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Adopt a Pet

Adopt

About Adoption

Browse Available Animals:

Or, submit a general application. If you see an animal you love later, call us at (717) 764-6109 to tell us which animal you're interested in. 

Adoption Fees

Dogs and Cats

Included in the adoption fee are microchipping, vaccinations, relevant testing, and spaying/ neutering the pet.

Dogs
Age/ Size Price
Six Months or Younger $275
Adult, Small Dogs (25 lbs. or less) $275
Adult, Large Dogs (Older than 7 months and more than 25 lbs.) $150
Cats
Age Price
Kittens (Six months or younger) $150
Adults (7 months or older) $100
Working Cat $0

Small Animals and Other Pets

Animal Average Price
Rabbit $50
Ferret $50
Chincilla $50
Guinea Pig $30
Rodent $10
Bird Variable
Reptile Variable

Canine Adoption Policy

  • Purpose
    This policy aims to standardize the canine adoption process to ensure fair and equal access to all York County SPCA (YCSPCA) dogs.

    Scope
    This policy applies to members of the public and volunteers. This policy applies to all dogs. It does not apply to cats, rabbits, or other adoptable species.

    Policy Elements
    The following procedure will apply to all canine adoptions to ensure a manageable and consistent adoption process.

    General Interest in Adoption
    Every dog at the YCSPCA deserves a loving, permanent home. If you have made the lifesaving decision to adopt a pet, please complete the YCSPCA’s adoption questionnaire. Once a member of our team approves your adoption questionnaire, please visit our website to view all dogs that are available for adoption. Visit www.ycspca.org/adopt for more information.

    Dog Specific Adoption
    To adopt a specific animal from the York County SPCA, you must first be approved for adoption. Once approved, you can select from one of the dogs that are currently available for adoption or keep checking our website and social media pages until you see an animal that tugs at your heartstrings. An approved adoption questionnaire will be valid for one year and must be renewed yearly if your desire to adopt continues.

    • Approved adopters can indicate their interest in adopting a specific dog through the following communication channels:
    • If you are completing an adoption application online, you can indicate your interest in a specific dog on your adoption application. We prioritize applicants who are already approved for adoption.
    • Call and leave us a message. Our phone number is (717) 764-6109 ext 101. When you call, please include your name, phone number, and the dog you are interested in. Due to high call volumes and limited staffing capabilities, we cannot always answer the phone.
    • In-person notification. The YCSPCA is open for public browsing Tuesday through Thursday and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    Dog Adoption Waiting List
    Although every dog at the York County SPCA is terrific and deserves a loving permanent home, “highly adoptable” dogs often get multiple adoption inquiries. Highly adoptable dogs are typically younger and smaller-breed dogs. Demand for highly adoptable dogs increases when there is a limited number of available dogs in the shelter.

    Once the YCSPCA makes the dog available for adoption, the status change will appear on our website in real-time. Over time, the available dog will also be posted on Petfinder and our social media channels. We encourage eager adopters to regularly check our website and social media because new animals are posted frequently.

    The York County SPCA WILL NOT hold dogs for any member of the public. We operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. We will place up to three adopters on each available dog before we update the dog's status to not available, and the dog’s bio will be removed from our website. Only the first potential adopter will be scheduled to meet the dog. If the first adopter withdraws interest, we will move on to the second. If the second adopter withdraws interest, we will move on to the third. If no match is made from the dog’s initial adoption waiting list, the dog will be made available again and reposted to our communication channels, and the first-come, first-approved process will resume.

Working Cat Adoptions

The Working Cat Program is for cats not suited to a strictly indoor life. Working Cats would love to spend their lives at barns, farms, warehouses, wineries, garden centers, and other places of business with dedicated human caretakers. For more information, visit our Working Cats page.

Buy One Get One Free Adoptions

Cats and Small Animal adoptions are always buy one, get one free! 

Long Termer Adoptions

Adoption fees are always waived for animals who have been in our care for more than three months. 

Adoption Process

Our website lists all available animals. Adoption questionnaires can be submitted online directly from an animal's profile or as a general adoption application.

A staff member will contact you using the information provided to review your adoption questionnaire. Once the questionnaire is reviewed, a meet (adoption appointment) can be scheduled between the pet and the potential adopter. We operate on a first-come, first-serve basis and take up to three approved adopters for each animal. Only the first approved adopter will be scheduled for a meet. If the first adopter decides not to adopt, we will move on to the second and so on. 

If you cannot complete the form online, please call 717-764-6109 or visit the shelter during our public browsing hours to complete a questionnaire.

We are open for public browsing hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We are open for scheduled adoption appointments every day of the week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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