Old Dominion Humane Society is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization. Their goal is to reduce the number of adoptable dogs being needlessly euthanized every year. They pull dogs from high-kill shelters and educate the community on responsible pet ownership.
With no permanent shelter, all dogs are placed in foster care until a new forever family can be found through local adoption events. They rely solely on kind donations and their volunteers' time and efforts to stay open.
Check out Old Dominion Humane Society's website or Facebook page to find out where and when the next adoption event will be. You can also see pets awaiting adoption on the website and fill out an application form in advance to speed up the process.
As the charity is entirely run by volunteers, please be patient while they process your application. It can often take a few days to get a response!
Old Dominion Humane Society doesn't operate on a first-come, first-served basis. All applications are screened to find the best match for each animal in their care. It's necessary to fill out an application form before attending one of the adoption events if you'd like to adopt on that same day. This also ensures if there's a particular dog you're interested in adopting, they will be there on that day! As all dogs are in temporary foster homes, it isn't always possible to bring every animal available to each adoption event.
To be eligible for adoption, you must complete an application, agree to a background check, sign an adoption contract, and pay any relevant fees. You must also come prepared with a dog collar, leash, food, and a crate to take your new best friend safely home!
Adoption fees at Old Dominion Humane Society are as follows:
Your adoption fee covers spay or neuter surgery, flea and tick prevention, rabies and distemper vaccinations, heartworm testing and prevention, and microchipping.
All puppies are required to enroll in training within 60 days of adoption with a certified trainer of your choice.
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.
