommend treating your new family member like they're not house trained for the first few days, take them out frequently and give lots to praise when they go to the bathroom outside. 
Does this dog get along with other dogs/cats?
When an animal is surrendered to us by their owner, we may know the answer to this. However many of our dogs are brought in as strays and transferred to HSWM from other shelters, making it hard to know the dogs history with other animals. 
Does the animal get along with children?
When an animal is surrendered to us by their owner, we may know the answer to this. However many of our dogs are brought in as strays and transferred to HSWM from other shelters, making it hard to know the dogs history with other animals. If children under 12 are in the home, we require they meet with the dog at our facility before adoption. That way we can be sure it's a great fit for the whole family!
When is your next adoption special?
Our adoption specials are based on population. Be sure to follow us on social media to be the first to know when we are having a special!