HOW TO ADOPT

Please note: Adoptions are by appointment only.

We discontinued unscheduled tours post-covid as research (and our own experience) has shown that the continual flow of strangers through the animals’ spaces increases stress levels and creates unwanted stress-induced behaviors such as barking and jumping. Our animals’ health and well-being are our top priority, so we know our community understands why we no longer allow tours through the shelter. 

1. View all available animals.

Visit our Adopets page here to view ALL animals at our shelter available for adoption. As an animal becomes available, the page is updated accordingly.

Adopets is a safe third-party site we use for our pet profiles and applications.

2. Click on the animal’s photos and read the profile.

Read the profiles carefully for information on the animal’s core personality traits, health or behavioral needs, and compatibility with other animals or children. This will help match you and your next best friend based on your lifestyle and preferences.

3. Find your match and click the “Adopt Me” button on the profile.

Adopets will walk you through creating an account and filling out the application. This usually takes 10-15 minutes.

**NOTE: Completing the application does not guarantee or hold an animal.  The application submission is only the first step in the process that includes submission, approval, meet and greet, contract and payment.  Applications are processed in the order received.  Each animal may receive up to three applications before being removed from the site.  An application is not approved until an adoption counselor calls and makes an appointment with you for your meet and greet with the animal.  There are no fees/prepayments/deposits to apply to adopt; the adoption fee is paid when the adoption is finalized on the day you take home your next best friend.** 

For inquiring about MORE THAN ONE animal who interests you, click the “Adopt Me” button on each additional animal’s profile. It will not ask you to fill out the application again; it will just put your application in that new pet’s queue. You may have active applications for up to three pets at a time. You can withdraw applications and submit them for different animals at any time.

4. Check in for updates.

There may be one or two applications ahead of you for an animal you applied for. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. If earlier applications DO NOT result in an adoption, you will be called next. Our goal is to get animals into the right home quickly while providing all adopters with the same opportunity to adopt that perfect match. Please be patient as we work through applications until reaching yours.

5. Wait for a phone call.

Upon receiving your application, an adoption counselor will call you, in queue order.  You’ll spend around 15 minutes reviewing your application and the animal, and answering any questions you have. This ensures that the animal is still a potential match, even when you have all behavioral and medical details for the animal.

6. Meet the animal(s)!

Once your application is approved, your meet and greet appointment will be scheduled. During this appointment, you will meet the animal(s) and confirm your next best friend is a good match.  All dog appointments in which a dog is already in the home, requires a dog to dog meet and greet during this appointment as well.

If you decide during your appointment that the animal is not a good fit after all, that’s alright! We can introduce you to potential matches who don’t have other applications. If there are no other potential matches at the time of your appointment, keep checking back on our site for new animals.

7. Plan to take your pet home the same day.

If your appointment and meet and greet go well you will take your new pet home that same day. You complete our adoption contract with a staff member, pay the adoption fee (listed on the animal’s profile), and receive all medical records we have available for your pet.

If you have any concerns about same-day adoption, please discuss them with the adoption counselor ahead of time. 

8. Congratulations on your new best friend!

Send us photos and updates! Your adoption photo will be posted that week on our social media!

Requirements to Adopt

  • The adopter must be the individual who will be the animal’s primary caregiver and must be the individual interviewed and present for the meet and greet appointment.  The adopter will be legally responsible as the pet owner.
  • The adopter must be 21 years of age or older.
  • The adopter must present a valid government-issued photo ID (drivers license, non-drivers license, passport, visa, etc.). If you do not possess such an ID, please speak with our Animal Care Manager (animalcaremanager@ucspca.org or phone ext. 229) about alternative forms of acceptable ID.
  • The adopter must agree to adhere to our policies regarding the adoption and long-term care of animals listed in the adoption contract.
  • The adopter and other members of the household must have no prior history of conviction of animal neglect or abuse.
  • The adopter must be able to pay for the adoption with cash, credit card, or debit card. Checks or money orders are not accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a general application so I can get approved to adopt?
No, we do not have a general application. We work hard to make the right match between pets and people, so each application requires a conversation about the individual animal’s personality and temperament as well as the human’s lifestyle, preferences and expectations. You apply for specific animals as they become available for adoption online. Our website is constantly up-to-date with all the animals who can accept applications, so check back frequently for new postings!

Can I be put on a notification or waitlist for certain animals / kinds of animals (such as specific breeds, sexes, or ages)?
We do not have a waitlist or notification list. Due to the nature of rescue, it is entirely random what kinds of animals we receive and when! We keep our website meticulously up-to-date with all animals we have who can accept applications, so you can check back often and see exactly which pets interest you.

I am unable to fill out the online application. What are my options?
If you are having a technical difficulty, please reach out to Adopets tech support via their online chat, OR UCSPCA Reception via info@ucspca.org or 845-331-5377 x210.

If you or somebody you know is physically unable to follow the online adoption system, such as someone without access to or proficiency with a computer or smartphone, etc., please call reception at 845-331-5377 x210 to discuss alternatives.

I have been approved for adoption with UCSPCA in the past, do I need to fill out an application again?
 Yes. No matter when you have adopted with us in the past, please follow the application instructions outlined above for animals you’re interested in today.

If you’ve completed the process through Adopets for your previous adoption or adoption attempt, you still need to submit your application for each new animal who interests you. Remember, you don’t have to fill out the app every time, it’s saved to your account – you just need to be logged into your Adopets account, and then press the “Adopt Me” button for each animal you want to be in the queue for!

I am approved with Dutchess County SPCA or another rescue or SPCA in the area. Do their applications extend to UCSPCA as well?
No, we cannot accept applications from other shelters. We are not affiliated with any other rescue, SPCA, or humane society. Even if you are approved at another local rescue, please follow our application instructions.

I don't live in Ulster County. Can I still adopt from you?
Absolutely! You don’t need to live in Ulster County, or even in New York State. Anyone willing to travel to our facility in Kingston, New York for their adoption appointment can adopt from us.

I don’t see any animals I’m interested in on your website or the UCSPCA Adopets page. Are these all the animals you have available?
Yes. You will ALWAYS see ALL of our currently available animals on our website. We never withhold postings for puppies or other ‘highly adoptable’ pets—they are all posted as soon as they are ready to accept applications. They are taken down when they are unavailable for applications. We certainly house other animals who are not ready for adoption due to age, health, or ownership status—but when they’re available, they’re also immediately posted on our website.

I heard you have young puppies/kittens. How can I get preapproved/ put down a deposit for one / get in line for them?
Our puppies and kittens have the same adoption process as outlined above for the adult animals. There is no holding, claims, or pre-approvals for kittens and puppies. Once individual puppies and kittens are vetted and ready for adoption, they are immediately posted on our Available Cats & Available Dogs pages as well as our Adopets page that is linked in the “How to Apply” section above.

What kinds of animals do you have for adoption?
We always have dogs and cats. We often have rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice. We sometimes have ferrets, rats, and other small fuzzy critters like chinchillas. We also occasionally have farm animals such as chickens, pigs, and goats for adoption. We do not have birds, reptiles, or amphibians; we refer those surrenders to other rescues who are better prepared to take on those pets’ specific level of care.  

I want to get my family member or friend a pet as a gift. Can I do that?
It is in your best interest, and in the best interest of the animal, for everyone in the home to be involved in the adoption — especially the person who will be the primary caregiver of the animal. Adopting an animal is a huge, years-long commitment! That is why we do not adopt animals out as surprise gifts. Instead, consider purchasing one of our gift certificates for the adoption fee.
You can surprise your loved one and still pick out your new puppy or kitten together! Being involved in the adoption process gives kids and adults alike a sense of responsibility and ownership of their new furry friend. They’ll be just as excited, with none of the uncertainty that comes with a surprise animal they may not be a good match for.

I have an animal at home, and I want them to help pick their new housemate. Can they meet UCSPCA animals?
If you have an appointment to adopt a dog and have dogs in your home, you will bring your dog with you to have a meet and greet. Unfortunately, we are unable to set up meet and greets between cats, rabbits, or other species. We will advise you on which animals would do best with other animals in your home, AND we will advise you on how to set up the best possible introduction between your new pet and current pets.

Can I apply for pets at other rescues/shelters while I have an application in at UCSPCA?
Yes. However, if you follow through with an adoption at another facility and still have an application queued up for a UCSPCA animal you are no longer looking to adopt, please withdraw your application through your Adopets account so we know you’re no longer interested.

When do I pay for a pet? Can I pay early / a deposit and have them on hold?
 You pay the adoption fee for a pet when you’ve finalized your decision to take them home, after your meet and greet. There are no prior application fees, deposits, or down payments. Payment of the adoption fee can be via cash or credit/debit card only. We do not take checks, money orders, or other forms of payment for adoptions.

You cannot pay early or pay a deposit to hold animals. When you have an appointment to meet specific animals, they are already on hold for you until your appointment.

Why is there an adoption fee? What does it cover?
 We are a private non-profit that runs entirely on donations. We don’t receive funding from the government or other organizations like the ASPCA.

Before animals are placed up for adoption, they’re “fixed” (spayed/neutered), microchipped, and up to date on all treatments, preventatives, and vaccinations that are relevant for them. Then, they are fed, cared for, and housed at our facility until they are adopted. Some animals spend days with us, others are here for years. As you can imagine, all of this care is expensive! We do not profit from adoption fees, they make a tiny dent in our expenses by offsetting the costs of vetting for each animal. Adoption fees are listed on each animal’s profile.

Have a question you don’t see answered here? Please email info@ucspca.org OR call 845-331-5377 x210. Phones are actively answered between 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM Tuesday through Sunday, but if you have to leave a voicemail, it will be returned ASAP.

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