Friends of the Animal Shelter of St. Joseph, Inc. was founded in 2000, our group’s mission is to support all aspects of work done by the Animal Shelter Staff. This includes working to increase animal adoption and redemption rates while minimizing the number of euthanized animals; educating our community regarding animal care and welfare issues; and helping care for the medical needs of all sick and injured animals that come through the Animal Shelter.
In order to alleviate several individuals wanting to adopt the same animal at the same time, animals will be made available to a person based on submission of the adoption application to Animal Control and Rescue for that specific animal. The animal in question will be made available for adoption by the first APPROVED application that was submitted for that pet. If the first adoption application is declined or decides they do not want the animal, the next application will be evaluated and so on until an application is approved and the animal is adopted. If we are unable to reach the first applicant and they do not return our call within 24 hours, we will move on to the next approved applicant. An Adoption Application can be filled out for an animal during a hold period or when it is already available. If an application is completed for an animal that is being held as a stray or pending a case, the approved applicant will be notified when the animal becomes available for adoption. Approved applications that were not linked to an adoption will be held for six months from the date approved. Foster animals are an exception to the application rule. Applications shall not be accepted for animals in foster care until the animals are within one week of being placed for adoption. The foster family that is caring for the foster pet shall have priority to adopt the foster animal. Foster families are encouraged to market their foster pets while they are in foster care and therefore may have adopters selected prior to the foster animals returning to the shelter. In this situation, adoptions will be granted to the individuals selected by the foster family. Once a foster animal is returned to the shelter and/or the shelter has begun to accept applications on the animal, the foster family and other individuals must adhere to the adoption application procedures.