Adoption Process

Thank you for exploring adopting a pet from the Windham County Humane Society! It is our goal to help you find the right match.

You can see all the pets available for adoption here on our website (dogs, cats and other animals) and we sometimes post available pets on our Facebook Page.

While the shelter is under construction, pet adoptions are by appointment only.

If you see an animal that interests you, email us at info@windhamcountyhumane.org or call 802-254-2232 to schedule an Adoption Appointment.

Adoption Appointments

Adoption Appointments are on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Plan to spend up to 30 minutes interacting with any pet you are consider adopting.

• Staff and volunteers will answer questions about the pet’s health and temperament.

We believe an open, honest conversation is the best way to match an animal with a home, based on research from the ASPCA.

Already have a pet at home?

If you are planning to adopt a dog and you already have a dog in your home, we can schedule an introduction at the shelter prior to adoption.

Watch this Free webinar on introducing and living with multiple dogs in one household

We don’t do cat introductions at the shelter as it is too stressful for the cats. We can introduce our in-house dogs to dog savvy cats in the shelter to get an idea of how a dog might do with a cat. Keep in mind, however, that the shelter environment is so different from a home that it is not a good indication of what will actually happen in a home.

Once You’ve Decided to Adopt

• Holding a Pet - You may place a 24 hour “hold” on an animal available for adoption for a fee of $25. The hold fee is non-refundable and will be credited towards the total adoption fee. You must meet the animal in person before placing a hold on or adopting an animal.

• Adoption Agreement - Once you have found your match, we will sign an adoption agreement together and we will provide you with your new pet’s medical records, pet care information, one month’s free pet health insurance, an ID tag, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, and other goodies.

• Take your pet home! - Congratulations! You are now a proud pet owner and we thank you for giving your pet a second chance at a happy life!

Post Adoption Concerns

It’s a big deal to add a member to your family and it may take weeks or even months for a new pet to settle in.

Please don’t hesitate to call us with questions or concerns. It is possible we have an easy fix to an issue or can provide other support.

And, if it doesn’t work out for whatever reason, we are here to help if you need to bring your pet back to WCHS to find a better match.

Learn about the 3-3-3 Rule of Bringing Home a Rescue D

GoodPup Training

We partner with GoodPup, the nation's leading dog training service over live 1-on-1 video chat. Every WCHS clinic client or adopter is eligible for 1 FREE week of training + 20% Off for Life. GoodPup will make a generous donation for every WCHS client who signs up after the first free week.