Dearborn Animal Shelter in Dearborn, Michigan is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and protection of animals in their community while inspiring healthy relationships between people and their companion animals. They take in strays and owner surrenders from the City of Dearborn in Wayne County and adopt pets to families all over metro Detroit, out of state, and even Canada.
The organization has one main location and three satellite locations:
As animal advocates, they're committed to protecting well-being of all animals in the Dearborn community through several important programs and services:
Considering adoption from Dearborn Animal Shelter? Keep reading below for more information on their adoption process and fees.
Sometimes you don't know true love until it licks you in the face!
If you're thinking about adopting a lucky animal from Dearborn Animal Shelter, here's how it works:
Adoption questionnaires for Dearborn Animal Shelter can be found below:
Adoption fees at Dearborn Animal Shelter are as follows:
Your dog adoption fee covers spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, a collar and leash, and heartworm testing for dogs 6+ months old.
Your cat adoption fee covers spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, and a cat carrier and comforter.
*If you're adopting a cat or kitten, it's strongly recommended that they're tested for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), especially if you already have other cats at home. The tests are $20 at the time of adoption. Cats that are available for adoption at satellite locations have been tested for these viruses, and the cost is included in their adoption fee.
Loveables: $100. These are exceptional dogs that are "diamonds in the rough." They may never have felt the love of a human or lived on the end of a chain and never experienced living in a home. As a result, these dogs need more patience, compassion, and understanding to help them shine. With a little extra TLC, these deserving dogs give back more than is humanly possible. (Because, you know, they aren't humans.)
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.
