Adoption Information & Policies
Adopter’s Options
For those interested in adopting from us, we offer four options:
- Home Trial – Take the animal home for a 1-week trial.
- Immediate Adoption – For animals already spayed or neutered.
- Foster-to-Adopt – For animals who still need to be spayed or neutered through the shelter’s surgery process.
- Golden Adopter Program – For qualified adopters who want to use their own veterinarian for the required spay or neuter surgery.
Puppies and kittens 6 months of age or younger are not eligible for the Home Trial option.
Adoption Fees
Our adoption fees are designed to help offset the costs associated with preparing each animal for adoption while keeping adoption affordable for our community.
Anyone from any county or state may adopt from the Rushville Animal Shelter. Residency does not determine whether you are eligible to adopt, including animals that have not yet been spayed or neutered.
Adoption fees may be reduced through the discounts listed below, sponsorships, adoption events, or other shelter-approved fee adjustments.
Standard Adoption Fees
| Animal | Adoption Fee |
|---|---|
| Cats – Over 4 months | $100 |
| Kittens – Under 4 months | $140 |
| 2 Cats – Over 4 months | $150 |
| 2 Kittens – Under 4 months | $210 |
| Dogs – Over 4 months | $140 |
| Puppies – Under 4 months | $190 |
| Bonded Pair – Cats, over 4 months | $100 |
| Bonded Pair – Dogs, over 4 months | $140 |
We do not encourage the adoption of multiple puppies, so we do not offer a multiple-puppy discount package.
Discounts Off the Adoption Fee
The following discounts are deducted from the applicable standard adoption fee:
| Discount | Discount Amount | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Rush County Resident | $50 off | Must provide valid photo ID showing Rush County residency |
| Senior Citizen | $75 off | Age 65+; pet must be 3 years or older |
| Military | $75 off | Pet must be 3 years or older |
| City of Rushville Employee | $75 off | Pet may be any age |
Proof of age or military service may be required when applicable.
Special Adoption Packages
These packages are separate from the standard adoption fees and discounts and are available based on the animal’s circumstances:
| Package | Adoption Fee |
|---|---|
| Barn/Shop Cat | $25 |
| Golden Age Pets – Over 8 years | FREE |
| Feral/TNR Cats | FREE |
Barn/Shop Cats
Barn/Shop cats are cats who are appropriate for working homes and are generally friendly but may not be suited to a traditional indoor-only home.
Golden Age Pets
Cats and dogs over 8 years of age qualify for our Golden Age adoption package and are FREE to adopt.
Feral/TNR Cats
Feral or unsocialized cats may be available through our TNR program at no adoption fee.
What Your Adoption Fee Pays For
Your adoption fee helps cover the veterinary care and other expenses involved in preparing an animal for adoption.
Adopters will receive a printout of the animal’s medical history at the time of adoption.
All Dogs/Puppies Receive
Before adoption, dogs and puppies will receive:
- At least one Distemper/Parvo vaccination
- Bordetella vaccination
- Rabies vaccination if they are 3 months or older at the time of their spay or neuter
- Flea prevention
- Intestinal parasite prevention or treatment
- Heartworm test if over 6 months of age
- Lifetime PetLink registration microchip if not already microchipped
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Free collar and leash
All Cats/Kittens Receive
Before adoption, cats and kittens will receive:
- At least one FVRCP vaccination
- Rabies vaccination if they are 3 months or older at the time of their spay or neuter
- Flea prevention
- At least one dewormer treatment using 3 different dewormers
- Lifetime PetLink registration microchip if not already microchipped
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Free cardboard carrier
Feral/TNR Cats Receive
Due to feral cats being, by nature, unsafe to handle, we are unable to microchip them.
Feral/TNR cats receive:
- Spay or neuter surgery
- 3-year rabies vaccination
- One dose of flea treatment applied during surgery
- Left ear-tip
Adoption Requirements
- We do not have an application process.
- All adoptions are first-come, first-served.
- We do not offer holds, even for a donation.
- Adopters may be from any county or state.
- You must provide a valid photo ID.
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- All cats and kittens must leave the shelter in a carrier.
- All dogs and puppies must leave with a collar and leash.
- Cash, check, and card are accepted. Card payments are subject to a 3% processing fee.
- We accept and encourage monetary donations above and beyond the adoption fee. Donations help us cover the costs of veterinary care, adoption benefits, spay/neuter surgeries, and the many other expenses involved in caring for shelter animals.
What Is the Adoption Process?
For all adoptions, visit our shelter during open hours to meet the animals currently available.
If you would like to have your dog(s) participate in a meet and greet with a potential new dog, bring your dog with you. We do not require an appointment for dog-to-dog meet and greets, although we may require a meet and greet for certain dogs before adoption.
The process depends on whether the animal has already been spayed or neutered.
Already Spayed or Neutered
For animals who are already fixed, the process is simple:
- Anyone from anywhere may adopt.
- You will sign the adoption contract.
- You will receive the animal’s medical history.
- You may take the animal home the same day.
Not Yet Spayed or Neutered – Foster-to-Adopt
Animals who have not yet been spayed or neutered may be adopted by anyone from anywhere.
These adoptions will follow our Foster-to-Adopt process.
The adopter may take the pet home the same day, but the adopter must return the pet to the Rushville Animal Shelter for its scheduled spay or neuter appointment.
During the Foster-to-Adopt period:
- The adopter is fully responsible for the pet and its care as if it were legally theirs.
- The Rushville Animal Shelter maintains legal ownership until the required spay or neuter surgery has been completed.
- The animal’s microchip remains registered to the Rushville Animal Shelter until the adoption is finalized.
- The adoption fee is due when the Foster-to-Adopt documents are signed.
The adopter will sign both a Foster-to-Adopt Agreement and a Surgery Packet covering the risks associated with transportation, boarding, the veterinary clinic, and surgery.
The return date for surgery will generally be scheduled for the day before the appointment between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
The drop-off process is quick. Anyone, including a friend or family member, may return the animal for its appointment.
The pet will generally be available for pickup the day after surgery between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
At pickup:
- The adopter must be present.
- The adopter will complete the final adoption contract.
- Post-surgery instructions will be reviewed.
- The adopter will receive the animal’s medical history.
- Legal ownership will then be transferred to the adopter.
If the pet needs veterinary care during the Foster-to-Adopt period, the adopter’s veterinarian may request the animal’s medical history directly from the Rushville Animal Shelter.
Golden Adopter Program
The Golden Adopter Program is for qualified adopters who want to adopt an animal that has not yet been spayed or neutered and have the required surgery performed by their own chosen veterinarian.
The Golden Adopter Program is also available to adopters who live outside Rush County and want to use their preferred veterinarian.
Qualifying as a Golden Adopter
To qualify, you must provide one of the following at the time of adoption:
- Documented proof of veterinary care for other animals currently in your care, such as receipts or other veterinary medical records, OR
- A letter from your veterinarian confirming that you are an active client in good standing.
Once approved, the adopter may take the animal home under the Golden Adopter Foster-to-Adopt agreement.
Golden Adopter – Using Your Own Veterinarian
Golden Adopters who choose their own veterinarian will follow these requirements:
- The adoption fee is due when the Golden Adopter Foster-to-Adopt agreement is signed.
- The adoption fee will not be refunded or treated as a deposit.
- If any portion of the adoption fee is not used on that specific animal, the remaining funds will instead be used to help cover the costs of other shelter animals.
- The adopter must have the pet examined by their veterinarian within 30 days.
- At that veterinary examination, the adopter must schedule the required spay or neuter surgery.
- The adopter must provide proof of the scheduled surgery appointment to the Rushville Animal Shelter. Proof may be:
- Dropped off at the shelter
- Mailed
- Emailed
- Sent through Facebook Messenger
- After the scheduled surgery date has passed, the Rushville Animal Shelter will contact the veterinarian’s office to confirm that the surgery was completed.
- Once confirmation is received, the shelter will transfer the ownership of the animal’s microchip from the Rushville Animal Shelter to the adopter.
- The adopter will receive a copy of the animal’s medical history to provide to their veterinarian.
Important: Veterinary Costs
The cost of the spay or neuter surgery at the adopter’s chosen veterinarian is the sole responsibility of the adopter.
The adopter is responsible for paying their chosen veterinary clinic directly for the full cost of the spay/neuter surgery and any other veterinary services they choose to have performed.
The Rushville Animal Shelter will not pay or reimburse the adopter for this surgery or for additional veterinary services.
The adopter may take the pet home the same day. During the Golden Adopter Foster-to-Adopt period, the adopter is responsible for the pet’s care, but the Rushville Animal Shelter maintains legal ownership until the required spay or neuter surgery has been completed and verified.
What Clinic Does the Shelter Use?
The Rushville Animal Shelter primarily uses the Low-Cost Spay Neuter Clinic for shelter spay and neuter surgeries.
The clinic sends a transport van to the shelter approximately once a month to collect the animals and return them to the shelter after surgery.
We generally have approximately 40 surgery spots available during each transport.
Occasionally, surgery scheduling may take longer than expected. Delays may occur because:
- A kitten has not reached the required 3-pound weight
- It is the height of kitten season
- There are a large number of animals requiring surgery at the same time
- Clinic availability changes
We may also occasionally use Buck Creek Veterinary Clinic when appointments are available. Because they are a busy clinic, availability is limited. We generally use them for animals that are not currently in a Foster-to-Adopt status.
We may also use the Indy Humane Downtown Clinic when we feel a female animal needs to be spayed sooner than the earliest available appointment through the Low-Cost Spay Neuter Clinic.
Who Is Available for Adoption?
We encourage anyone considering adoption to stop by the shelter during our visiting hours.
There are often animals who have just been cleared for adoption but have not yet been posted online. Some of these animals are adopted very quickly simply because someone happened to stop by the shelter.
We regularly post available animals through:
Availability can change quickly, so visiting the shelter is often the best way to see who is currently available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Adoption Policies
Why Are Animals Not Always Spayed or Neutered Before They Are Available for Adoption?
There are several reasons why we are not always able to complete the spay or neuter surgery before an animal becomes available for adoption.
The Rushville Animal Shelter is an animal control facility, and we need to maintain available kennel space so that we can continue accepting animals when they need us.
We also accept owner-surrendered animals from Rush County residents and do not charge a surrender fee or turn these animals away simply because we are full.
Keeping animals moving into adoptive homes as quickly as responsibly possible helps us maintain space for animals who need shelter.
Unfortunately, there are limited local spay/neuter options that offer affordable pricing while also being able to handle a large number of shelter animals.
Our primary option is the Low-Cost Spay Neuter Clinic’s transport service, which comes to the shelter approximately once a month and has a limited number of available surgery spots.
We also want to protect the mental and physical well-being of the animals in our care by avoiding unnecessary extended stays in the shelter.
The Foster-to-Adopt process allows us to balance these needs while still ensuring that every adopted animal receives its required spay or neuter surgery.
Our ultimate goal is to eventually have every animal spayed or neutered before being placed for adoption. We are simply not there yet.
How Do You Determine Adoption Fees?
Our adoption fees are based on the average costs we incur to prepare animals for adoption, while also keeping adoption accessible to the community.
Rush County residents receive a $50 discount because local property taxes help fund the shelter’s yearly operating budget.
We also provide additional discounts for qualifying senior citizens, military members, and City of Rushville employees.
Contrary to some beliefs, we do not receive medications, vaccinations, veterinary services, or surgeries for free. We may receive discounts in certain circumstances, but in general, we pay for these services just as members of the public do.
Average Cost We Pay for Cats
- FVRCP vaccination, 3 different dewormers, flea prevention, and microchip: $21.99
- Rabies vaccination: $25.00
- Average spay/neuter cost: $87.50
Total average cost we pay to prepare a cat for adoption: $134.49
Average Cost We Pay for Dogs
- DA2PPV vaccine, Bordetella vaccine, 2 different dewormers, flea prevention, microchip, and heartworm test: $27.99
- Rabies vaccination: $25.00
- Average spay/neuter cost: $133.33
Total average cost we pay to prepare a dog for adoption: $186.32
Costs can increase or decrease depending on medication, vaccination, and veterinary pricing. For dogs, the cost of spay/neuter surgery can range from approximately $100 to $160 depending on the dog’s weight and sex.
In many cases, the adoption fee represents only about half to three-quarters of what we have invested in getting an animal ready for adoption. Any remaining funds are quickly absorbed by the costs of caring for another animal.
How Does the Shelter Afford These Costs?
The Rushville Animal Shelter depends on local Rush County property taxes to fund our yearly operating budget.
Those costs continue to increase each year.
Adoption fees help us share a portion of the costs of preparing animals for adoption with the people who are welcoming those animals into their homes.
We also rely heavily on monetary donations to help cover veterinary expenses, food, medications, cleaning supplies, shelter maintenance, and other costs.
Every adoption fee and donation helps us stretch our available funds so that we can continue helping animals who need us.
Why Do Kittens and Puppies Under 4 Months Cost More?
Puppies and kittens are highly desirable because they are young, small, and cute.
Because they are often adopted quickly, adult animals may remain in the shelter longer.
The lower adoption fee for adult animals is intended to encourage adopters to consider giving an older animal a home.
Are There Any Other Discounts on Adoption Fees?
Yes.
In addition to our established discounts, there may be times when adoption fees are reduced through:
- Individual sponsorships
- Adoption events
- Special promotions
- Fee adjustments based on how long an animal has been at the shelter
Our goal is always to find appropriate homes for the animals in our care while balancing the costs associated with preparing and caring for them.
Can the Public Use the Shelter’s Spay/Neuter Surgery Slots?
At this time, the shelter’s surgery slots are reserved for animals currently at the shelter or animals adopted through a Foster-to-Adopt agreement.
If you are looking for an affordable public spay/neuter option, please see our Low Cost Spay Neuter Options.
The Low-Cost Spay Neuter Clinic offers a separate public transport service that picks up and drops off animals at CVS in Rushville.
A Few Important Reminders
All adoptions are first-come, first-served.
We do not place animals on hold, even with a donation.
Anyone can adopt.
You do not have to live in Rush County to adopt from us.
Animals who are not yet fixed will leave through Foster-to-Adopt.
The adopter is required to return the animal to the shelter for its scheduled spay or neuter appointment unless they qualify for the Golden Adopter Program.
Golden Adopters use their own veterinarian.
The Golden Adopter Program allows qualified adopters to use their preferred veterinarian, with the adopter responsible for the full veterinary cost.
Adoption fees help save more animals.
The fee you pay toward one animal helps us continue caring for the many other animals who are still waiting for their homes.