Adoptions

How to See our Adoptable Animals

Photos and descriptions of the dogs and cats available are updated on our website regularly but there are often animals we hear about that are not yet posted. We recommend that you send in an application if you want a certain breed or size even if you don’t see it listed. We will let you know if we hear of anything that meets your needs. Or check out our Facebook page to see other photos and read stories of some of our incoming cats and dogs.

If you would like to browse some of the dogs and cats we have available at this time, please choose:

Local Adoption Locations and Appointments

Dogs:

Most of our dogs are in owners’ homes or foster homes; some are kenneled by the people who have rescued them. All Shamrock dog adoptions are done by appointment only. Applications sent to us are screened and processed for compatibility with each dog’s needs. Once accepted, a potential adopter will be called and appointments will be made for a meet-and-greet and a home check, and then a 2-week trial will be arranged by a Shamrock volunteer. See “The Application Process” below if you want to submit an application for a Shamrock dog. 

All Shamrock dogs and puppies are spayed or neutered, heartworm tested, up-to-date on immunizations (DHPP) and rabies vaccines, and are microchipped.

Cats:

Shamrock cats can be seen every day at Feeders Supply stores on Baxter Ave., in Middletown and at LaGrange.  Application forms are available on site and can be submitted any day on site. A volunteer’s name and phone number are provided on each cage to contact for information or an appointment. Shamrock volunteers are on site at the Feeders Supply store on Baxter Ave. every Saturday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm or can be met by appointment at any other time.

Some of our cats can also be seen and adopted at the Lucky Cat Café on Dundee Rd. at the Douglass Loop.  Please check with them for hours of operation and their procedure for visiting cats.

If you are interested in adopting a Shamrock cat, just ask an employee or volunteer at any of these locations for an adoption application. You can fill it out there, or take it home and send it to us later via postal mail or as an email attachment. See “The Application Process” below if you want to submit an application for a Shamrock cat.

All Shamrock cats and kittens are spayed or neutered, FIV and/or leukemia tested, wormed, vaccinated, and microchipped.

Volunteers are Welcome!

We can always use volunteers to help with the cats at Feeders Supply and at the Lucky Cat Café. If you would like to help, please contact us at volunteer@shamrockpets.com and we will be happy to send you a volunteer application.  (Applicants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent at all times.)

The Application Process

If you are interested in adopting an animal from Shamrock, please fill out an application (below). Then send us your application by attaching it to your email.  Send dog applications to adoptions@shamrockpets.com and send cat applications to cats@shamrockpets.com.  Shamrock volunteers work hard to make the best match between the animal and your family, so please include the type of dog or cat you like – laid-back, athletic, cuddly, couch-potato, short- or long-haired, young, old, etc. If you are willing to work with a special needs cat or dog we usually have several of those in need of homes, too.

* You will need to Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and submit the applications.

The Contract

Once the adoption has been approved, the next step is to go over our terms and fill out our adoption contract.

Adoption fees for our available animals are listed on our website along with their bios, which can be accessed by clicking on “adoptable cats” or “adoptable dogs.” This covers spay/neutering, worming, microchipping, and vaccinations appropriate for the age of the animal. Many animals we help rescue have cost us hundreds of dollars, sometimes more, in veterinary fees; some have cost us much less. Checks should be made payable to The Shamrock Pet Foundation.  PLEASE NOTE:  As of July 1, 2018, Kentucky government has mandated that we charge a 6% sales tax on any animal adopted.  (See our article under the “News and Events” tab for a more thorough explanation.)

We like to give you a couple of weeks to see if your new dog/cat is a good fit in your home. It’s a good idea to start the visit on a weekend when you will have time to help your new addition get acclimated to your home and family. If within the first two weeks you have determined this is not a good fit, then you can return the pet to us and we will return your adoption fee.

The What Ifs

If the adoption does not work out please contact us immediately. The contract you sign stipulates that the animal must be re-homed through us and not surrendered to a shelter, given away, sold, or euthanized. Since we do not have a facility, you will need to notify Shamrock and work with them to find the pet a new home. If you have any other questions, please contact us.