Harford County Humane Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare and well-being of the approximately 3,500 animals that come through its doors each year.
They are an open-admission shelter and accept every animal if they can't help the pet stay in its home. Animals are provided with food, shelter, warmth, medical care, and the loving attention they desperately need.
Although they aren't part of the Harford County government or the Humane Society of the United States, Harford County Humane Society acts as the county's sole facility for the care and treatment of animals. This means that animals found as strays or seized by animal control come to Harford County Humane Society to be cared for and rehabilitated if possible.
Ready to adopt from Harford County Humane Society? First, consider your lifestyle.
Once you’re at the shelter, keep an open mind. Try not to overlook the animals sitting quietly in their cages or the scruffy ones. Every animal has something unique to offer.
Once you are ready to adopt, the process is simple:
Applications are available at the links below:
Adoption fees at Harford County Humane Society are as follows:
Small critters may not be adopted for breeding purposes.
Your adoption fee covers microchipping, rabies vaccination, distemper vaccination, canine kennel cough vaccination, flea and tick prevention, a free sample of Hill's Science Diet food, a general exam, and heartworm testing for dogs and feline leukemia and FIV testing for cats.
If the animal you've chosen isn't already spayed or neutered, you're required to pay a $50 "good faith" deposit. You'll be given a Harford Animal Sterilization Program certificate and a list of veterinarians who accept the certificate. You have 60 days (or 60 days after the animal is 6 months old) to get them spayed or neutered. Once the procedure is done, provide a receipt from your veterinarian. Your $50 deposit will be refunded or you may choose to donate it back to the shelter.
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.
