Pet Adoption Experience
Oregon Humane’s Portland and Salem campuses are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Adoptions are on a first-come, first-served basis.
When you come to the shelter and see a pet you are interested in meeting, please take note of the pet’s name and visit the front desk in the lobby. Our Customer Care team will be happy to assist you with the next steps.
Due to the high volume of calls, we are unable to provide specific animal information over the phone. Please look at each individual animal’s profile to learn more. The best place to view the most up-to-date information is on our website.
Visit our Portland or Salem campuses between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily to view available pets in person—so many wonderful animals are here waiting for you! You can also view all adoptable animals on our website, which is updated with new pets every day.
Once you’ve found a pet you’re interested in meeting, take note of the pet’s name and visit the front desk in the lobby. We’ll have you fill out a brief questionnaire.
Save time and meet your new BFF sooner by filling out the questionnaire before visiting the shelter. Just let our staff know that you have already submitted your information and they can pull it up in our system.
Meet and greets are done on a first-come/first-served basis. Our goal is to get your meet and greet underway within 30 minutes, but wait times may vary—and they can get longer during the weekend—so we appreciate your patience. Be sure to allow ample time and have flexibility in your schedule when you visit.
To ensure that you are making the best possible decision for your home, we recommend that all parties involved in the care of the animal be present at the time of the meet and greet.
We do not offer cat-to-cat introductions, rabbit-to-rabbit introductions or interspecies introductions. We do encourage bringing your dog in to meet any dog you are considering adopting.
Get excited—you’re about to add so much joy to your life! Due to the volume of interested adopters, we do not offer holds on any animals at this time. For more information about what is included with your new pet’s adoption, please head on over to our Adoption Support page.
All adopted animals are required to go home with safety mechanisms in place. We require that all felines and small animals go home in a carrier. You can bring your carrier from home or we will send your new kitty or small animal home in a cardboard carrier.
All dogs and puppies are required to go home on leash, and we will safely secure them in your vehicle or rideshare for you.
Adoption Information
What sort of cat or dog is a right fit for your family or lifestyle?
We always recommend that potential pet parents ask themselves the following questions before starting their search for an adoptable pet:
- How will a new pet mesh with your lifestyle?
- What sort of qualities or personality are you looking for in a pet? Do those qualities align with your current lifestyle and household?
- Do you need permission from your landlord or homeowners association? Are there fees, deposits, or “pet rent” that must be paid?
How much does it cost to adopt an animal from Oregon Humane?
As an independent non-profit, Oregon Humane relies on community donations to fund lifesaving programs. That means the adoption fee you pay helps us provide care for a future pet, as well as helps cover the costs of care that your new animal received before he or she goes home with you—including:
- Microchip and national registration
- Spay or neuter surgery
- First vaccinations and deworming
- A collar for dogs or a cardboard carrier for cats
Adoption fees for individual pets are listed on that animal’s profile on our website. Your adoption fee is paid at the time of adoption. Oregon Humane accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard, and debit cards. We cannot accept checks.
Oregon Humane is a private, nonprofit organization that relies on individual donations, grants and our own fundraising to operate. We do not receive any federal, state or government funding.
Adoption fees help offset some of the costs associated with providing for the animals in our care – this includes housing, food, medical care, enrichment, behavior modification and more. We use variable pricing and the adoption fee for each animal is dependent on many factors including age, breed and health of the individual animal.
Adoption fees range from $55 to $600 for dogs and $25 to $200 for cats. The adoption fee for each animal is included in their animal profile.
Adoption Fee Discounts
Oregon Humane partners with Pets for the Elderly to provide $75 off adoption fees for senior citizens, age 60 and older. Learn more here.
We also partner with Sundt Foundation to provide up to $75 off adoption fees for veterans and active service members.
Ask a member of our Customer Care team for more information.
The Diamond in the Ruff Foster-to-Adopt Program helps our longer term shelter dogs find homes by offering potential adopters plenty of support while they foster.
How We Assess Our Animals
Age: The age of an animal is subjective and approximate, but we look at their teeth, body condition and behavior.
Behavior: Animals are assessed by highly trained staff to see how the animal responds to things such as handling, walking on leash and meeting other animals in the shelter. Relevant information is gathered and offered to potential adopters as tools for education. The evaluations by our staff are by no means comprehensive and guarantees of behavior. Environment plays a significant role in an animal’s behavior, their behavior is subject to change once the animal is in a different environment. Oregon Humane staff do their best to find great matches for all of our adopters along with plenty of post adoption support and resources.
If you need additional support with your adopted pet, please visit our Resource Guide or contact our Training Department.
Medical: Not all of our animals are seen by a veterinarian. At the time of intake, all animals will be looked over by a technician to inspect their coat and skin, ears, eyes, mouth, teeth and gums and their weight. If there is a concern, a request will be submitted to have a veterinarian look at the animal.
Breed: The breed of an animal is subjective, but our highly trained staff uses their expertise to assign a breed that best fits the animal.
Previous Owner Questionnaire: All owner surrendered animals will have a previous owner questionnaire that will tell you what the previous owner wants you to know about their pet. This will go home with the animal at time of adoption.
Second Chance Program
Oregon Humane works with more than 50 shelter partners across the Northwest, California, and reaching as far as Louisiana.
Contact Us
Main Line: (503) 285-7722 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Donations Line: (503) 802-6793
