Adoption Procedures

Adoption Procedures:

If you are interested in meeting the pets, schedule your appointment through our website. You may also schedule your appointment by calling us.
- Appointments are scheduled in 45 minute time blocks.
- Appointments must be made two hours in advance.
- GRR staff may call or text you to confirm your appointment and ask any questions we might have about your interest in adopting.
Walk-ins are welcome! You may come without an appointment and we will accommodate you the best we can. However, please note the following
- Appointments will take priority over walk-ins
- Walk-ins may not adopt same-day
- We can not do dog-to-dog introductions without an appointment
At your appointment, GRR staff will guide you through the shelter and set you up with meet-n-greets with shelter pets.
If you would like to adopt one of the pets you meet, GRR staff will guide you through the rest of the process which includes completing an adoption application. GRR staff will review your adoption application.
- If the pet is spayed or neutered, you will pay an adoption fee, and sign an adoption contract to complete the adoption. You must also provide a copy of a driver’s license or other photo ID.
  - If the pet has not been spayed or neutered, you will pay an additional spay/neuter deposit. The deposit can be refunded once proof of a spay/neuter is provided
  - Adopters of unaltered pets will be given the opportunity to register for an upcoming Pet Fixers low-cost spay/neuter clinic
- At the discretion of shelter staff, adopters may bring home a pet for an overnight trial to determine if the adopter can provide adequate long-term care. Pets taken-home on a trial will be considered to be in foster care. Adopters living greater than 30 miles from the shelter are not eligible for trials.
Adoption fees:
- Dogs Over 1 year: $200
- Dogs Under 1 year: $300
- Cats Over 1 year: $85
- Cats Under 1 year: $115
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- Dog Spay/Neuter Deposit: $75
- Cat Spay/Neuter Deposit: $50
All adopted dogs must leave the shelter on a leash and collar. All adopted cats must leave the shelter in a carrier. We sell all of these items at our shelter store.

Adoption Deposits:

If you meet an animal that you want to adopt, and can’t take them that day, need time to prepare, or even just need time to think about your adoption, please contact the shelter to discuss making a deposit to hold.

Trial Period:

We understand that not all adoptions will work out. Therefore, we allow all adopters a period of time in which they may bring the animal back to Great River Rescue and receive a voucher good for another adoption within a year. Adopters are expected to remain in contact with Great River Rescue if they are concerned about their new animal adoption. Adopters who suddenly attempt to return an animal without communicating with us previously may be turned away.

Fostering Animals:

Fostering animals with medical or behavior issues – Sometimes animals become sick or injured and would recover better in a home setting. Other times animals have behavior issues and might benefit from being in a home with someone who can work directly with the animal on those issues. Still other times the Humane Society has pregnant or nursing animals that need to be in a home where they can be attended to as necessary. For all of these occasions Great River Rescue may seek foster parents to temporarily provide care for animals. These parents do not generally intend to adopt the animal(s), but may still choose to do so after the temporary foster period is over.
Pet Safe Housing Program – Great River Rescue has teamed up with Northwoods Battered Women’s Shelter to provide temporary foster care for their clients. More information can be found on the Pet Safe Housing Page.
Pet Safe Housing Program