Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you hold strays/impounds?
CASA holds animals that have no identification for five days before they are evaluated for adoption.  This hold period includes the day they arrived if the animal was brought to the shelter during open hours.  Staff is available to return phone calls about held strays seven days per week including our two closed days.  Stray animals can be claimed during business hours. After the hold period for a stray or impounded pet is up the animal is evaluated for adoption.

What about euthanasia?
Euthanasia is an unfortunate aspect of shelter life.  The decision to euthanize any animal is made by the Shelter Manager. It is never an easy decision and is based on the animal's health and temperament. Although CASA's euthanasia rate is extremely low, this is something that at times we have no alternative to. CASA always searches for safe and responsible alternatives to ending an animal's life, but if an animal is suffering, is ill and untreatable, we will help end suffering. No animal is ever euthanized due to space at our shelter. At times animals are rushed to our shelter by the public who think we have an in-house vet clinic, which we do not. Sometimes these animals are rushed to the vet by our staff but are too far gone and CASA needs to end their suffering. Please keep in mind that our yearly euthanasia rate will reflect situations like those. CASA prides themselves in the hard work they put forth to literally save lives. In 2021 only six animals had to be humanely euthanized. Five of those were animals which were suffering and were not treatable and the other was a serious danger to the public.

How do you define adoptability?
CASA adopts out friendly, healthy pets, and sometimes pets who have known conditions which are being treated and/or managed.  We believe there is a home out there for every happy pet. Cats are assessed to make sure they are fit for life with human companions in a home setting. Cats that do not fit this criteria are alternately placed into homes they will feel more comfortable or living situations they are accustomed to such as a "barn home". Dogs that pose a risk to public safety due to aggressive nature are not candidates for adoption through CASA.  Sick or injured animals are rehabilitated, allowed to heal, and/or stabilized (if treatment is long term) before going to a new home.

What’s the process for adopting an animal?
Anyone interested in adopting an animal must meet the animal in person. Please bring all members of your household so they are all part of the decision in adopting a specific pet. If you find the right match for your family you will then fill out our adoption application which is then reviewed by our shelter staff. If you are adopting a dog you will be required to bring all dogs living in your household for a dog/dog introduction to make sure your dog(s) and the shelter dog will be a good match.  Our shelter chooses the best fit for each individual pet.

What if an adopter does not want the animal they are adopting to be spayed or neutered?
No pet goes into it's new home until they are spayed or neutered. This is not an option.

What kind of medical care do the shelter animals receive?
All cats are tested for Feline Leukemia prior to being made available for adoption.  Animals with any other health concerns are taken to the vet as needed and provided medications or treatment as required.

Can animals that are still in the holding period be handled by the public?
No. Handling of animals that are within the holding period are restricted to CASA staff only. 

What is a Behavior Assessment?
A Behavior Assessment is for dogs only and consists of a series of situations designed to determine a dog's comfort level and potential to act out.  The evaluation takes approximately 15 minutes per dog and covers areas such as the reaction to a new environment, touch of a stranger, food/resource guarding, play initiation, etc.  It gives us valuable information regarding adoptability and the possible needs in a new home.

What is your policy on Pit Bulls?
CASA is a Pit Bull friendly shelter. Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes are made available for adoption provided they are temperamentally sound and healthy. They are Assessed in the same manor other breeds are. We require all potential Pit Bull adopters to apply on-line through www.pbrc.net (Pit Bull Rescue Central) in addition to meeting the dog in person and the shelter's requirements.   PBRC is a volunteer based on-line resource for shelters and Pit Bull owners.  PBRC Volunteers receive each application and provides CASA with a detailed Pit Bull specific evaluation of the adopter's suitability. CASA is a limited admission animal shelter and we may limit the number of Pit Bulls or Pit Bull mixes at any given time in order to give our current ones a fair shot at finding a home first. If we are unable to take them in immediately, we offer Courtesy Listings through Petfinder.com while adding them to a waiting list, until space is available.

 

 


 
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" -Gandhi