In 1985, a Benton County Animal Control Officer picked up a stray mother dog and her four puppies. Rather than take them to the dog pound, the officer decided to seek adoptive homes for them. With nowhere to shelter the mother and her puppies until they were adopted, Bella Vista Animal Shelter was founded.
Bella Vista Animal Shelter rescues and rehabilitates the homeless animals of the City of Bella Vista, Arkansas. As a non-profit organization, they’re entirely dependent on donations to keep their doors open. They provide food, shelter, and medical care for animals in need until they can be adopted into loving homes. These are animals that would otherwise be left to fend for themselves.
Despite thousands of animals passing through their doors annually, Bella Vista Animal Shelter has a combined reclaim and adoption rate of 98%.
Are you passionate about pets? Do you love getting your hands furry? Bella Vista Animal Shelter loves volunteers and can’t wait to meet you. From groundskeepers and office assistants to dog walkers and kitten cuddlers, your hands-on help is invaluable.
Research shows that companion animals help improve our physical and mental health. By adopting and spending time with an animal friend, you can experience lower stress levels and lower blood pressure!
There are many pawfect animals at Bella Vista shelter waiting to be picked by you.
Adoption fees at Bella Vista Animal Shelter are as follows:
Your adoption fee covers spay/neuter surgery, first vaccinations, rabies vaccination, deworming, microchipping, and an examination by a veterinarian.
Bella Vista Animal Shelter's "Seniors for Seniors" adoption program places senior dogs and cats (typically 6+ years old) with senior citizens who 60+ years old. It was developed to help senior humans rediscover the joys of having a dog or cat in their lives. (Plus observe some of those aforementioned health effects.) The shelter’s expert matchmakers will help you select a companion who fits into your lifestyle and housing situation. If your application is approved, there is no adoption fee.
Our writing team is hard at work researching this shelter's adoption process and fees, so this page will be updated soon!
In the meantime, here's some nice-to-know info that applies to nearly every animal shelter, humane society, and rescue.
Because shelter dogs are full of love!
Is it because they know you saved them and love you harder for it?
I can't say for certain, but yes.
Jokes aside, there are three things all shelter dogs need to thrive in their new home:
Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:
These issues are correctable! Your dog isn't broken, they're just damaged. You can fix them with enough love, patience, and a good training plan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding good dog trainers can be hard. Like everything else, dog training is moving only. but there are great online dog trainers that are proven to work and can help get your new pup on the right path.
You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.
Adoption processes vary drastically from organization to organization, but here are some general tips that apply in most instances. Note that we'll use the term "shelters" here for simplicity but it includes all types of rescue organizations.
If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!
If you're looking to adopt a new dog, our Dog Adoption Guide is a must-read. It has everything you need to know about bringing a shelter dog home:
And we're adding new guides all the time.
