Find Your New Best Friend
Browse pets from our network of over 14,500 shelters and rescue centers.
Do Your Homework
So you've decided to add a new pet to your family. First, you should answer some questions: Which pet would be best for your family? Do you have enough time to take care of a dog's daily needs? Does anyone in your family have pet allergies? What about non-traditional pets, such as mice or other small animals?
Lots of Options
Every year, millions of pets enter shelters and rescue centers in the United States. Some are victims of abuse and may have behavioral or medical issues, but many more are abandoned by loving families who cannot access affordable pet-friendly housing or veterinary care. Shelters and rescue centers have many animals that have been house-trained and/or have learned to live with other animals or children. While adult cats and newborn kittens make up a large portion of animals looking for homes, you can also find dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, companion birds and even horses at your local shelter. Breed-specific rescue centers have purebred dogs.
If you're looking for low-cost pet adoption in the United States, here are some affordable options:
1: Animal Shelter
Animal shelters are the main shelters for homeless animals, usually operated by local governments or non-profit organizations. The pets in these shelters include lost, abandoned, or animals that are voluntarily handed over to the shelter by their owners. The adoption fee is relatively low, and you can find local animal shelters by searching "state name + pet shelter".
2: Animal Rescue
Animal rescue organizations are usually small private organizations that focus on rescuing animals of a specific type or with special needs, or accepting abandoned or rehomed pets. Non-profit organizations do not need to pay adoption fees when adopting, while for-profit organizations need to pay a certain adoption fee as required by local organizations.
3: Adoption Events
Animal shelters and rescue organizations often hold adoption events and exhibitions to provide a platform for potential adopters to interact with pets face to face. These events are usually held in pet stores, community centers or large event venues. On some special adoption days, such as the Free Adoption Day of the Pasadena Humane Society in Southern California.
4: Pet supply stores
Some large pet stores such as Petco and Petsmart have their own adoption departments, and the pets in these departments are also prepared with sterilization and vaccination. To adopt them, you need to communicate with the store staff first to confirm whether you meet the adoption conditions.
5: Petfinder website
Petfinder is a matching platform. You can enter your location, the type of pet you want to raise, and even the optional breed, age, gender, size and other conditions on the website to find the most compatible pet. Most pets come from local private shelters and rescue organizations.
The above channels provide a variety of low-cost ways to adopt pets, allowing you to provide a home for a homeless pet while also enjoying financial benefits.
