Burlington County Animal Shelter serves as the rabies control point for the 40 municipalities of Burlington County. They also take in, provide care for, and find homes for over 1,000 animals each year. Operating as a no-kill shelter, all stray, lost, or abandoned animals in need of medical attention and rehoming will be accepted, including owner-surrendered pets. Their staff and committed volunteers strive to give the best care and find the most loving forever homes for every animal that comes to them.
If you're interested in adopting a pet from the shelter, have a look at those available for adoption on the website or just pop into the shelter during opening hours. All potential adopters need to fill out an adoption application at the shelter before being allowed to pet or interact with any animals.
You can also fill out an inquiry form online for each specific pet listed. To make sure the cutie you've found is still available before you visit, it's always best to call ahead to speak to a staff member.
To be eligible to adopt, you'll need to provide proof of landlord approval (if renting). It's also advisable to bring your current dog(s) for a doggie meet-and-greet if you're considering adding another to your family.
Provided your new furry friend has already been spayed/neutered, it's possible to adopt and bring them home on the same day! If they still need their surgery, you may have to wait up to a week, depending on when the operation can be scheduled.
Adoption fees at Burlington County Animal Shelter are as follows:
Adoption fees are waived for Senior Citizens (65+) and veterans.
Your adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, deworming, distemper and rabies vaccinations, treatment for parasites, and any other basic pre-adoption medical needs.
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.
