Are you looking for a pet? St. Charles County has a solution for you. Check out the many dogs and cats available for adoption from the St. Charles County Pet Adoption Center operated by the Division of Humane Services.
In November of 1999, the then new Pet Adoption Center opened as the new home of the Department of Community Health, Division of Humane Service’s headquarters. The new facility was built on property located at 4850 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville directly across from the south entrance to St. Charles Community College. The location was no accident. The County wanted to build a facility that was centrally located and convenient to St. Charles County residents. This location would not only be convenient but would support the County’s goal of developing an adoption program second to none in the area.
A decade later, the adoption program has exceeded all expectations. One measure of success is seen in the adoption numbers. In 10 years the Pet Adoption Center has placed:
- 12,010 Dogs and Puppies
- 10,634 Cats and Kittens
- 118 other animals (birds, rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, etc)
- 22,762 Total Adoptions
This is an impressive number. But the total number of adoptions is only part of the picture. Just as important is the quality of each adoption.
First, potential adopters are counseled to make sure they have realistic expectations for the type of pet they are looking for. Large breeds that need lots of exercise would not be a good match for a small apartment. Some breeds are better for families with children and some are better as companions to senior citizens. It is also important that an adoption be seen as a real commitment to the pet and that the person adopting has a realistic idea of the cost of food and the possible periodic need for veterinary care. This education and short discussion prior to the decision to adopt has avoided having many pets returned to the program when the new owner realizes that the adopted pet is going to take an unanticipated commitment in terms of time and expenses.
Second, every dog or cat adopted is spayed or neutered, appropriately vaccinated and micro chipped. Animals are also screened for temperament. There is no question that introducing almost 23,000 spayed or neutered pets into the County over the last 10 years has reduced the number of unwanted puppies and kittens that the county and its residents have had to deal with.
So what does this cost? Here is the schedule of fees for adoptions from the Pet Adoption Center:
| Adoption fees: | ||
| Dogs | 50.00 | |
| Puppies | 60.00 | |
| Cats | 30.00 | |
| Kittens | 40.00 | |
Pocket pets (small animals usually kept in cages, including mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.) |
5.00 | |
| Parrots | 20.00 | |
| Rabbits altered by Division | 30.00 | |
| Rabbits already altered | 10.00 | |
Rescues (animals transferred after treatment to rescue groups) |
30.00 | |
As you can see, the cost of adoption is very reasonable, however, some have asked why is there an adoption fee at all? The answer is simple. Most obviously, the County incurs a cost in boarding, vaccinating, spaying or neutering the animals that are adopted. To continue the program, some of those costs must be recovered. Maybe just as important, a “free” pet may send the wrong message to some people. Free pets may be viewed as “throw-away” pets. What the person adopting a pet from the County program receives is a healthy animal that will potentially become an important part of that adopting family, a family member that will provide affection, loyalty and companionship. Almost 23,000 times in the last year we have tried to make this connection. I think most of the time we have been successful and the citizens of St. Charles County have been nothing short of spectacular in their support of our efforts.