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The Dubuque Regional Humane Society (DRHS) is the public stray hold facility for the City of Dubuque, Jo Daviess County, and Dubuque County. This means if you found a stray or lost animal within the limits of the City of Dubuque, Jo Daviess County or the Dubuque County that you may bring the animal to the DRHS during our open hours of operation. However, citizens that find stray or lost animals in the municipalities of Asbury, Dyersville, Peosta, Epworth or Grant County, must contact local law enforcement to bring the stray or lost animal to our facility.
Dubuque Regional Humane Society's adoption process
1.
Visit the Facility and Find a Pet
2.
Meet the Pet
3.
Submit Application
4.
Approve Application
5.
Pay Fee
6.
Take the Pet Home
Additional adoption info
Each year the Dubuque Regional Humane Society (DRHS) helps find homes for over 2,700 lost, abandoned, neglected, rescued or surrendered companion animals the DRHS cares for annually. Our efforts wouldn’t be possible without our community believing in the mission of DRHS and promoting adoption. Adoption not only saves lives but builds families, creates unconditional friendships and promotes the benefits of the human-animal bond. If you are considering welcoming a new best friend into your heart and home, please opt to adopt.
ADOPTING FROM THE DRHS IS EASY!
First, take a look at out our current adoptable dogs, cats, and critters using our website. If it is love at first sight, double check by clicking on their photo to make sure they aren’t already on hold. If you don't find your newest family member please keep checking back as new adoptable animals are looking for homes on a daily basis.
Second, plan to visit to the DRHS' Kinsey's Campus to meet your potential new best friend. We recommend you spend at least 15 minutes getting to know each other and encourage you to ask any questions you may have about them.
Third, complete an adoption application form. We will assist you in evaluating your lifestyle in regards to the animal's needs, review your history of pet ownership and share with you the animal's records. Keep in mind, all adoptions take about 45 minutes to complete. The Dubuque Regional Humane Society has the right to refuse an adoption if it is in the best interest of the animal.
All adoptions from the Dubuque Regional Humane Society include the following:
Spay or neuter surgery
Deworming
First set of distemper shots
Flea and tick treatment
Rabies vaccines
Bordetella vaccination (dogs only)
Microchipping
A four-pound bag of dog or cat food courtesy of Theisen's Home Farm Auto and Hill's Science Diet Pet Food
Each year the Dubuque Regional Humane Society (DRHS) helps find homes for over 2,700 lost, abandoned, neglected, rescued or surrendered companion animals the DRHS cares for annually. Our efforts wouldn’t be possible without our community believing in the mission of DRHS and promoting adoption. Adoption not only saves lives but builds families, creates unconditional friendships and promotes the benefits of the human-animal bond. If you are considering welcoming a new best friend into your heart and home, please opt to adopt.
ADOPTING FROM THE DRHS IS EASY!
First, take a look at out our current adoptable dogs, cats, and critters using our website. If it is love at first sight, double check by clicking on their photo to make sure they aren’t already on hold. If you don't find your newest family member please keep checking back as new adoptable animals are looking for homes on a daily basis.
Second, plan to visit to the DRHS' Kinsey's Campus to meet your potential new best friend. We recommend you spend at least 15 minutes getting to know each other and encourage you to ask any questions you may have about them.
Third, complete an adoption application form. We will assist you in evaluating your lifestyle in regards to the animal's needs, review your history of pet ownership and share with you the animal's records. Keep in mind, all adoptions take about 45 minutes to complete. The Dubuque Regional Humane Society has the right to refuse an adoption if it is in the best interest of the animal.
All adoptions from the Dubuque Regional Humane Society include the following:
Spay or neuter surgery
Deworming
First set of distemper shots
Flea and tick treatment
Rabies vaccines
Bordetella vaccination (dogs only)
Microchipping
A four-pound bag of dog or cat food courtesy of Theisen's Home Farm Auto and Hill's Science Diet Pet Food
About Dubuque Regional Humane Society
The Dubuque Regional Humane Society (DRHS) is so much more than an animal shelter. It is an animal resource center that delivers upon the mission of protecting and promoting the well-being of companion animals by building lifelong bonds between pets and people through adoption, humane education, community outreach, and the prevention of cruelty. Operating as a 501(c)3 non-profit, open admission, no-kill shelter the DRHS provides critical medical and behavioral interventions and compassionate care for over 2,900 animals annually that are lost, abandoned, surrendered by owners, or rescued from neglect. Our commitment, in tandem with our community, which spans three counties in three states and backs our mission, creates pathways to new homes and brighter futures for 100% of the healthy, safe and treatable animals in our care. We could not be more thankful for the thousands of people each year who choose to complete their family with an animal from the Dubuque Regional Humane Society!
The Dubuque Regional Humane Society (DRHS) is so much more than an animal shelter. It is an animal resource center that delivers upon the mission of protecting and promoting the well-being of companion animals by building lifelong bonds between pets and people through adoption, humane education, community outreach, and the prevention of cruelty. Operating as a 501(c)3 non-profit, open admission, no-kill shelter the DRHS provides critical medical and behavioral interventions and compassionate care for over 2,900 animals annually that are lost, abandoned, surrendered by owners, or rescued from neglect. Our commitment, in tandem with our community, which spans three counties in three states and backs our mission, creates pathways to new homes and brighter futures for 100% of the healthy, safe and treatable animals in our care. We could not be more thankful for the thousands of people each year who choose to complete their family with an animal from the Dubuque Regional Humane Society!
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Support adoption and rescue. Why go to a dog breeder, cat breeder or pet store to buy a dog or buy a cat when you can adopt?
Why should you adopt?
Dog adoption and cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a dog or adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life.
What is the difference between adopting a dog, adopting a cat, adopting a kitten or adopting a puppy versus getting dogs for sale, cats for sale, puppies for sale or kittens for sale from a dog breeder or a cat breeder?
When someone is breeding puppies or breeding kittens, they are creating new dogs and cats who need homes. Some people are interested in a very specific breed of dog, cat, puppy or kitten and they think the only way to find that specific breed is to buy a dog for sale or buy a cat for sale from a puppy breeder or a kitten breeder. Yet animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats who must find homes.
So rather than buying a dog or puppy for sale from a dog breeder or buying a cat or kitten for sale from a cat breeder, we encourage people to adopt a dog, adopt a cat, adopt a puppy or adopt a kitten at their local animal shelter, SPCA, humane society or pet rescue group.
