Adoption Fees
Your adoption fee helps us continue to care for around 10,000 pets in need each year.
Adoption fees may vary based on an animal’s age, size, breed, medical condition, or length of time at the shelter.
We are proud to offer a 10% discount for the military on adoption fees with military ID. For veterans who apply to the Pets for Patriots program, we offer a reduced adoption fee of $16.
Adoption Hold Fees: Place a Hold on an Adoptable Pet
If you’ve found an animal you love but aren’t ready to bring them home immediately, or the animal is not ready to go home yet (e.g. they need spay/neuter surgery) you can place a 24-hour adoption hold for a small fee.
- A non-refundable $35 fee is required to initiate a hold.
- This fee cannot be transferred to another pet or applied toward the adoption fee.
- Placing a hold does not guarantee adoption or bypass the adoption counseling process.
Once a hold is placed, you will have 24 hours to complete the adoption, fill out the necessary paperwork, and bring your new pet home. This limited timeframe ensures that the pet has the chance to swiftly find a loving home if the adoption isn’t finalized.
Adoption availability depends on the animal’s status. If there are changes due to health, behavior, legal status, or owner redemption, an Adoption Services Representative will notify you promptly.
To place a hold or adopt an animal, call us at (253) 383-2733 or visit the shelter to speak with an Adoption Services Representative.
Adoptions Include:
- Wellness examination from our Veterinary Services team
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Initial vaccines
- Microchip with national registration
- Pet care counseling
We love saving lives, and there is no question that reduced-fee adoption events save lives. They bring out adopters, cut the length of stay for shelter animals, and create precious space in the shelter for others in need. The vast majority of animals adopted from these events will remain in their homes as loved, valued members of their new families.
- Myth: Offering reduced fee adoptions mean the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County doesn’t care who adopts the animals.
- Truth: Our staff cares about ALL our shelter animals, and we work hard to place them in loving homes. Reduced fee adopters go through the exact same adoption process as any other adopter on any other day.
Dog Adoption Fees
| Type | Age | Adoption Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Highly desirable | Single breed Designer breeds Small breeds |
$500 |
| Puppies | Up to 5 months | $500 |
| Adolescent | 6 months - 2 years | $350 - $400 |
| Adult | 2 years - Senior | $175 - $250 |
| Senior | Under 50 lbs / 9+ years Over 50 lbs / 6+ years |
$80 |
| Buddy adoption | Adopt an adult or senior dog at the same time as another dog | 1/2 price of the adult or senior adoption fee |
Cat Adoption Fees
| Type | Age | Adoption Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Highly desirable | Exotic or designer breeds | $100 - $300 |
| Kitten | 2 months - 5 months | $135 |
| Adult | 6 months - 8 years | $75 |
| Senior | Older than 8 years | $30 |
| Buddy adoption | Adopt an adult or senior cat a the same time as another cat | 1/2 price of the adult or senior adoption fee |
Bunny & Critter Adoption Fees
| Type | Age | Adoption Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit | Any age | $80 |
| Buddy adoption | Adopting more than one rabbit | 1/2 off each additional rabbit |
| Other | Any age | Fees will vary based by breed or species |
Pet Licensing:
Depending on your location, we may be required to issue a license for your new pet. License fees vary by region, typically ranging from $14 to $30.
Items to Bring:
