How to Adopt

Our Adoption Center is open Tuesday-Sunday.

Be sure to check the LOCATION of the pet you are interested in prior to coming in because some pets currently reside in foster homes.

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram for updates on when puppies and kittens will be available. Feel free to text us at 610-566-4575 to check about availability.

To meet a pet at the Adoption Center:

Our Adoption Center is now open for walk ins! Our Adoption Center is open Tuesday-Sunday.

Be sure to check the LOCATION of the pet you are interested in prior to coming in because some pets currently reside in foster homes.

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram for updates on when puppies and kittens will be available. Feel free to text us at 610-566-4575 to check about availability.

Meet-and-greets are required between dogs currently residing in your home and any dog you plan to meet at our Center, so please bring your resident dog(s) with you to the Adoption Center.

How to meet a pet in a foster home:

Dog Adoption Profile

Cat Adoption Profile

Providence Animal Center Andrea - Clover

Contact Us

Adoption Profile

Adoption Process

Step 1

Adoption application screening, which requires the following information:

A completed adoption application
A driver’s license or a state-issued ID with your current address showing you are at least 18-years-old
Residency: The owner of the home must consent to the adoption of the animal. If you rent, we require a copy of your lease stating that you are allowed to have pets. If you own your home, please bring a copy of your deed, mortgage payment book or tax bill.
All members of the household may be required to meet and approve of the new furry family member.
If you are planning to adopt a dog and presently have a dog(s), all dogs must “meet & greet” at the Adoption Center under the supervision of a trained Providence Animal Center Animal Care Associate.
For safety purposes, meet & greets must be performed with a 6-foot clip-on leash. Retractable leashes will not be accepted.
Veterinary records for current or previous pets, if applicable.

Providence Animal Center little girl with a cat

Step 2

Once through the adoption screening process, which takes about 15 minutes, we move right along to the match-making process. This part could take up to 60 minutes. Our trained counselors will review your application and conduct an interview to ensure:

The age and energy level of the animal you chose is a good fit for your current lifestyle and home environment
Your plan for acclimating the new pet to your home is sufficient for that pet
Any expectations you have of your new pet are satisfied
Any behaviors quirks noted about the animal are reviewed with you and a mutual agreement between you and your counselor is made that the pet is a good fit
Counseling for behavior, exercise, acclimation and training needs of the pet is thoroughly reviewed and understood.

In some cases, it’s determined the chosen pet may not be the best match for your home and lifestyle, based upon our expert counselors’ assessment from the application and interview. In that case, we will do our very best to guide you available pets that would be a better match for you and your family.

Step 3

The last step in the process takes about 20 minutes and involves an adoption associate reviewing all medical information we have on the chosen pet with you. Additionally, you will sign an adoption contract and other policies and procedures will be reviewed with you, such as our post-adoption veterinary care policy. Payment is required at this time unless the adoption fee of the pet is sponsored or waived! In all cases, we appreciate additional donations to support the lifesaving work done by Providence Animal Center every day. Every penny counts, so please give what you can for our other homeless pets.

PAC PROTOCOL

We thank you for visiting Providence Animal Center. Our knowledgeable staff and volunteers are ready to help you so that you get the most out of your adoption experience! We ask that you please abide by the following guidelines when visiting our Center:

Closed-toed shoes are strongly recommended, especially in our dog kennels.
Please keep fingers out of kennels.
Ask before opening cat cages.
Retractable leashes are not recommended for use when on our property, for our dogs, or owned dogs.
If you're planning to meet a dog and have resident dog(s), please be sure to bring your resident dog(s) as well as a friend or family member who can wait outside with your dog(s) while you meet our dogs. Otherwise, please leave your dog(s) in the car with the windows down or the AC on, in warm temps.
When walking on our vast property, please take note of the uneven grounds due to long-standing pet graves.
If you take one of our dogs for a walk, please make sure the person holding the leash is at least 18 years old.
When walking a dog, please do not allow the dog to meet a shelter dog unless a canine care staff member is present.
Keep an eye on small children especially around the animals with the understanding that not all of our pets have been formally tested around children.
Anyone requiring a chaperone should be accompanied by an attentive adult. This means keeping an eye on the surroundings, and not your phone.
Peanut butter is a delicious snack for our dogs. Please take note of this for any children visiting with peanut allergies.
With the exception of a designated staff area, we encourage a smoke-free campus. Please be sure to dispose of any cigarette butts properly, being mindful not to leave them on our grounds.
At this time, we ask that anyone stopping by to visit with our animals has the intention of adopting.

Finally, and most importantly, please be kind, courteous, and respectful to our hardworking lifesavers, and, of course, the animals awaiting adoption.

A Note About "SAME" Adoptions

In general, at Providence Animal Center, we do not advise families to adopt a dog that has too many “sames” as their current dog, such as:

Same size
Same age
Same sex
Same/similar breed type

The more “sames,” the more likely we find that problems can develop that can only safely be resolved through one dog being rehomed.

Why?

Gender, breed mix and age determine many of a dog’s instincts, behaviors and traits. Gender and age are typically the two we deal with most and that can cause the most issues. Breed type is hard to gauge in the Center because we deal with so many mixes. Studies have proven that a mixed-breed dog isn’t a member of either breed and therefore typical “breed traits” are not reliable to predict.

Most dogs experience social maturity no later than 3 years old. Before that, their personality may change. Aren’t you quite different than you were as a teenager? You have different goals, different ways of thinking and different likes and dislikes now that you are older and more mature. Dogs change too, and their adolescence can be difficult to handle.

At Providence Animal Center, through years of matchmaking, we have found that there’s a higher risk of a placement not working out if we place dogs together in a home when one or both haven’t matured yet and they have one or more “sames” – of most concern is gender. Males and females of all species experience and feel differently, and a driving force of that difference is their gender. Gender and age can matter a great deal, especially when dealing with a mature dog and an immature dog – or two immature dogs – in the same household. After age 3 or 4, we like to say that, typically, “what you see is what you get.” This means that dog adoptions of the same sex are usually a much safer option if the dogs have both already reached social maturity. The behavior of the current dog and shelter dog will be more accurate to predict long-term.

For these reasons, at Providence Animal Center, we encourage adopters that it is best to adopt a dog of the opposite sex of their resident dog. We care about each and every family as well as the long-term success of the adoption placement. Simply put, we want to set up every home for success.

Adoption Fees

*Variable adoption fees could apply to certain pets. Variable adoption fees are higher than our standard adoption fees, which enable us to care for animals in need of lifesaving medical and behavioral intervention. Variable pricing typically applies to puppies, small dogs, and purebred animals.

Payment

Cash and all major credit cards
Tax is not included in the listed prices
Adoption fees are not refundable

Ongoing Adoption Specials

#ThankfulThursday

Whenever possible, on Thursdays, we offer varying adoption discounts. Check out our Facebook page to see the week's special.

The Kitten Buddy System

Adopt two kittens for $200 (normally a $140 adoption fee per kitten).

Senior Saver

Dogs and cats aged 8+ years will be fully sponsored - aka a generous donor will cover the adoption fee - when the adopter is aged 55+. Not ready to adopt? Consider fostering a senior pet. Through this special, both food and medical care will be covered when a senior citizen aged 55+ fosters a senior pet aged 8+.

Military Discount

10% discount off any adoption fee, juveniles included, with proof of service.

Still have questions?

Frequently Asked Questions