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Jun
30

How to adopt a pet

Learn about the steps you need to take to adopt your new pet from Regional Animal Services of King County.

Paths to Pet Adoption

  1. View adoptable pets
    • When you find an animal on our website that you're interested in adopting, click their "Meet" button to see what process you should follow based on their location.
  2. Visit the Pet Adoption Center
    • Want to meet a pet at the Pet Adoption Center in Kent? We welcome walk-in visitors for meet-and-greets from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
  3. Meet and greet with shelter pets
    • Upon arrival at the Pet Adoption Center, depending on who you are visiting - cat, dog, rabbit, bird, reptile, or small mammal - a team member will take down your name and the name/ID number of the pet(s) you're interested in.
    • During your meet-and-greet, one of our team members will discuss any known history of the pet, as well as their behavior in the shelter, to help you determine if a pet is the right match for your family.
    • Meet-and-greets may be limited to no more than three pets, depending on staffing, and our team members will bring them to you. If weather permits, dog meet-and-greets may take place in our enclosed play field.
    • Adoptions are done on a "first-interested, first-served" basis.
  4. Go home with your new best friend!
    • Successful match? Great! We'll take about 30 minutes to process your adoption, including answering any first-time pet adoption questions.
  1. View listing of adoptable foster pets
    • Scroll through our list of available pets. Click the animal's "Meet" button to see what process you should follow based on location.
  2. Complete Foster Adoption Interest eForm
    • Interested in visiting with a pet currently in a foster home? Please fill out the Foster Adoption Interest eForm. Upon completing this form, a copy will be sent to the volunteer fostering the pet. Interested parties will be contacted in the order the forms were received. Fosters and interested adopters are encouraged to make their first contact virtually via email, photos, videos, text, FaceTime, Zoom, or similar tools.
    • Completing the eForm does not guarantee that you will be able to adopt the available pet. We ask that you continue to check the listing of adoptable pets. Should there be a pet whose profile is no longer listed, we ask that you keep your heart open to other pets that may still be looking for their forever home.
  3. Make a match!
    • If after connecting with a pet's foster parent you both feel that the pet is a good match for you, the adopter can go ahead and finalize the adoption by filling out the following forms and making payment:
      1. Adoption Processing eForm
      2. Adoption Contract (one per pet)
      3. Online Payment (Point and Pay)
      • Please only fill out these forms and make payment after receiving confirmation from foster parents to proceed with an adoption. Note that pre-payment does not guarantee adoption.

Adoptions at partner stores are coordinated on a "first-come, first-served" basis. You can view animals that are at our partner stores online by using the filter function and searching by location or by noting their location in the individual animal's bio.

All adoption paperwork and payment will be taken care of at the time of adoption with the partner store representative.

If after meeting the animal with a partner store representative and you both feel that the pet is a good match for you, the adopter can go ahead and finalize the adoption by filling out the following forms and payment:

  1. Adoption Processing eForm
  2. Adoption Contract (one per pet)
  3. Online Payment (Point and Pay)

Please only fill out these forms with the partner store representative to proceed with an adoption.

Partner Store Locations

If you are interested in adopting a barn cat, please follow the steps below:

  1. Complete a Barn Cat Request Form.
  2. Read all documents listed below and prepare your home for your new barn cat. Preparations should focus on the cat's outside shelter and the acclimation requirements. Feel free to email us if you have questions.
  3. Check available barn cats on our website to ensure that we have cats at the Pet Adoption Center available for pick up. (Adoptions are made on a "first-come, first-served" basis.) Special accommodations may be provided for adopters with extensive travel time, if required. Please call 206-296-3936 to set up a temporary hold.
  4. Check in at the Pet Adoption Center. Please bring your own hard plastic carriers for the cats to go home in, and be prepared to review a short barn cat adoption tutorial with our staff.

Pet Adoption FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Animal type Adoption fee*
Cats (six months or older) $30
Kittens (younger than six months) $100
Dogs (six months or older) $100 to $250
Puppies (younger than six months) $100 to $250
Rabbits, birds, rodents, and other animals Varies by species

* Adoption fees may vary based on special promotions, events, etc.

The adoption fee includes everything a pet will need for a great start in its new home:

  • Spay or neuter surgery by RASKC veterinary team
  • King County pet license (if applicable)
  • Microchipping (for cats and dogs)
  • Initial vaccinations (including rabies if pet is over four months old)
  • 30 days of free, opt-in pet health insurance from Trupanion
  • Collar
  • Temporary carrier (for cats)
  • Temporary leash (for dogs)
  • GoodPup Training (for dogs)
    • RASKC adopters get the first session FREE plus a 10% discount offer for life!

While adopting a pet from RASKC is always a great value, it's a good idea to consider the other costs of owning a pet. Additional expenses for a new pet may include food and water bowls, toys, bedding, training supplies, litter box for cats, and leash and harness for dogs. Ongoing expenses can include food, litter, grooming, flea prevention, vaccinations, and other medical expenses.

Our RASKC animals are spread throughout King County, thanks to our great community!

While we have animals at the Pet Adoption Center and/or partner stores, we also have animals that require special, one-on-one attention. Due to the various needs - ranging from medical, socialization, or behavioral - these pets are placed with foster volunteers who open up their homes and hearts to provide temporary care. Therefore, the adoption process is different, depending on the location of the animal. You can learn about the different adoption paths in the section above.

Adoptions at partner stores are coordinated on a "first-come, first-served" basis. You can view animals that are at our partner store adoption centers online either by using the filter function and searching by location or by noting their location in the individual animal's bio.

All adoption paperwork and payment will be taken care of at the time of adoption with the partner store representative.

Partner Store Locations

Yes! Our adoption team will do everything they can to help ensure success for you and your new family member. However, we understand that sometimes an adoption may not work out as planned. If you need to bring your new pet back for any reason, you can return your pet to RASKC at any time. If your return is within 90 days of the adoption, we will refund your adoption fee.

  • We welcome adopters who live with people and pets of all ages
  • We welcome adopters of all lifestyles and backgrounds, including those who rent
  • We welcome the giving of pets as gifts
  • We stand by our adoption guarantee
  • Adopters must be 18 years of age or older and be able to provide a photo ID
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