Ready to adopt a pet in Miami, FL? We're here to help! Check out our list of the top places to adopt a dog, cat, or small pet in Miami and what to expect!
Adopting a new pet into your home is an amazing experience, but it can be a little nerve-wracking to get started. If you're looking for the best and safest places to adopt a pet in Miami, we can help show you the way! Plus, there are some additional things you'll want to know ahead of time, like the adoption process and adoption fees.
Adopting a pet from a shelter is a beautiful way to give an animal a second chance and provide them with a loving home. So let's get your adoption journey started today.
What Do You Need to Adopt a Pet in Miami, FL?
To adopt a pet from an animal shelter or rescue in Miami, you will need to meet certain requirements. Every shelter is different, but this can include providing proof of identification, filling out an adoption application, answering a questionnaire, and possibly undergoing a home visit.
Since the requirements will vary from one shelter to another, it's important to check with the specific shelter you are interested in. Here are the typical requirements for adopting a pet from most animal shelters and rescues.
- Age minimum to adopt
To adopt a pet from a shelter, you must meet the age requirement set by the specific shelter. This may vary, but you must typically be 18 years or older. However, some shelters may require you to be 21 or even 25 years or older. You will also need to present a valid ID when adopting.
- Fill out the online application
Before you can begin the adoption process, you will typically need to fill out an online application on the animal shelter's website. This application will ask for your contact information and may also inquire about your home situation, experience with pets, pet-parenting style, and the size of your home and yard. This information is used to ensure that you are ready to care for a pet and to help ensure the safety and well-being of the animal.
- Cost of adoption fees
There is a cost to adopt a pet from a shelter. This fee covers the expenses associated with housing, feeding, and caring for the animal, including staffing, insurance, mortgage, utilities, and medical care. Your fee may seem high, but it is significantly less than the actual cost of caring for the animal until it is adopted. Non-profit shelters and rescues often rely on volunteers and donors to help cover these costs.
- Have a "meet and greet"
Before adopting a pet, you may be required to participate in a "meet and greet" with the animal. This allows you to interact with the pet and see how you get along. It is also helpful to bring any family members or current pets you have to the meet and greet.
- Home visit
In some cases, the shelter or rescue may also require a home visit to ensure that your home is a suitable environment for a pet. This step helps to prevent any pet returns to the shelter in the future.
Cost to Adopt a Pet from an Animal Shelter in Miami, FL
The fees for adopting a pet from a shelter in Miami, FL, may include the cost of spaying or neutering the animal, any necessary medical treatments, and the cost of microchipping. Some shelters offer reduced fees for certain groups, such as senior citizens or military personnel, and may also have discounted prices for senior pets, pets who have been at the shelter for an extended period, or for adopting multiple pets at once.
The adoption fees at Miami animal shelters can vary, so it is important to check with the specific shelter you are interested in to get the most accurate pricing information. Remember that it is always a good idea to inquire about adoption fees before falling in love with a particular pet.
Miami-Dade County Pet Adoption and Protection Center
Puppies and adult dogs
- Puppies (less than 4 months old): $85
- Adult dogs (more than 4 months old): $65
Humane Society of Greater Miami
Puppies and adult dogs
- Purebreds and high-demand canines: $259
- Puppies (under 2 years old): $259
- Adult dogs (over 2 years old): $149
Miami Animal Rescue
Puppies and adult dogs
- All dogs: $499
Kittens and adult cats
- All cats: price not listed
Other
- Other animals: prices not listed
Where is the Best Place to Adopt a Pet in Miami, FL?
There are several places in Miami where you can adopt a pet from an animal shelter. You'll find humane societies, government-funded organizations, animal shelters, and animal rescues. Check out some of the most popular, reputable places to adopt a pet in Miami, FL, below. No matter which place you choose, there are tons of loving dogs, cats, and more who are ready for their new forever home.
Miami-Dade County Pet Adoption and Protection Center
The Miami-Dade County Pet Adoption and Protection Center is a government-funded animal shelter and adoption center with a new facility that "is a major milestone in accomplishing [their] goal to save the lives of homeless pets in [the] community." This new facility "offers a comfortable environment for homeless pets, those who care for them and the people looking to adopt a dog or cat." And it gives them "the ability to expand [their] spay and neuter service which is a critical step in reaching [their] goal of a no kill Miami-Dade County." To ensure the best treatment for the pets in their care, this new facility also provides spacious, air-conditioned kennels, numerous outdoor canine exercise and play areas, and a community playroom for the cats.
Paws4You Rescue
Paws4You Rescue is a non-profit animal rescue and shelter based in Miami, FL. "Over the last 11 years, [they] have served the vital need of sheltering, fostering, and placing dogs in the southern part of Miami-Dade County." Paws4You Rescue offers life-saving services and employs various strategies to place and keep animals in loving, lifelong homes."
Humane Society of Greater Miami
The Humane Society of Greater Miami is an animal shelter that has been saving, housing, and finding new adoptive homes for pets since 1936. "Today, more than 400 homeless dogs, cats, puppies and kittens each day are cared for at the Soffer and Fine Adoption Center in North Miami Beach." They provide loving care, medical care, a safe home, and good meals "for as long as it takes to find them homes with kind, responsible and committed caregivers."
Miami Animal Rescue
Miami Animal Rescue is a non-profit animal shelter that rescues "dogs and other animals from euthanasia, emergency situations, and abandonment and finds them loving foster and/or forever homes." They depend heavily on the generosity of donors, volunteers, and adopters to help them provide medical care, housing, meals, and more for the animals in their care.
Friends of Miami Animals (FoMA)
Friends of Miami Animals (FoMA) is a non-profit animal shelter and rescue that "works with organizations and individuals to create awareness about the needs of homeless pets in Miami-Dade County." They work with other animal welfare organizations, no-kill shelters, and rescue organizations to help "at risk pets find new forever homes and continue to improve quality animal advocacy in Miami-Dade County."
Born Free Pet Shelter
Born Free Pet Shelter is a haven for dogs that have been left without homes. Located in the peaceful countryside of Homestead, just south of Miami, this shelter specializes in caring for dogs until they find their forever families. What makes Born Free unique is its commitment to being a no-kill shelter, ensuring that every dog has a chance at life and love. They also focus on senior dogs, providing them with a comfortable place to live out their golden years. The volunteers here are passionate about animal welfare and work tirelessly to match dogs with the perfect owners.
Social media and adoption events are key ways Born Free connects with the community. They regularly update their Facebook page with heartwarming success stories and photos of dogs ready for adoption. By hosting events, they give people a chance to meet the dogs in a fun setting. This approach not only helps the dogs find homes but also raises awareness about the importance of adopting pets rather than buying them.
The Cat Network, Inc.
The Cat Network, Inc. is a Florida-based organization that specializes in helping felines. They operate through a network of volunteers who foster cats in their own homes. This model provides a nurturing environment for the cats and helps socialize them before adoption. The Cat Network is particularly focused on reducing the stray cat population through spaying and neutering, and they offer low-cost services to the community for this purpose.
What sets The Cat Network apart is their "Meow Mobile," a mobile clinic that travels around Miami offering affordable spay and neuter services. They also participate in trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs to manage feral cat colonies humanely. Their dedication to cats is evident in their active involvement in advocacy and education to improve the lives of felines in Miami.
PetFinder.com & AdoptAPet.com
In addition to these shelters, you may also be able to find pets for adoption through online resources such as Petfinder.com or AdoptAPet.com. You can view pictures of cats, dogs, and other small pets from numerous animal shelters and rescues nearby. And you can filter through the available pets to find what you're looking for based on species, gender, breed, size, age, and whether or not they are good with children and other pets.
Adopt a Pet in Miami today!
Now that you've seen just how many places there are to adopt a pet in Miami and know the potential fees and requirements for adoption, it's time to start searching for your new fur baby!
At Local Pet Care, we're here to help you not only find the best places to adopt but also the best dog-friendly restaurants and the best dog parks and dog-friendly beaches in Miami, FL. Plus, we'll help you find the best local pet care professionals near your home. With these resources, you will be set up for pet-parenting success!
For more great articles about dog-friendly activities and pet-parenting advice, check out the Blog at LocalPetCare.com.
