You can usually take your new best friend home the same day! Pets who have not yet been spayed or neutered will need to wait until their surgery is completed to go home.
Adoption FAQ
Do I need an appointment to adopt?
No appointment necessary! Visit us any time during business hours to adopt. We are open Monday-Friday from noon-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed Sundays).
Can I hold or “reserve” an animal?
CAS operates on a first-come, first-served basis. We are unable to hold animals for potential adopters due to shelter capacity. We aim to give each and every animal the best opportunity for adoption and not to limit their chances at a forever family in any way.
What is “Foster to Adopt”?
Columbia Animal Services offers a Foster to Adopt (“FTA”) option for select pets, giving potential adopters a 14-day trial period to ensure the pet is a good match before finalizing the adoption. This program is intended for individuals who are committed to adopting but want to confirm compatibility first. After the 14 day period (or at any point before that), you can finalize the adoption or return the pet to the shelter. FTA is not intended for foster cases. If interested in fostering, click here.
Can I bring my current pet(s) for a meet and greet?
Absolutely! We encourage meet and greets between our shelter dogs and their potential new family members. Meet and greets should be facilitated only with staff present. Please sign in at the front desk and let our team know who you’d like to meet- they’ll be happy to help.
Can I adopt if I’m not a Richland County or City of Columbia resident?
Absolutely! You will still need to visit the shelter in person, or arrange for the pet’s transport with a rescue. We do not have our own transport vehicle or program. We do, however, work with a number of rescues from all over the country to send our dogs out of state (and sometimes even out of the country)!
My new pet is sick. What should I do?
We follow best practice protocols and take every precaution to ensure that every animal adopted from our shelter is healthy. However, we cannot guarantee the health of any specific animal due to lack of medical history and limited veterinary resources. We strongly encourage you to set up a new patient appointment with your own veterinarian post adoption. If you do not have a personal veterinarian, a list of local veterinarians will be provided to you at the time of adoption.
My new adoption is not working out. What should I do?
We understand that not all adoptions will make for the most compatible fit. If you’re experiencing unresolvable turbulence with your new pet, Columbia Animal Services offers a 14 day grace period for returns. Any pet returns outside of the 14 day grace period will be required to go through our Home to Home Program before returning to the shelter.
