They've been waiting for someone like you
So what's included in the adoption fee?

dogs

cats
adoption fees

standard adoption fees
Adult Cats (6 months and older)
Start at $95
Kittens (younger than 6 months)
Start at $105
Adult Dogs (6 months and older)
Start at $200
Puppies (younger than 6 months)
Start at $300
Requirements to adopt
- Fill out our adoption application.
- You must be at least 18 years of age.
- You must show photo ID with current address.
- Adopting a dog? We recommend a meet and greet with your resident dog(s).
- Renting? We require landlord approval or a copy of your lease showing pets are allowed.
- In some cases a homecheck may be required before an adoption is approved.

adoption faqs
Have a question about adopting from JCHS? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions:
Adoptions must be completed at the shelter. Once you arrive at the shelter you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire which will help us determine which animals might be a good fit for your home. After the questionnaire is completed a staff member will take you on a tour of the available animals. If you see an animal you wish to meet staff will bring the animal to meet you in our Get Acquainted Room. If you decide you would like to adopt an animal you see in most cases you would pay the adoption fee and take the animal home with you that day.
You will need a valid photo ID and proof of current address. If you hope to leave with a new pet, all cats must be in a carrier and dogs must be on a leash. You can purchase these items at the shelter in our retail store where 100% of the proceeds go back to helping animals in need, or you can bring your own!
You may have noticed that our adoption fees vary between individual animals. Having a higher adoption fee for some animals who will find a home quickly enables us to care for animals in need of lifesaving medical and behavioral intervention.
At JCHS we have a 14-day return policy on all animals adopted from us to allow the animal to get adjusted to your home. If it isn’t working out and you return the animal within that 14-day period you will get a full refund of your adoption fee. If you return an animal once the 14 day period has expired we will be unable to refund your adoption fee.
Accepted forms of payment include cash, debit or credit card or personal check.
Every animal is an individual and JCHS works hard to make great matches for our animals and adopters. Some animals may have placement restrictions or requirements established by JCHS based on shelter observations and previous home histories. When meeting with your adoption counselor, they review each animal’s medical, behavior, and placement needs with you to help you find an animal who is compatible with your home environment and your lifestyle.
While we work extremely hard to make our animals as comfortable as possible, studies show that the longer an animal is in a shelter environment the higher their risk of increased stress and illness. For that reason we operate on a first-come first-served basis and are not able to accept phone holds. If you see someone who interests you please stop in at your earliest convenience!
Yes! JCHS is located in the tri-state area with both WV and PA located just a short drive away. While we do allow out-of-state adoptions we do require that the adopter come to the shelter to complete the adoption. All adoptions require the purchase of a Jefferson County Dog License.