In the early days of Collier County up through the late 1950s, there was no local organization to care for lost, injured, or abandoned pets. In 1960, concerned citizens pooled their resources to form what became known as Humane Society Naples.
Humane Society Naples is an independent, non-profit organization. They serve the public by providing care and shelter for orphaned animals and facilitating placement into loving homes. They never place a time limit on how long dogs, cats, and other pets stay at the shelter. They're supported solely by private donations.
Animals of all ages and sizes are available for adoption at Humane Society Naples. Puppies and kittens are always on hand, but because adult animals are less likely to be adopted, the adoption of the "old-timers" is especially encouraged. Older pets are especially suitable for homes where the family is gone all day to school or work and are great companions for senior humans. Adopting an adult pet minimizes your surprises. You'll know what size the dog is and can choose a dog with the desired temperament, whether you prefer laid-back, confident, cuddly, or shy.
Adopting a pet is easy and absolutely worth it. Whether it's a ball-chasing dog, a curious kitten, or a cuddly small critter, Humane Society Naples is bound to have the perfect pet for you. Here's how their process works:
Adoption fees at Humane Society Naples are as follows:
Your adoption fee covers spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, starter bag of Hill's Science Diet food, and special adopter discounts on pet boarding and dog training.
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.
