Do you put any pets down if they are not adopted in a certain time period? How long do you keep pets who are brought to your facility?
	Animals are normally sheltered until they find homes, unless they are seriously ill or aggressive.

Can I request a particular type of pet, and ask that you contact me when such a pet is available?

We are anxious to learn about every potential permanent and happy home for homeless pets. If you have such a home to offer, please complete and print an Adoption Application and mail (1750 Ahlberg Road, Traverse City, MI 49686) or fax (231-946-3299) it to us, or come to the shelter and complete an application. Knowing about you and your home will help us find a compatible companion for you. You may also come by the shelter, get to know the facility, meet homeless pets, and fill out the application in person. Whenever possible, if a pet comes to our facility which matches your description of a compatible pet, we will contact you so that you may come to meet the pet. We cannot guarantee that we can contact you each time such a pet arrives, but we do our best.

Are all pets shown online still available? Can you hold a pet for me if I call?

Our goal is to place homeless pets in the permanent, happy and healthy homes. We try to update our online list of pets as frequently as we can, but we cannot guarantee that all pets online are still available for adoption. If you see a pet online which seems right for your home, please call us at 231-946-5116. While we cannot make any guarantees and traffic at the shelter is brisk, we will make arrangements for you to meet the pet quickly if possible.

If I find a pet that seems right for me, what happens? May I simply take the pet home?

Adoptions at the Cherryland Humane Society, and at most humane societies, are a process with a number of steps which are followed for each adoption. Potential adopters are asked to complete a few brief forms which help us match you with a compatible pet, and are interviewed by a CHS staff member. If a potential match is found, you may meet with the pet in a private room to make sure you match. If a match is found, please plan to spend a minimum of 30 minutes to complete the adoption process. Once the adoption is approved, the animal may be taken home. The adoption procedure seeks to provide a compatible match between the pet and the adopter. If the specific pet and adopter are found to be incompatible, alternatives may be suggested, or the adopter may return when a compatible animal is found. It is not the intent of the CHS to judge individuals as either good or bad adoptors. Rather, we seek to ensure compatibility, which is the key to a rewarding, life-long relationship between the pet and the adopter.

What happens after the pet goes home with me? Does the Cherryland Humane Society offer any resources to help with the transition period?

We absolutely wish to help in any way we can to ensure that the first few months with your new pet go as smoothly as possible. We offer a Veterinary Assistance Program to help you get your pet the professional medical attention and nutritional counseling it needs, including a FREE well-health examination within 10 days of the adoption date. It is always a good idea for you to take your pet to see a veterinarian as soon as possible after it goes home with you. It is important that they identify any condition which may have been present but was undetectable at the time of adoption. We offer a public Humane Education Library with books, videos and a computer with Internet searching capability which you can use to research pet health, behavior, nutrition, training, and other subjects. And of course we are always available onsite and on the phone to make recommendations about issues you have with your new pet. If the pet fails to adjust to your household, you may return the pet within thirty days. If the pet is diagnosed as unhealthy, you may return the pet within two weeks of the adoption date.