WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT OUR SHELTER
Adoption Fees
Our standard adoption fees are listed below. Some animals are sponsored by generous members of the community! If an adoption fee is sponsored, it will say so on the animal's profile.
Puppies (Up to 8 Months Old): $225 | Adult Dogs (Over 8 Months): $150 |
Senior + Special Medical Cases: Fees Waived On Case By Case Basis
Kittens (Up to 8 Months Old): $200 | Adult Cat Over 8 Months: $125 |
Senior + Special Medical Cases: Fees Waived On Case By Case Basis
Happy And Healthy
All of our adoptable animals are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and current on vaccines and flea preventatives before leaving our shelter. Our veterinary staff screen for heart worm, FELV, and FIV in addition to performing a basic wellness exam to screen for major medical issues. We will provide you with your animal's complete veterinary records when we finalize your adoption and are happy to answer any questions you may have at any point during the adoption process. Some of our animals have additional medical needs or concerns that the staff will discuss with you.
Consider Filling Out An Application Before Visiting,
We Do Not Hold Or Reserve Animals
Please visit the shelter when you’re ready to adopt! We recommend filling out an adoption form before visiting our shelter, as it may take us a day or more to process your application depending on how responsive your references are. Adoptions for specific animals are processed in the order received. If we receive multiple applications for a single animal, the first application we receive takes precedence.
Mendocino Coast Humane Society, 19691 Summers Lane, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
P. 707-964-7729
Phone hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Shelter Visitation Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday: Noon – 5pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
ADOPTION CAN BE AS EASY AS 1-2-3!
SCHEDULE A MEET + GREET
OR DROP BY OUR SHELTER
You’re already on our website checking out our adoptable animals, which is the first step! The next is visiting the shelter during our public visitation hours, 12-5 Wednesday through Sunday, or by appointment, to meet our animals. You can drop by any time or schedule a meet and greet with us (we recommend this for dogs to make sure the dog you’re interested in is not on a walk).
CONSULT
Next, talk with our adoption counselors about what you’re looking for in a new best friend: Couch potato? Purr machine? Playful with kids and other animals? Shop cat? Great in the car? Loves the beach? Our staff and volunteers know all our animals’ foibles, secrets, and personalities and can make sure you go home with the ideal match. If you're adopting a dog, we can arrange a dog-dog meet and greet to see if everyone's compatible.
APPLY + ADOPT!
When you’re ready to adopt, fill out our adoption application for a dog or cat (we also accept general applications if you would like to be pre-approved for a future adoptions). We’ll review your information with you and contact your references. It may take us a day or more to process your application, depending on how responsive your references are.
HOW AND WHY TO FOSTER
While we strive to keep our shelter accommodations as clean and comfortable for as possible with heated kennel floors, cozy bedding, and plenty of play time, the reality is that kennel and kitty cottage life can be an overwhelming environment for pets going through the traumatic transition of losing their former homes and families.
By opening up your home and your heart as a foster, you create an opportunity for our shyer and more sensitive animals to rest and recuperate in a domestic environment. Help them acclimate to life in a home environment, away from the noise and distraction of the shelter.
Our wonderful fosters care for kittens, puppies, and adult animals who needed a little extra TLC. Our fosters are a vital part of the services we offer the public, ensuring that stressed animals, those with medical needs, and those who need a break from shelter life get love, affection, and attention while we work to place them in their forever homes.
Whether you have extensive experience with fostering animals or this is your first time, our staff will work with you to identify the best candidate for your home and lifestyle. We provide fosters with all the food, toys, and other supplies they need along with supplying veterinary care and ongoing support. And if you fall in love…we’re more than happy to turn that foster into an adoption!
Common foster needs at MCHS include:
- Neonates or other very young kittens and puppies
- Shy or stressed animals who need to decompress from the shelter
- Cats and dogs who need extra socialization time
- Animals with medical needs
- Dogs who need more intensive training
- Emergency/temporary foster for pets who need a safe space to land while their guardians address domestic violence, housing issues, medical problems, and other emergencies
- End-of-life/hospice care
If you’re interested in fostering with us, please fill out our application form. We’re also happy to answer questions during business hours about fostering at MCHS.
Once you’ve filled out a foster application, we will contact your references and then meet with you to discuss your capacity and our needs. When we have an animal available for fostering or you identify an animal you’d like to foster, we get you set up with the tools for success.
Be aware that as a foster, if you are caring for an animal who is available for adoption, you may be requested to assist with meet and greets and other activities to help your charge find their forever home.