Wadena County Humane Society

The Wadena County Humane has an adoption process to assist in matching the animal with the right home, for both the pet and owner.
1. Call 218-632-5938 to check the status of a pet(s) you are interested and to ask questions before making a long drive.
2. Staff may encourage you to place a “hold” on a dog until you can come in. More info on that below!
3. Spend time with the pet!
4. If you have other dogs over the age of 6 months, we will conduct a meet and greet for your dog and a WCHS adoptable dog at our shelter.
5. Complete the adoption application found on our website wadenacountyhumanesociety.org at the bottom of the Adoption FAQs page. (We recommend doing this ahead of time if you are driving a distance.)
6. Once approved, we will go over vaccination history and discuss best practices to assist your pet’s transition to a new home.
7. Sign legal contract acknowledging your responsibilities to your new pet. Pup or kitty goes home with you! In some cases, we send an animal home while we await their spay/neuter surgery. In this case, we will schedule for you to bring the pet to the appointment before we transfer ownership.

Hold Policy: A $50 plus tax hold guarantees you will be first in line to meet and adopt a pet who is not yet ready to go home or who you want us to hold onto for a day or two until you can visit. If you adopt the hold goes toward the adoption fee. If you decide not to adopt it is consideration a donation to our shelter animal.

*We aim to do same day adoptions providing a manager is present or has provided verbal approval to WCHS staff. That stated, at staff discretion, we may ask for an additional 24-48 hour wait to further review your application and whether the animal may be a good fit with your family. If you are driving a distance we encourage you to submit an application online before visiting (accessible at the bottom of this page).

Each animal has been examined and medicated for any internal or external parasites and started with basic immunizations. Additionally, all cats available for adoption have been tested negative for Feline Leukemia. Your adoption contract will require you to neuter or spay an adopted animal if it has not already been done. There are animals that have already been neutered or spayed that are available for adoption as well. Sexually mature animals are neutered or spayed before leaving the shelter.