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We are rescue friendly. If you are a rescue organization and would like to pull animals from our shelter, please call us at: 301-600-1546 ext. 0.
We are the only animal shelter for Frederick County, Maryland. We take in unwanted pets from Frederick County residents only. We also take in strays with hopes of reuniting them with their owner.
We will adopt to out of county residents and out of state residents, but we do NOT ship our pets. We require prospective adopters to fill out the appropriate application to be considered for adoption. There is no application fee.
Frederick County Animal Control's adoption process
1.
Submit Application
Our application can be found on our website at:
https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/114/Adopt
Submit by email or deliver to shelter.
2.
Visit the Facility and Find a Pet
We accept up to 2 applications per animal except dogs. We accept up to 4 applications per dog.
3.
Approve Application
All household pets must be current on their rabies vaccine. Proof is required.
4.
Interview
Our adoption interviews are by phone or in person. Our interviews go over everything there is to know about the animal you are adopting.
Additional adoption info
All dogs and cats are vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed/neutered prior to adoption. Our rabbits are also spayed/neutered prior to adoption. We often have other animals for adoption such as: guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, ferrets, etc.
DOG FEES INCLUDE: neutering/spaying, initial distemper & bordetella vaccination, rabies vaccination (or voucher), microchip/registration, HW test, vet health exam and county license.
Dogs 1 year to 5 years = $92.50
Puppies 8 weeks to 1 year = $150.00 **Note: we will only adopt 1 puppy per household**
Dogs 5 - 9 years of age = $72.50
Dogs 10+ years of age = $52.50
CAT FEES INCLUDE: neutering/spaying, initial distemper vaccination, microchip/registration, rabies vaccination (or voucher), FeLV/FIV test and county license.
Cats under 5 years old = $97.50
Cats 5 -9 years of age = $77.50
Cats 10+ years of age = $57.50
**Note: we will adopt no more than 2 cats at a time**
Cats are litter trained in the shelter or in foster care unless otherwise noted.
All dogs and cats are vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed/neutered prior to adoption. Our rabbits are also spayed/neutered prior to adoption. We often have other animals for adoption such as: guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, ferrets, etc.
DOG FEES INCLUDE: neutering/spaying, initial distemper & bordetella vaccination, rabies vaccination (or voucher), microchip/registration, HW test, vet health exam and county license.
Dogs 1 year to 5 years = $92.50
Puppies 8 weeks to 1 year = $150.00 **Note: we will only adopt 1 puppy per household**
Dogs 5 - 9 years of age = $72.50
Dogs 10+ years of age = $52.50
CAT FEES INCLUDE: neutering/spaying, initial distemper vaccination, microchip/registration, rabies vaccination (or voucher), FeLV/FIV test and county license.
Cats under 5 years old = $97.50
Cats 5 -9 years of age = $77.50
Cats 10+ years of age = $57.50
**Note: we will adopt no more than 2 cats at a time**
Cats are litter trained in the shelter or in foster care unless otherwise noted.
Submit an adoption application by email prior to your visit. If you would like to bring the application with you to your visit, that is acceptable.
The application can be found at: https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/114/Adopt
Schedule a reservation to meet our pets at: visitfcac.as.me. Each family member needs their own reservation. For example: if 3 people are are in your party, 3 individual reservations must be made. Feel free to call us if you need assistance.
If you are interested in a cat or small animal, meeting the animal prior to adoption is not necessary but encouraged.
If you are interested in adopting a dog, we require all household members to meet the dog prior to adopting. If you have a dog(s) in your household, a meet and greet is required.
We do not do same-day adoptions. Our adoptions are scheduled and an interview is required (by phone or in person). The adoption process can take 3-5 days depending on the individual person/family and our availability.
Submit an adoption application by email prior to your visit. If you would like to bring the application with you to your visit, that is acceptable.
The application can be found at: https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/114/Adopt
Schedule a reservation to meet our pets at: visitfcac.as.me. Each family member needs their own reservation. For example: if 3 people are are in your party, 3 individual reservations must be made. Feel free to call us if you need assistance.
If you are interested in a cat or small animal, meeting the animal prior to adoption is not necessary but encouraged.
If you are interested in adopting a dog, we require all household members to meet the dog prior to adopting. If you have a dog(s) in your household, a meet and greet is required.
We do not do same-day adoptions. Our adoptions are scheduled and an interview is required (by phone or in person). The adoption process can take 3-5 days depending on the individual person/family and our availability.
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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.
