Adoption Process & Fees

Adoption Process

• Required Documents: Drivers License or Photo ID with your current address. If your address is not current, please provide paperwork with proof of current address. Must be at least 18 years old to complete adoption process.
• Payment Options: Cash, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, or check. 
• Visitation: In effort to encourage successful matches and support ease of acclimation, we require every adopter to meet with an adoption counselor for a foundational conversation. During this foundational conversation it may be determined to have additional household members and/or owned dogs be required to visit as well.
• Spay and Neuter Information: Pets that are already spay/ neutered can be taken home at the time of adoption. Pets that have not been spayed/ neutered prior to adoption will remain at the shelter and be scheduled for the next available appointment. You will then receive the date and time of pick up for your newly adopted pet.
  (If your pet is unable to be altered, a $50 refundable deposit is required in order to take the animal home.)

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Adoption Fees

All dog and cat adoptions come with spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip and a one-year pet license. 

*Senior Discount (65 and over) — 50% off pet adoptions

*Current Military and Veterans Discount — 50% off a one-time adoption fee

Our goal is to work with you to find the right pet for your family and lifestyle. If within 90 days of adoption your new pet is not the right fit, an adoption counselor will work with you to find a better match for your family. 

Hold Program

The Hold Program helps customers reserve an animal — prior to it becoming available for adoption — by making a non-refundable donation. Please visit us at 1241 West Bayaud Ave, Denver 80223 during business hours to place a Hold. 

• Visit our Lost Pets page to view animals available for holds. 
• Only two holds are allowed per animal: 
  • 1st Hold – $20
  • 2nd Hold – $15
• An individual cannot put both the first and second hold on the same animal.
• The non-refundable donation does not count toward the cost of adoption.
• A hold donation does not guarantee adoption. All animals are evaluated to assess their health and behavior before being eligible for adoption. Once the animal passes the assessments, the individual with the hold will receive an email and text alert that the animal is available for adoption. The individual with the hold will only be guaranteed their hold for the day the animal was made available. Adoption visits must be completed one hour prior to closing. 
• Some animals will display as “not available for hold” for various reasons such as claimed ownership or medical and/or behavioral concerns. Please respect staff time and do not request holds on these animals.  

DAS adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and one-year pet license. All animals currently available for adoption can be viewed here.