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Search agencies across the U.S. to find your new best friend.
You're about to make an important decision! Choosing your new furry friend is one of the most exciting things you'll ever do. To ensure a great match, our in-store Adoption Partners will help you consider which pet best fits your lifestyle, while making sure that you are able to fulfill the role of Pet Parent.
You can also find a pet to adopt any time with PetSmart’s online adoption program powered by Adopt-a-Pet.com. This feature enables Pet Parents to search for dogs and cats available at participating adoption agencies across the country by zip code, distance, breed, gender, color, size and age. Pet Parents can view photos and profiles of available pets, read information about the adoption agency and find details on the adoption process.
Because PetSmart wants each adoption to be a joyful experience that brings pets and Pet Parents together in loving homes, only adoption agencies that have a current non-profit status, administer initial vaccinations and health checks and spay/neuter prior to adoption may participate in PetSmart’s online adoption program. Agencies that offer spay/neuter voucher programs may also participate but must have a diligent follow-up process in place to ensure compliance.
Speak openly and honestly to your Adoption Counselor about your lifestyle, including:
Be realistic about how much time you have to give to a pet. Puppies can get lonely and are sometimes destructive if left home alone five days a week. Even adult dogs need to be let out throughout the day. Cats can entertain themselves for longer periods of time; however, all pets need quality time with their pet parents. Assess your schedule, be realistic about how much time you have to give your companion and work with your adoptions counselor to make the appropriate decision.
In addition to providing your children with a loving companion, adopting a pet is a great way to teach kids responsibility. However, some pets, such as puppies and kittens are not a good match for families with children under the age of five. Children under five years old are unable to judge how roughly they are handling small pets. Thus, adult pets with mellow, patient personalities are a better match for families with children under five year old.
Some animal welfare organizations may disqualify a potential Pet Parent for adoption if other pets in the home have not been spayed or neutered.
In addition, Adoption Partners always try to gather information abut their pets’ likes and dislikes, especially when it comes to compatibility with other pets. For instance, some cats don’t mind dogs, and other cats are terrified of them. Adoption Partners will take this sort of information into consideration when evaluating a potential match.
Taking all of these factors into consideration when adopting a pet can help ensure a pet and Pet Parent match that will lead to a happy, lifelong relationship.
