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We are all anxious to get all of our animals into their forever homes! Due to governmental restrictions imposed as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic, and in consideration of the safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers, and visitors to our Shelter, we are forced to change some of our previous policies and approaches for adoptions. These new policies and approaches will likely evolve and change periodically as we determine what is in the best interest of not only our staff, volunteers, and visitors but also of the animals we serve. Please check back here often for updates.
Please read and consider all of the following information before making an adoption appointment! After that, submit an Adoption Appointment Request and a staff member will contact you within 24 hours to assist you.
Appointments are scheduled 2 hours apart. To the extent that time allows during your appointment time, you may meet individually with up to 3 animals. If none of those are appropriate for you, or if your allotted time runs out, you will need to call to schedule a future appointment to meet with other animals that may be available at that time.
All “meet & greets” and adoption paperwork must be completed within the time allotted.
All adoptions are on a first-come, first-served basis. No animals will be held or reserved.
A specific animal that you want or that fits your criteria may not be available at your appointment time.
If you currently have other dogs living in your household, you may be required to bring them with you to your appointment so that they may meet your potential new dog away from their territory. This generally leads to a smoother transition of a new dog into the household.
When you call, general information will be taken to include your name and phone number, and you will be given an appointment day and time pending confirmation by a return phone call from an Adoption Counselor. Appointments will generally not be scheduled for the same day that you call to allow time for an Adoption Counselor to contact you before you arrive.
When you call, you may specify one animal that you are interested in meeting, though this is not required. As mentioned previously, all adoptions are on a first-come, first-served basis, and any animal that you request to meet may not be available at your appointment time. To see animals that are available for adoption, go to www.hselpaso.org/adopt-a-pet .
An Adoption Counselor will call you sometime after your appointment is made and before you arrive. Please allow up to 30 minutes for the phone call with the Adoption Counselor.
Please watch for and answer the return phone call. If no answer, 2 additional attempts will be made.
On the return phone call, the Adoption Counselor will obtain information to assist us in identifying the best match of the animals that we have available when you arrive for your appointment so that your appointment can be maximized for spending time with the animals.
Please follow our Guidelines for Visitors to HSEP. Only 2 people will be allowed per appointment. These Guidelines are noted below.
When you arrive, please wait in your vehicle and call the phone number posted. An Adoption Counselor will come to your vehicle to escort you to the appropriate adoption area. You must remain in the adoption area designated -- our Kennel Areas remain CLOSED TO VISITORS.
There may be up to 3 parties with adoption appointments at each appointment time. Please be respectful of any other parties present and observe social distancing at all times. Also, please allow your escort to open and close all doors and gates to minimize surface contact.
NO RETURNS OF AN ADOPTED ANIMAL ARE GUARANTEED
Our Adoption Counselors will assist you in your consideration of an animal to adopt. Please be certain that you are prepared for the commitment of time, resources, and patience before taking a new pet into your household! This is especially important if you are integrating a new pet with pets that are already living with you.
We are not currently able to facilitate “meet & greets” with anyone other than the 2 people allowed at the appointment. Please do not adopt at this time if there is a chance that a new pet will not work well with other family members.
At this time, our staffing levels have been reduced, and the staff we have are focused on caring for the animals in the Shelter. We will not schedule any returns of adopted animals during the first week after adoption. After that, the ability for us to take in the return of a recently adopted animal will depend on a number of factors, including any COVID-19 directives that we are required to follow at the time, the time elapsed since adoption, kennel space, the availability of staff to process the return and any other unforeseen issues that may arise.
Once again, please be certain that you are prepared for the commitment of time, resources, and patience before adopting a new pet into your household! It may take anywhere from 1-3 months, or more, to integrate your new pet into your family and for your new pet to understand your rules and routine. Our Adoption Counselors are ready to help and support you in this transition in any way that they can, but it will be up to you and your family to help your new pet!
Thank you for considering to make one of the animals in our care your new family member!
Guidelines for Visitors to HSEP:
Guia para las personas que visiten HSEP:
The Humane Society of El Paso is a private, non-profit animal shelter that does not receive any city, state, or federal funding. We rely on grants, adoption fees, private donations, and fundraising events for all of our operating expenses.
