PROCESS:

• Adoption applications must be completed and approved prior to adoption, including two personal references (no family), your landlord if renting, and your veterinarian (if you have had a pet in the last five years).

• Applications can be filled out at the shelter, or submitted online.

• Applications are screened at the earliest available time. Once we have successfully reached your references and approve your application, you will be contacted to set up an adoption appointment. Placement decisions are made by experienced staff who consider the best interests of both the animal and the family. The screening process is not on a first-come first-serve basis.

• We require adopters to spend time at the shelter with their potential new addition, and encourage a walk if adopting a dog. Once an adoption is green-lighted, the paperwork takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Adopters receive a microchip packet, medical records, contract, and an adoption bag.

• For dogs older than 4 months, we require a meet-and-greet with any current dog(s) in the potential home to ensure compatibility.

PUPPIES

• At MVAS, a puppy is defined as any canine under the age of 6 months. Puppy adoptions are processed slightly differently than other adult animals.

• Puppies are spayed/neutered as soon as possible, but not earlier than eight weeks of age. They are micro-chipped and receive vaccinations according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) booster schedule guidelines. This means in some cases vaccinations will still be required after the adoption date.

• Our young puppies are almost always mixed breed, which means that they are not so genetically predisposed to a set physical and behavioral pattern. They have not been bred for specific predictable traits like a Beagle, Heeler, Rottweiler or Pekingese. Unlike a purebred dog, your lovable shelter mutt is not so “locked in” to a predictable set of traits as it grows into adulthood, so you can more easily mold the puppy into what you desire it to be (with love, work, dedication, patience and training). If you want your dog to get along with children and cats, to remain in your yard or if you are hoping your dog will obey basic commands, you can typically make that happen if you are adopting at an early age and put in the effort.

• Because your mixed breed puppy’s ability to get along with other canines is largely in your hands (with proper socialization you should succeed!), we do not require adopters to bring their own dog for a meet-and-greet with their new puppy. We often have many wonderful families wanting the puppies, so sometimes your availability to accommodate our schedule will be a deciding factor on who gets priority. This is in the best interest of the puppies and our staff.

MEET N GREETS

• Meet n greets with animals can be scheduled at any time during our open hours Tues-Sat 11 am- 4 pm. Interested parties must have an approved application in order to claim or adopt our animals.

WISH LIST

• We maintain a wish list for potential adopters who are looking for an animal that might not be immediately available. If you wish to be added to our wish list and can specify a category that is neither too broad nor too specific, you can call us at (406) 883-5312. We will call you when an animal matching your description becomes available.