Larimer County Humane Society


Fort Collins, Colorado

Silent Auction for The Hermitage Cat Shelter!

October 15-31, 2020 | Learn More →

Bid on 99+ awesome prizes, including a South African Photo Safari for Two!

All proceeds benefit needy cats and kittens in Southern Arizona.

About Larimer County Humane Society

Larimer County Humane Society has been serving the people and pets of Northern Colorado since 1969. The vision, passion, and fortitude of their small group of 30 founders is still evident in the work the society does today. It's their belief that all animals deserve a safe haven from neglect, abuse, hunger, discomfort, pain, and distress. The society is guided in their work by the “Five Freedoms”:

  • Freedom from hunger and thirst
  • Freedom from discomfort
  • Freedom from pain, injury, and disease
  • Freedom to express normal behavior
  • Freedom from fear and distress

As an open-admission shelter, they strive to work by these principles, by giving any animal in need, no matter their age or health, a second chance at happiness. The shelter takes in a wide variety of animals including dogs, cats, small mammals, exotics, and barnyard animals. Every year thousands of animals come through their doors in need of care, shelter, and medical attention. Around 2,000 animals are reunited with their grateful owners, while close to 3,000 are found new, loving forever homes.

Larimer County Humane Society also runs the county’s only Animal Protection & Control unit. They're contracted to uphold local and state animal protection and control laws within the cities of Loveland, Fort Collins, and unincorporated areas of Larimer County.

Contact Info

Address:
6317 Kyle Ave
,
Fort Collins
,
CO
80525
Phone:
(970) 226-3647
Email:
humane@larimerhumane.org

Hours of Operation

Every Day: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Adoption Process

All adoptable animals are listed on the Larimer County Humane Society's website. You can begin your pet search there.

If you see a lucky candidate who immediately steals your heart, you can place them on a 24-hour hold for a $20 fee. Half of this deposit can be applied to the adoption fee. The other half is non-refundable. Holds can't be placed on puppies or kittens under 6 months old.

Give yourself at least one hour at the shelter when looking for a new furry friend. If you think you might have found a pet that could be a good fit for you, then let the staff know so they can arrange a meet-and-greet. Doggie meet-and-greets are also encouraged if you're a current dog owner.

Adoption counselors will be on hand to help you find the perfect pet to complete your family. Feel free to ask them for suggestions on animals that may suit your personality and lifestyle best.

Once you've found the one, you'll need to complete some paperwork and pay the appropriate fee. Then you're free to leave and start your life with your new best friend!

Adoption Fees

Adoption fees at Larimer County Humane Society vary according to the size, age, breed, temperament, and health of the animal, as well as how in-demand they are. Please check online or with the shelter directly to find out more. These are the typical fee ranges:

  • Dogs/puppies: $75-$750
  • Cats/kittens: $25-$150
  • Other small animals: Varies

Your adoption fee covers routine spay/neuter surgery, a general medical examination, initial vaccinations, microchipping and registration, a collar and leash for safe travel home, a complimentary post-adoption veterinary visit, one month of free pet insurance, and a discount on your first purchase from Poudre Pet & Feed Supply.

Adoption Process & Fees

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.

Why Rescue A Shelter Dog?

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:

  1. Love
  2. Patient
  3. Training

Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:

  1. Anxiety
  2. Aggression toward people & pets
  3. Resource guarding
  4. Destructive behavior
  5. Housetraining regression
  6. Poor social skills
  7. Leash reactivity & barrier-related aggression
  8. Constant whining

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.

Animal Shelter vs Humane Society vs Rescue: What's the Difference?

You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.

Animal Shelters

  • Most Animal Shelters are city or county-run organizations, often operated by the local Animal Control department, that manage strays and handle owner surrenders.
  • They usually have kennel facilities you can visit to adopt animals, and they usually have less stringent adoption requirements, lower adoption fees, and same-day adoptions (because their goal is to get animals out of the shelter).
  • Unfortunately, they usually know very little about each animal, including their true personalities and any behavioral problems.

Humane Societies

  • Most Humane Societies are non-profit organizations, many of which are no-kill shelters.
  • Some (but not all) are affiliated with The Humane Society of the United States.
  • They exist to improve animal welfare in the local community and often partner with city or county-run Animal Shelters that often euthanize animals due to capacity restraints.
  • They usually have kennel facilities, sometimes at multiple locations, and usually offer other services to the community such as low-cost spay/neuter clinics, community education programs, and more.
  • They may also have some animals in foster care.
  • There's a lot of variation in process and fees among Humane Societies, but they usually have really good websites that detail everything for you.

Rescues

  • Most Rescues are foster-based organizations that don't have physical facilities.
  • They usually have websites and contact emails, but not all of them have phone numbers.
  • Because they don't have a physical facility, you need to view animals in their foster network online, usually on their website but sometimes on their member pages on either PetFinder or Adopt-a-Pet.
  • If you see an animal you'd like to meet, contact the rescue using the process listed on their website or via email. They'll help you through the application process and set up a time for you to meet the animal at the foster's home.
  • Adopting from a rescue generally is the most expensive option here and takes the longest, but you get an animal that's been cared for in a loving home environment and their foster can tell you a lot about their personality.

6 Tips to Improve Your Adoption Experience

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.

  1. See an animal online that you'd like to meet? Call the shelter before your visit to make sure the animal is still available. This especially applies for puppies, which are adopted out quickly.
  2. Usually, you'll need to get some paperwork in order: a photo ID, vaccination/medical records for any pets you currently have, possibly your vet's contact info and a couple of personal references, and (for renters) proof you're allowed to have a pet (copy of your lease or your landlord's contact info).
  3. If you need to provide contact info for your vet, let your vet know ahead of time. Otherwise, they may not release your information.
  4. Many shelters require your current dogs to meet adoptive dogs. Your current dogs need to be up-to-date on vaccinations.
  5. Some shelters require you to schedule a home visit to ensure a suitable living environment for the new animal.
  6. Adoption fees may seem excessive, but they're actually amazing values. Truthfully, caring for a pet is expensive. Most adoption fees include required medical care to get the animal ready for their new home including (but not limited to) spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, general vet exams, flea/tick treatment, deworming, heartworm testing/treatment for dogs, and feline leukemia and feline AIDS testing/treatment for cats. In general, your adoption fee is less than the cost of this care, so you're saving money in addition to your new animal's life!

If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!

For more information about what's included in your adoption fee, or any other questions about the adoption process, reach out to
Larimer County Humane Society
in
Fort Collins
,
Colorado
directly using the contact info above.

Want FREE Stuff?

We give away dog toys, gear, gift cards & more every month!

(And Exclusive Tips We ONLY Share With Subscribers)
No spam!

Check Out The PetLists Dog Adoption Guide!

Other Shelters in

Colorado

Curious about other shelters? Here's 6 more. You can also browse all
animal shelters in
Colorado
.


You can also go back to our listing of all 50 states to find shelters elsewhere in the US.
All information on this page is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge. If you spot an error, please contact us using our contact form.
Note: Hours of operation and other information on this page are subject to change during the COVID-19 pandemic.