How does the adoption program work?
Our shelter is open to the public from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday. We can give visitors a tour of our facility, and introduce them to kitties who will be a good fit for their home, based on several questions, such as “do you already have pets?” and “how many people live in your home?” You can find our adoption applican here: https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/HERM/Cat
On our application we ask about your current and past pets, whether you have a veterinarian currently, and if your landlord will allow you to have pets (if you rent). We also ask for personal references; they must be over the age of 18, and cannot live with you. We will perform a background check, contact your references, and if you rent, you can provide us with a copy of your pet addendum.
Please note the background check is integral to our process, and we will speak with you if anything come up on it that concerns us. Non-resident students, persons with a history of domestic violence or violence against animals, and those students in student housing will be denied. Under no circumstances can a Hermitage cat ever be declawed—this will put you in breach of contract with us, and we will reclaim the kitty.
We have an adoption contract that you must sign before you can take your new kitty home; we also provide a “cheat sheet” of vaccinations, letting you know when your cat was vaccinated, so you and your vet can plan for future boosters. We will discuss transition with you to help you and your kitty. We are also available to answer questions about your new kitty, so don’t hesitate to call us.
All of our cats are vaccinated appropriately for age, microchipped, spayed or neutered and if over 6 months SNAP tested (for FIV/FeLV) before they are available for adoption.