All of our shelter pets awaiting adoption at any of our three shelters can now be viewed on each shelter's individual adoption page through a new Petfinder scrolling search tool! You can browse animals available for adoption by breed, type of pet, age, etc. - now all here on our site! Just click on any of the shelter links below and see who's waiting for you to come and adopt.

Newark, Forked River, and Tinton Falls

The Associated Humane Societies features cats, dogs, kittens and puppies for adoption at our three shelters located in Newark, Forked River, and Tinton Falls. Small animals such as guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits may occasionally be available for adoption as well. The Society takes in approximately 15,000 animals annually, and although that figure includes wildlife, the larger proportion is cats and dogs who wait for their `forever home'.  Approximately 25% of our dogs for adoption are purebred, and a smaller amount for cats, but they are no more or less lovable than the mixed breeds or many domestic shorthairs we accept.  Some of our animals are strays, some turn-ins, and some are confiscations and/or victims of cruelty. We work hard to find those "little old dogs" special homes as well as homes together for pets who have come in together. And we always give extra attention to handicaps who need a little something extra.  To save you time in your adoption process, please fill out our adoption form and bring it with you.

BENEFITS FOR ANIMALS

Pictured at the right is the very first Society adoptee to receive a microchip! Each microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is inserted painlessly under the skin. The Society uses the Bayer resQ identification system which is ISO (International Organization for Standardization) compliant microchips for companion animals.

PLACEMENT

Each and every animal we place is important to us, and we want to be sure that the right home is a perfect match for the new pet. Screening prospective homes is part of our task, and that begins with our application. We require complete information from each applicant to assure that the new pet will receive proper veterinary care in the future, is approved in rental homes or condo communities, and will be kept in a healthy, secure and appropriate manner.  Between the application, personal interview and observed interaction with the cat or dog under consideration, staff will decide upon the suitability of any particular animal for that home.  Those interested in adopting a cat or dog should go to the front desk at any of our shelters and request an application as the first step in the process.  We also make available an online application for those who have seen animals of interest through our site or Petfinder, and these individuals can have the first step approved online.  To review of fill out an adoption application, please click here and we will e-mail you an application.

The Society is also greatly assisted in our placement efforts through the appearance of animals here online, in the HUMANE NEWS, on Petfinder, and through the help of qualified rescue organizations.

HEALTH GUARANTEE AND REQUIREMENTS

We stand behind the health of the animals we adopt, and want nothing more than our newly adopted pets to be happy and healthy.  However, there may be instances where an animal is harboring an undetectable illness, and we are prepared to address these issues at no additional cost to the owner provided they follow certain guidelines.  At the completion of each adoption, the new pet owner will be asked to sign several forms, one of them a health guarantee which includes the written requirements of what conditions must be met by the adopter for the Society to fulfill our part of the agreement and treat any animal needing care.  This guarantee provides for follow-up care for any adopted animal within certain reasonable limits and how they can be met.

SPAY/NEUTER POLICY

The Society aggressively pursues the neutering of all animals adopted through its facilities.  All animals will be spayed or neutered prior to adoption for an additional fee of $50.00 with the following exceptions -- puppies and kittens who are too young to be neutered, older animals or those with health conditions for whom anesthesia would be a danger to health.  If the Society's Medical Department is unable to accommodate the adopted pet at the time of adoption, the owner will be offered a Spay/Neuter certificate which entitles them to make an appointment and bring the pet back to the Society for the neutering at $50.00.  An additional refundable deposit of $125.00 or $150.00 will be charged in addiiton to the adoption fee, and returned to the adopter once the procedure is completed.  For those individudals with exceptional veterinary references, they may be offered the option of having their own veterinarian perform the neuter by paying an additional deposit of $125.00 or $150.00 which will be refunded to them upon proof supplied directly from the veterinarian's office of the completed surgery.  Those who have adopted animals not neutered prior to adoption by the Society are required to neuter their new pets within 30 days or by the time the kitten or puppy reaches 6 months of age.

ADOPTION POLICIES

For the protection of the animals in our care, the Society has a list of policies and guidelines that will assure the happiest of endings for the new pet and its family.  This list is available at the front desk of each of our shelters and in reading it and signing it, adopters understand the importance of certain protocols.  For example, we are very careful in our adoptions of small and/or young kittens and puppies to families with children under five years of age or homes where there may be many children of young ages.  Small children are often lacking in coordination and unintentionally injure tiny animals.  To prevent such trauma, we help families select the best pet for everyone in the household.

SUMMARY

Our goal is to find the perfect home for every one of our deserving orphans.  Through our adoption procedures we offer not just a New Leash on Life to that dog, cat, kitten or puppy, but years of happiness to the indiviudals and families that open their hearts and homes to them.  If you would like to visit some of the wonderful pets we currently offer for adoption, please click on any of the shelter links at the top of the page and see who's waiting for you! Thanks for considering the Society as one of the best places possible to find your lifetime companion!!