Meet June Bug, a delightful and playful companion! This charming cat loves to frolic with dogs and happily transitions between indoor and outdoor adventures. She'll follow you everywhere, offering sweet chirps as she seeks your attention. Though she may be a bit timid at first, her affection and love will quickly win you over. Once you earn her trust, you’ll enjoy the warmth of her companionship! Does NOT like being picked up.
ADOPTION FEE: LOCAL $65 NON-LOCAL $100
All animals can go home the same day as adoption. We will need your photo ID, and you will sign some documents. Adopters will also receive a copy of the animal's medical history to date. We do not do an application process. All adoptions are first-come, first-served. We do not offer holds. All cats must leave in a carrier. If you need one, you can purchase it from us.
Meet June Bug, a delightful and playful companion! This charming cat loves to frolic with dogs and happily transitions between indoor and outdoor adventures. She'll follow you everywhere, offering sweet chirps as she seeks your attention. Though she may be a bit timid at first, her affection and love will quickly win you over. Once you earn her trust, you’ll enjoy the warmth of her companionship! Does NOT like being picked up.
ADOPTION FEE: LOCAL $65 NON-LOCAL $100
All animals can go home the same day as adoption. We will need your photo ID, and you will sign some documents. Adopters will also receive a copy of the animal's medical history to date. We do not do an application process. All adoptions are first-come, first-served. We do not offer holds. All cats must leave in a carrier. If you need one, you can purchase it from us.
For those interested in adopting from us, we offer 4 options for all animals over 6 months of age.
Home Trial for 1 week
Immediate Adoption
Foster to Adopt
Golden Adopter
*All puppies and kittens 6 months or younger are not available for the home trial option.
Adoption Fees
Our adoption fee structure differs from most shelters or rescues. The fee structure reflects a discount for our Rush County residents, as a portion of their county taxes covers the costs associated with adopting animals out. Scroll further down for frequently asked questions regarding our adoption policy to further understand the why behind our fees.
We only allow adoptions of animals not already spayed or neutered to Rush County residents, except for a Golden Adopter. Scroll down to read more about how to qualify as a Golden Adopter. This restriction is in place because we cannot enforce impoundment of an animal that does not return for its scheduled spay or neuter appointment. Already fixed animals, or if you qualify as a Golden Adopter, can be adopted by anyone from anywhere.
A LOCAL adopter is determined by their Photo ID that shows they are a Rush County Resident. A NON-LOCAL adopter is anyone who does not live in Rush County.
LOCAL ADOPTERS
Cats OVER 4 months old $65
Kittens UNDER 4 months old $100
2 Cats Package OVER 4 months old $95
2 Kittens Package UNDER 4 months old $150
Dogs OVER 4 months old $100
Puppies UNDER 4 months old $140
Bonded Pair Cats and Dogs required to be adopted together, OVER 4 months old, Cats $65
Dogs $100
*We do not encourage adoptions of multiple puppies; we will not offer a discount package
NON-LOCAL ADOPTERS
Cats OVER 4 months old $100
Kittens UNDER 4 months old $140
2 Cat Package OVER 4 months old $150
2 Kitten Package UNDER 4 months old $210
Dogs OVER 4 months old $140
Puppies UNDER 4 months old $190
Bonded Pair Cats and Dogs required to be adopted together, OVER 4 months old, Cats $100
Dogs $140
*We do not encourage adoptions of multiple puppies; we will not offer a discount package
OTHER ADOPTION PACKAGES
The following adoption fee packages are available to anyone, anywhere, and are not determined by whether you are a Rush County Resident. The only restriction is that if the animal(s) are not already fixed, only a Rush County Resident can adopt, unless they qualify as a Golden Adopter. Photo ID is required to provide proof of Senior Citizen age and Military Service.
Senior Citizen (65+) Cats and Dogs 3 years or older $25
Military Service Cats and Dogs 3 years or older $25
Barn/Shop Cats restricted to working homes, but are friendly and 6 months or older, $25
Golden Age Pets, Cats, and Dogs 8 years or older FREE
Feral / TNR Wild/Unsocialized FREE
WHAT YOUR ADOPTION FEE PAYS FOR:
Adopters will receive a printout of the animal's medical history at the time of adoption.
All dogs/puppies will receive the following from us before adoption
At least one Distemper/Parvo vaccination
Bordatella vaccination
A Rabies vaccination if they are 3 months or older at the time of their spay or neuter
Flea Prevention
Intestinal Parasite Prevention or Treatment
Heartworm Test for animals over 6 months of age
Lifetime Registration Microchip (PetLink) if not already microchipped
Spay and Neuter Surgery
All cats/kittens will receive the following from us before adoption
At least one FVRCP vaccination
A Rabies vaccination if they are 3 months or older at the time of their spay or neuter
Flea Prevention
At least one dewormer treatment with 3 different dewormers
Lifetime Registration Microchip (PetLink) if not already microchipped
Spay and Neuter Surgery
All feral/tnr cats will receive the following
Due to feral cats being by nature not safe to touch, we are unable to microchip them.
Spay or Neuter Surgery
3-year rabies vaccination
1 dose of flea treatment applied during surgery
Left Ear-Tip (1/4 ear tip removed)
Adoption Requirements
We do not have an application process; all adoptions are first-come, first-served. We do not offer holds.
Adopters can be from any county or state *with restrictions
You will need a photo ID
You will need to be 18 years or older
All cats MUST leave in a carrier
We do sell collapsible fabric cat carriers for $20 and Cardboard Carriers for $5
Cash, Check, and Card are accepted for payment (card has a 3% fee)
We do accept and encourage monetary donations above and beyond the adoption fee to cover the costs of adoption benefits and spaying/neutering for animals.
What is the Adoption Process?
For all adoptions, visit our shelter anytime during open hours to meet our available animals. If you would like your dog(s) at home to do a meet-and-greet before bringing a new dog home, bring them with you. We do not require an appointment for dog-to-dog meet-and-greets. Note that we may require some of the dogs we have available meet your dog(s) first.
Already fixed:
For already fixed animals, the process is very simple. Anyone, anywhere, can adopt our fixed animals. You will sign the adoption contract, receive the medical history for that animal, and take them home the same day. You can read what the document says here: Adoption Contract
.
Not already fixed:
For our available animals, the process is a little more complicated. We do restrict adoption of these animals to Rush County Residents Only, unless you qualify for Golden Adopter – scroll a little further for more information.
Adopters will follow a Foster-to-Adopt process. The adopter can take the pet home the same day, but they will need to bring the pet back on a scheduled day for their spay or neuter appointment. During this time frame, the adopter will be fully responsible for the pet as if it were legally theirs, but they will not have legal ownership of the animal. The Rushville Animal Shelter will maintain legal ownership of the animal until the pet's spay or neuter is complete, as evidenced by the microchip being registered to our shelter. You can read what the document says here: Foster to Adopt
The adopter will also sign a surgery packet. This packet covers the risks involved during boarding, transportation, at the clinic, and during the surgery itself. You can read what the document says here: Surgery Packet.
The adoption fee will be due at the time these documents are signed.
The return date for the pet will be set for the day before the appointment, between 10 am and 4:30 pm. It will be a quick process: just let us know the animal's shelter name and hand the pet over. Anyone, friend or family, can do the drop-off appointment.
Picking the pet up after their surgery is complete will be scheduled for the day after the surgery appointment, between 10 am and 4:30 pm. For the pickup, we will need the adopter(s) to be present and allow time to complete the adoption step. The adopter will sign the adoption contract, go over the post-surgery instructions, and receive the pet's medical history documents. Once this is complete, the adopter will now have legal ownership of the pet.
If, during the Foster to Adopt period, you need the pet to be seen by a veterinarian, you can have the veterinarian's clinic request the medical history directly from us.
Golden adopter Program
The Golden Adopter Program is for those who prefer their adopted pet to be spayed or neutered at their full-service veterinarian clinic, rather than at the clinic we use.
Golden Adopters do not have to be Rush County residents to adopt an unfixed animal.
To qualify as a Golden Adopter, you will need to provide the following at the time of adoption:
Show documented proof of vet care for other animals in current care, such as with receipts or other medical care documents, OR
Provide a letter written by your veterinarian documenting that you are an active client in good standing
Golden Adopters will also follow a Foster-to-Adopt process, except for bringing the pet back to the shelter for the spay or neuter appointment, and you will receive the medical history of the animal before leaving.
The adopter can take the pet home the same day. During this time frame, the adopter will be fully responsible for the pet as if it were legally theirs, but they will not have legal ownership of the animal. The Rushville Animal Shelter will maintain legal ownership of the animal until thepet'ss spay or neuter is complete, as evidenced by the microchip being registered to our shelter. You can read what the document says here: Foster to Adopt Golden Adopter.
The adoption fee will be due upon signing the agreement. This fee WILL NOT be refunded or treated as a deposit. If there is any part of the fee that wasn't used on your specific adopted animal, it will instead be forwarded to cover the costs of other animals. The reason we will handle the adoption fee this way is that we are placing a lot of trust in the Golden Adopter to follow through with the spay and neuter surgery, which may be done much further in the future, as recommended by your veterinarian.
The Golden Adopter will be required to have their adopted pet examined by their veterinarian within 30 days, and at that exam, schedule the spay or neuter. You will need to provide proof of the spay or neuter appointment to us by dropping it off at the shelter, mailing or emailing a copy, or through Facebook Messenger.
Once the spay or neuter appointment has passed, we will contact your veterinarian's clinic for confirmation. Once we receive confirmation, we will then change the ownership on the microchip from the Rushville Animal Shelter to the adopter.
WHAT CLINIC DOES THE SHELTER USE?
Primarily, we will use the Low-Cost Spay Neuter Clinic for spays and neuters. We have an agreement with them where they will send their transport van to the shelter once a month to collect the animals from us and return them that evening to our shelter. We have 40 spots available for this appointment, so we should be able to schedule animals quickly. If there is any delay beyond 30 days until an appointment, it will likely be due to kittens not being 3 pounds or more by the first available appointment, or to the height of the summer kitten season, or simply having too many animals to schedule at once.
Occasionally, as appointments are available, we may have Buck Creek Veterinarian Clinic perform spays and neuters for us. As they are a very busy clinic, they cannot always be available to us in this manner. Generally, if we have Buck Creek perform the surgery, we will do this for animals that are not in a Foster to Adopt status.
We will also, on occasion, use the Indy Humane Downtown Clinic if we feel a female animal needs to be spayed sooner than the earliest available spot at the Low Cost Clinic. Again, we generally use them for animals that are not in Foster-to-Adopt status.
Who is available for adoption?
We encourage anyone considering adoption to stop by our shelter during our visiting hours. There are many times we have cleared animals for adoption, but have not posted them yet, and they are adopted within minutes of someone just stopping by.
We post regularly on our Facebook page, Rushville Animal Shelter, about who is available for adoption.
We also post regularly and update our page on Adopt A Pe.t
FAQ on our adoption policies
Why are the animals not always spayed or neutered before they are available for adoption?
There are a few reasons why we are unable to fulfill this expectation. One is that we are an animal control facility and need to be able to take animals in without notice and have kennels available for them at all times. We also accept owner-surrendered animals from our Rush County residents, and we do not charge a fee for surrendering or turning them away. So, to always keep kennels open, we need animals to move out as quickly as possible to their adopted homes.
Unfortunately, we do not have many local spay-and-neuter options that offer affordable prices and can handle large numbers of animals in a very short period of time. So our only option is to use the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic's transport bus, which picks up and drops off shelter animals directly at the shelter. But this is offered only once a month and for 40 spots.
We also want to keep the animals as mentally and physically healthy as possible by not keeping them at the shelter longer than necessary.
To balance everything, we are using the Foster-to-Adopt method. But, we do have the goal of one day being able to have all animals fixed before they are placed up for adoption. We are just not there yet.
How do you determine the adoption fees?
Aside from offering a reduced fee to Rush County residents due to their local tax support, we set the adoption fee based on the average cost we incur per animal placed for adoption.
Contrary to some beliefs, we do not get medications, vaccinations, or services for free. We may receive discounts in some cases, but generally we pay what the public pays, especially for spaying and neutering.
The average cost WE PAY for CATS is the following:
FVRCP Vaccination, 3 different dewormers, flea prevention, and microchip: $21.99
Rabies Vaccination: $25
Average cost of spay or neuter: $87.50
Total average cost we pay to get cats ready for adoption: $134.49
The average cost WE PAY for DOGS is the following:
DA2PPV vaccine, Bordetella vaccine, 2 different dewormers, flea prevention, microchip, and heartworm test: $27.99
Rabies vaccination: $25
Average cost of spay or neuter: $133.33
Total average cost we pay to get dogs ready for adoption: $186.32
*Costs can swing up or down depending on the increase in pricing for medications, vaccinations, and clinics. For dogs, the cost of spaying or neutering ranges from $100 to $160, depending on the ddog'sweight and sex.
As you can see, when compared to the adoption fee, in many cases, the money adopters pay is half to three-quarters of the costs we invested in each animal. If there is any "profit" from an adoption, it is quickly absorbed by another animal.
How does the shelter afford the costs?
We depend on our local Rush County property taxes to fund our yearly budget, and the costs are only increasing each year.
To help stretch the dollars we get from taxes, we charge an adoption fee to share the costs with the adopter.
We will also cover costs with the funds received from monetary donations. But again, the adoption fee helps us stretch our dollars as much as possible.
Why are kittens and puppies under 4 months old more?
Puppies and Kittens are cute and small, making them more highly desirable than their adult counterparts. Every individual has their reasons for wanting to adopt the young ones. But because they are highly desirable to the community, the adults tend to remain in the shelter longer. To encourage adopters to consider adopting an older animal, we offer a lower adoption fee.
Are there any other discounts on adoption fees?
Aside from our set adoption fees, yes, there will be times when the fee will be discounted. We accept sponsorship donations to either lower the adoption fee or have the adoption FREE. We will also still participate in adoption events that offer a discounted adoption fee. And most importantly, we automatically apply a reduction to the adoption fee based on how long the animal has been with us. The longer the animal is in the shelter, the cheaper their adoption fee. Ultimately, our goal is to find homes for all the animals available for adoption, but we also need to balance the costs related to getting that animal prepared for adoption.
Are you able to offer the shelter's spay-neuter slots to the public?
At this time, those slots are reserved for animals currently at the shelter or under a Foster-to-Adopt agreement. If you need a low-cost spay-neuter option, please visit our Low-Cost Spay-Neuter Options page. The Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic offers a separate public transport service that picks up and drops off at CVS in Rushville.
For those interested in adopting from us, we offer 4 options for all animals over 6 months of age.
Home Trial for 1 week
Immediate Adoption
Foster to Adopt
Golden Adopter
*All puppies and kittens 6 months or younger are not available for the home trial option.
Adoption Fees
Our adoption fee structure differs from most shelters or rescues. The fee structure reflects a discount for our Rush County residents, as a portion of their county taxes covers the costs associated with adopting animals out. Scroll further down for frequently asked questions regarding our adoption policy to further understand the why behind our fees.
We only allow adoptions of animals not already spayed or neutered to Rush County residents, except for a Golden Adopter. Scroll down to read more about how to qualify as a Golden Adopter. This restriction is in place because we cannot enforce impoundment of an animal that does not return for its scheduled spay or neuter appointment. Already fixed animals, or if you qualify as a Golden Adopter, can be adopted by anyone from anywhere.
A LOCAL adopter is determined by their Photo ID that shows they are a Rush County Resident. A NON-LOCAL adopter is anyone who does not live in Rush County.
LOCAL ADOPTERS
Cats OVER 4 months old $65
Kittens UNDER 4 months old $100
2 Cats Package OVER 4 months old $95
2 Kittens Package UNDER 4 months old $150
Dogs OVER 4 months old $100
Puppies UNDER 4 months old $140
Bonded Pair Cats and Dogs required to be adopted together, OVER 4 months old, Cats $65
Dogs $100
*We do not encourage adoptions of multiple puppies; we will not offer a discount package
NON-LOCAL ADOPTERS
Cats OVER 4 months old $100
Kittens UNDER 4 months old $140
2 Cat Package OVER 4 months old $150
2 Kitten Package UNDER 4 months old $210
Dogs OVER 4 months old $140
Puppies UNDER 4 months old $190
Bonded Pair Cats and Dogs required to be adopted together, OVER 4 months old, Cats $100
Dogs $140
*We do not encourage adoptions of multiple puppies; we will not offer a discount package
OTHER ADOPTION PACKAGES
The following adoption fee packages are available to anyone, anywhere, and are not determined by whether you are a Rush County Resident. The only restriction is that if the animal(s) are not already fixed, only a Rush County Resident can adopt, unless they qualify as a Golden Adopter. Photo ID is required to provide proof of Senior Citizen age and Military Service.
Senior Citizen (65+) Cats and Dogs 3 years or older $25
Military Service Cats and Dogs 3 years or older $25
Barn/Shop Cats restricted to working homes, but are friendly and 6 months or older, $25
Golden Age Pets, Cats, and Dogs 8 years or older FREE
Feral / TNR Wild/Unsocialized FREE
WHAT YOUR ADOPTION FEE PAYS FOR:
Adopters will receive a printout of the animal's medical history at the time of adoption.
All dogs/puppies will receive the following from us before adoption
At least one Distemper/Parvo vaccination
Bordatella vaccination
A Rabies vaccination if they are 3 months or older at the time of their spay or neuter
Flea Prevention
Intestinal Parasite Prevention or Treatment
Heartworm Test for animals over 6 months of age
Lifetime Registration Microchip (PetLink) if not already microchipped
Spay and Neuter Surgery
All cats/kittens will receive the following from us before adoption
At least one FVRCP vaccination
A Rabies vaccination if they are 3 months or older at the time of their spay or neuter
Flea Prevention
At least one dewormer treatment with 3 different dewormers
Lifetime Registration Microchip (PetLink) if not already microchipped
Spay and Neuter Surgery
All feral/tnr cats will receive the following
Due to feral cats being by nature not safe to touch, we are unable to microchip them.
Spay or Neuter Surgery
3-year rabies vaccination
1 dose of flea treatment applied during surgery
Left Ear-Tip (1/4 ear tip removed)
Adoption Requirements
We do not have an application process; all adoptions are first-come, first-served. We do not offer holds.
Adopters can be from any county or state *with restrictions
You will need a photo ID
You will need to be 18 years or older
All cats MUST leave in a carrier
We do sell collapsible fabric cat carriers for $20 and Cardboard Carriers for $5
Cash, Check, and Card are accepted for payment (card has a 3% fee)
We do accept and encourage monetary donations above and beyond the adoption fee to cover the costs of adoption benefits and spaying/neutering for animals.
What is the Adoption Process?
For all adoptions, visit our shelter anytime during open hours to meet our available animals. If you would like your dog(s) at home to do a meet-and-greet before bringing a new dog home, bring them with you. We do not require an appointment for dog-to-dog meet-and-greets. Note that we may require some of the dogs we have available meet your dog(s) first.
Already fixed:
For already fixed animals, the process is very simple. Anyone, anywhere, can adopt our fixed animals. You will sign the adoption contract, receive the medical history for that animal, and take them home the same day. You can read what the document says here: Adoption Contract
.
Not already fixed:
For our available animals, the process is a little more complicated. We do restrict adoption of these animals to Rush County Residents Only, unless you qualify for Golden Adopter – scroll a little further for more information.
Adopters will follow a Foster-to-Adopt process. The adopter can take the pet home the same day, but they will need to bring the pet back on a scheduled day for their spay or neuter appointment. During this time frame, the adopter will be fully responsible for the pet as if it were legally theirs, but they will not have legal ownership of the animal. The Rushville Animal Shelter will maintain legal ownership of the animal until the pet's spay or neuter is complete, as evidenced by the microchip being registered to our shelter. You can read what the document says here: Foster to Adopt
The adopter will also sign a surgery packet. This packet covers the risks involved during boarding, transportation, at the clinic, and during the surgery itself. You can read what the document says here: Surgery Packet.
The adoption fee will be due at the time these documents are signed.
The return date for the pet will be set for the day before the appointment, between 10 am and 4:30 pm. It will be a quick process: just let us know the animal's shelter name and hand the pet over. Anyone, friend or family, can do the drop-off appointment.
Picking the pet up after their surgery is complete will be scheduled for the day after the surgery appointment, between 10 am and 4:30 pm. For the pickup, we will need the adopter(s) to be present and allow time to complete the adoption step. The adopter will sign the adoption contract, go over the post-surgery instructions, and receive the pet's medical history documents. Once this is complete, the adopter will now have legal ownership of the pet.
If, during the Foster to Adopt period, you need the pet to be seen by a veterinarian, you can have the veterinarian's clinic request the medical history directly from us.
Golden adopter Program
The Golden Adopter Program is for those who prefer their adopted pet to be spayed or neutered at their full-service veterinarian clinic, rather than at the clinic we use.
Golden Adopters do not have to be Rush County residents to adopt an unfixed animal.
To qualify as a Golden Adopter, you will need to provide the following at the time of adoption:
Show documented proof of vet care for other animals in current care, such as with receipts or other medical care documents, OR
Provide a letter written by your veterinarian documenting that you are an active client in good standing
Golden Adopters will also follow a Foster-to-Adopt process, except for bringing the pet back to the shelter for the spay or neuter appointment, and you will receive the medical history of the animal before leaving.
The adopter can take the pet home the same day. During this time frame, the adopter will be fully responsible for the pet as if it were legally theirs, but they will not have legal ownership of the animal. The Rushville Animal Shelter will maintain legal ownership of the animal until thepet'ss spay or neuter is complete, as evidenced by the microchip being registered to our shelter. You can read what the document says here: Foster to Adopt Golden Adopter.
The adoption fee will be due upon signing the agreement. This fee WILL NOT be refunded or treated as a deposit. If there is any part of the fee that wasn't used on your specific adopted animal, it will instead be forwarded to cover the costs of other animals. The reason we will handle the adoption fee this way is that we are placing a lot of trust in the Golden Adopter to follow through with the spay and neuter surgery, which may be done much further in the future, as recommended by your veterinarian.
The Golden Adopter will be required to have their adopted pet examined by their veterinarian within 30 days, and at that exam, schedule the spay or neuter. You will need to provide proof of the spay or neuter appointment to us by dropping it off at the shelter, mailing or emailing a copy, or through Facebook Messenger.
Once the spay or neuter appointment has passed, we will contact your veterinarian's clinic for confirmation. Once we receive confirmation, we will then change the ownership on the microchip from the Rushville Animal Shelter to the adopter.
WHAT CLINIC DOES THE SHELTER USE?
Primarily, we will use the Low-Cost Spay Neuter Clinic for spays and neuters. We have an agreement with them where they will send their transport van to the shelter once a month to collect the animals from us and return them that evening to our shelter. We have 40 spots available for this appointment, so we should be able to schedule animals quickly. If there is any delay beyond 30 days until an appointment, it will likely be due to kittens not being 3 pounds or more by the first available appointment, or to the height of the summer kitten season, or simply having too many animals to schedule at once.
Occasionally, as appointments are available, we may have Buck Creek Veterinarian Clinic perform spays and neuters for us. As they are a very busy clinic, they cannot always be available to us in this manner. Generally, if we have Buck Creek perform the surgery, we will do this for animals that are not in a Foster to Adopt status.
We will also, on occasion, use the Indy Humane Downtown Clinic if we feel a female animal needs to be spayed sooner than the earliest available spot at the Low Cost Clinic. Again, we generally use them for animals that are not in Foster-to-Adopt status.
Who is available for adoption?
We encourage anyone considering adoption to stop by our shelter during our visiting hours. There are many times we have cleared animals for adoption, but have not posted them yet, and they are adopted within minutes of someone just stopping by.
We post regularly on our Facebook page, Rushville Animal Shelter, about who is available for adoption.
We also post regularly and update our page on Adopt A Pe.t
FAQ on our adoption policies
Why are the animals not always spayed or neutered before they are available for adoption?
There are a few reasons why we are unable to fulfill this expectation. One is that we are an animal control facility and need to be able to take animals in without notice and have kennels available for them at all times. We also accept owner-surrendered animals from our Rush County residents, and we do not charge a fee for surrendering or turning them away. So, to always keep kennels open, we need animals to move out as quickly as possible to their adopted homes.
Unfortunately, we do not have many local spay-and-neuter options that offer affordable prices and can handle large numbers of animals in a very short period of time. So our only option is to use the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic's transport bus, which picks up and drops off shelter animals directly at the shelter. But this is offered only once a month and for 40 spots.
We also want to keep the animals as mentally and physically healthy as possible by not keeping them at the shelter longer than necessary.
To balance everything, we are using the Foster-to-Adopt method. But, we do have the goal of one day being able to have all animals fixed before they are placed up for adoption. We are just not there yet.
How do you determine the adoption fees?
Aside from offering a reduced fee to Rush County residents due to their local tax support, we set the adoption fee based on the average cost we incur per animal placed for adoption.
Contrary to some beliefs, we do not get medications, vaccinations, or services for free. We may receive discounts in some cases, but generally we pay what the public pays, especially for spaying and neutering.
The average cost WE PAY for CATS is the following:
FVRCP Vaccination, 3 different dewormers, flea prevention, and microchip: $21.99
Rabies Vaccination: $25
Average cost of spay or neuter: $87.50
Total average cost we pay to get cats ready for adoption: $134.49
The average cost WE PAY for DOGS is the following:
DA2PPV vaccine, Bordetella vaccine, 2 different dewormers, flea prevention, microchip, and heartworm test: $27.99
Rabies vaccination: $25
Average cost of spay or neuter: $133.33
Total average cost we pay to get dogs ready for adoption: $186.32
*Costs can swing up or down depending on the increase in pricing for medications, vaccinations, and clinics. For dogs, the cost of spaying or neutering ranges from $100 to $160, depending on the ddog'sweight and sex.
As you can see, when compared to the adoption fee, in many cases, the money adopters pay is half to three-quarters of the costs we invested in each animal. If there is any "profit" from an adoption, it is quickly absorbed by another animal.
How does the shelter afford the costs?
We depend on our local Rush County property taxes to fund our yearly budget, and the costs are only increasing each year.
To help stretch the dollars we get from taxes, we charge an adoption fee to share the costs with the adopter.
We will also cover costs with the funds received from monetary donations. But again, the adoption fee helps us stretch our dollars as much as possible.
Why are kittens and puppies under 4 months old more?
Puppies and Kittens are cute and small, making them more highly desirable than their adult counterparts. Every individual has their reasons for wanting to adopt the young ones. But because they are highly desirable to the community, the adults tend to remain in the shelter longer. To encourage adopters to consider adopting an older animal, we offer a lower adoption fee.
Are there any other discounts on adoption fees?
Aside from our set adoption fees, yes, there will be times when the fee will be discounted. We accept sponsorship donations to either lower the adoption fee or have the adoption FREE. We will also still participate in adoption events that offer a discounted adoption fee. And most importantly, we automatically apply a reduction to the adoption fee based on how long the animal has been with us. The longer the animal is in the shelter, the cheaper their adoption fee. Ultimately, our goal is to find homes for all the animals available for adoption, but we also need to balance the costs related to getting that animal prepared for adoption.
Are you able to offer the shelter's spay-neuter slots to the public?
At this time, those slots are reserved for animals currently at the shelter or under a Foster-to-Adopt agreement. If you need a low-cost spay-neuter option, please visit our Low-Cost Spay-Neuter Options page. The Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic offers a separate public transport service that picks up and drops off at CVS in Rushville.
We are a small, rural, city-funded shelter located in Rushville, Indiana.
We offer a safe solution for Rush County residents to surrender their pets or take in strays found in Rush County. This service is offered at no cost, and we will not turn away.
We also place surrendered animals up for adoption and approach each potential adoption with an open mind and focus on informing and educating adopters. We may say no if we feel the shelter animal, another animal, or a human being is at unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Our goal is to provide animals with a quality life and freedom from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, and stress.
We are a small, rural, city-funded shelter located in Rushville, Indiana.
We offer a safe solution for Rush County residents to surrender their pets or take in strays found in Rush County. This service is offered at no cost, and we will not turn away.
We also place surrendered animals up for adoption and approach each potential adoption with an open mind and focus on informing and educating adopters. We may say no if we feel the shelter animal, another animal, or a human being is at unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Our goal is to provide animals with a quality life and freedom from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, and stress.
More about this shelter
We are a tax-funded (municipal) animal shelter located in Rushville, Indiana. We provide full-service animal control within the city limits of Rushville and limited animal control service for those who live outside the city, but within Rush County. We do not turn away or charge a fee to surrender to our shelter. We only require that you are a Rush County resident and have a photo ID showing your address is within Rush County.
We are not NO KILL, we identify as LOW KILL. Which means we do not euthanize for time or space, but will for behavior or medical care beyond our means. We do not have a time limit; as long as an animal is happy and healthy, they are welcome to stay with us for as long as they need. We work with a large network of private rescues for animals that need more than we can provide. We are not a private organization, such as a Humane Society. We are a public service; we will be limited on what we can do regarding behavior or medical needs for animals. We do operate under a philosophy of 5 Freedoms. If we are unable to provide care to meet those 5 freedoms or find a rescue in a timely manner to take over care, we will euthanize so the animal does not suffer.
Our budget is determined by the City of Rushville City Council. We are required to operate within that budget to provide our core services. Anything we do outside those core services is limited to monetary or item donations. We rely heavily on our community for support, so we may do a little more.
For additional information, visit the tabs on this website, call us at 765-932-4754, email us at animalcontrol@cityofrushville.in.gov, message us through our Facebook page: Rushville Animal Shelter, or visit us during business hours.
OUR SHELTER PHILOSOPHY, PURPOSE, AND PRACTICE
Our Shelter Philosophy
Our Shelter’s Philosophy is to provide animals with a quality life while in our care. We apply the Five Freedoms principle to assess whether quality of life is being met.
Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
Freedom to express normal behavior
Freedom from fear and distress
We must answer “yes” to all five freedoms for each animal in order to determine if we are performing our duty of care for a quality of life while in a shelter environment. If we answer “no” to any of these freedoms, we must evaluate the animal’s individual situation and determine whether there is anything reasonable within our available resources to change the answer to “yes”. If we cannot reasonably provide all five freedoms, we must consider euthanasia as the best option for that animal.
Our Purpose
We are a public animal shelter primarily funded by tax dollars. Our duty is to serve our county residents
We do not turn any animal belonging to or found by a county resident no matter how much space is available, how much money is available, or the reason for surrender
We are compassionate and understanding; we do not openly judge those who are unable to or unwilling to meet the gold standards of animal care and responsibility deemed by those who have unlimited resources. Instead, we offer education and resources to help pet owners meet at least the basic needs and responsibilities of their pets.
Refer to the above Five Freedoms for guidance
When we can’t offer a service or solution, we do our best to help by identifying an option that may be helpful
Our Practice
We approach each potential adoption with an open mind and instead focus on informing and educating adopters. We may say no if we feel the shelter animal or another animal, or human being is at unreasonable risk of serious injury or death
Our goal is to provide excellent customer service to the public and volunteers
Our animal control goals are limited by the resources we have available, the restrictions of law, and our community partnerships, but we are to do our best to provide animal control services to the best of our ability while providing excellent customer service
All employees, volunteers, customers, and animals should feel safe at our shelter and out in the field
Euthanasia will be viewed as its meaning – a good death. Each euthanasia will be performed with compassion and respect for that animal’s reason. No one should feel judged for their decision to euthanize. Ending a life, no matter the reason, is a complicated and emotional decision; it is not taken lightly. The decision to euthanize will be based on 1 question: Is the alternative worse than death? There are many resources available to correct most reasons for euthanasia, but if those resources cannot be afforded, then the alternative is worse as the animal goes without.
We are a tax-funded (municipal) animal shelter located in Rushville, Indiana. We provide full-service animal control within the city limits of Rushville and limited animal control service for those who live outside the city, but within Rush County. We do not turn away or charge a fee to surrender to our shelter. We only require that you are a Rush County resident and have a photo ID showing your address is within Rush County.
We are not NO KILL, we identify as LOW KILL. Which means we do not euthanize for time or space, but will for behavior or medical care beyond our means. We do not have a time limit; as long as an animal is happy and healthy, they are welcome to stay with us for as long as they need. We work with a large network of private rescues for animals that need more than we can provide. We are not a private organization, such as a Humane Society. We are a public service; we will be limited on what we can do regarding behavior or medical needs for animals. We do operate under a philosophy of 5 Freedoms. If we are unable to provide care to meet those 5 freedoms or find a rescue in a timely manner to take over care, we will euthanize so the animal does not suffer.
Our budget is determined by the City of Rushville City Council. We are required to operate within that budget to provide our core services. Anything we do outside those core services is limited to monetary or item donations. We rely heavily on our community for support, so we may do a little more.
For additional information, visit the tabs on this website, call us at 765-932-4754, email us at animalcontrol@cityofrushville.in.gov, message us through our Facebook page: Rushville Animal Shelter, or visit us during business hours.
OUR SHELTER PHILOSOPHY, PURPOSE, AND PRACTICE
Our Shelter Philosophy
Our Shelter’s Philosophy is to provide animals with a quality life while in our care. We apply the Five Freedoms principle to assess whether quality of life is being met.
Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
Freedom to express normal behavior
Freedom from fear and distress
We must answer “yes” to all five freedoms for each animal in order to determine if we are performing our duty of care for a quality of life while in a shelter environment. If we answer “no” to any of these freedoms, we must evaluate the animal’s individual situation and determine whether there is anything reasonable within our available resources to change the answer to “yes”. If we cannot reasonably provide all five freedoms, we must consider euthanasia as the best option for that animal.
Our Purpose
We are a public animal shelter primarily funded by tax dollars. Our duty is to serve our county residents
We do not turn any animal belonging to or found by a county resident no matter how much space is available, how much money is available, or the reason for surrender
We are compassionate and understanding; we do not openly judge those who are unable to or unwilling to meet the gold standards of animal care and responsibility deemed by those who have unlimited resources. Instead, we offer education and resources to help pet owners meet at least the basic needs and responsibilities of their pets.
Refer to the above Five Freedoms for guidance
When we can’t offer a service or solution, we do our best to help by identifying an option that may be helpful
Our Practice
We approach each potential adoption with an open mind and instead focus on informing and educating adopters. We may say no if we feel the shelter animal or another animal, or human being is at unreasonable risk of serious injury or death
Our goal is to provide excellent customer service to the public and volunteers
Our animal control goals are limited by the resources we have available, the restrictions of law, and our community partnerships, but we are to do our best to provide animal control services to the best of our ability while providing excellent customer service
All employees, volunteers, customers, and animals should feel safe at our shelter and out in the field
Euthanasia will be viewed as its meaning – a good death. Each euthanasia will be performed with compassion and respect for that animal’s reason. No one should feel judged for their decision to euthanize. Ending a life, no matter the reason, is a complicated and emotional decision; it is not taken lightly. The decision to euthanize will be based on 1 question: Is the alternative worse than death? There are many resources available to correct most reasons for euthanasia, but if those resources cannot be afforded, then the alternative is worse as the animal goes without.
Other pets at this
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We'll also keep you updated on Fancy's adoption status with email updates.
