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Lakeland Animal Welfare Society
(LAWS)
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Lakeland Animal Welfare Society
(LAWS)
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This page will be updated as new questions/answers are added. If you have any suggestions for questions on this webpage, please email Webmaster@lakelandanimalshelter.org.
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Microchip Information
Meet Spottie, Lakeland's mascot cat. Spottie came into the shelter the summer of 1998 as a pregnant stray. Spottie and her kittens were placed in a foster home until the kittens were old enough to be adopted. The kittens were placed in homes and Spottie was spayed and returned to the shelter. Spottie now lives in the front office area of the shelter, overseeing daily operations and greeting visitors. Spottie is using her vast experience at the shelter to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
About Our Shelter
Q: Why does Lakeland Animal Shelter exist?
A: Lakeland Animal Shelter, like most animal shelters, exists because of the large number of stray, unwanted, abandoned, and neglected or abused animals who need care, attention, and homes.
Q: Who owns Lakeland Animal Shelter?
A: Lakeland Animal Shelter is owned by Lakeland Animal Welfare Society (LAWS), a nonprofit organization with a board of directors, elected by LAWS members, who oversee the shelter. Members of LAWS pay an annual membership fee which in turn is used to fund the organization and the shelter. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact the shelter.
Q: How is the shelter funded?
A: The majority (about 3/4) of our operating budget comes from caring individuals and businesses who either donate to the shelter directly or help us through our various fundraising activities. About 1/4 of our operating budget comes from the Walworth county contract. This contract is not a donation; the county pays the shelter for responding to stray animal calls and picking up and housing the county's stray animals.
Q: If I choose to donate to the shelter, how is my money spent?
A: If you donate to the shelter and do not specify a specific fund or project, your donation will be placed in the shelter's general fund. This money may be used towards any of the many shelter programs or for supplies, veterinarian bills or many other daily or special expenses. Or if you wish, you may donate to one of the shelter's special funds: Meowsers Angels, a fund specifically for care of our many shelter cats; the new building fund to help us accomplish our long-term goal of a whole new shelter; or any of the project funds set up periodically to help us achieve a special goal.
Q. What happens if animals are not adopted?
A. It is a sad fact that Walworth county, like virtually every other county in this country, has more animals than homes and limited shelter capacity. While we are constantly striving to increase our adoption rate (with the help of many of you in the community) and reunite more animals with their owners, we are still forced to make difficult decisions when we simply do not have room for incoming animals.
Q. How long does an animal have when it enters the shelter?
A. Unlike many shelters in the country and some in the area, we do not have a set time limit for animals. As long as an animal is healthy and considered adoptable and we have room, we will keep it. If an animal is healthy and adoptable, we consider euthanasia to be our last option, not our first. In fact, we have placed several dogs after having them in the shelter for 6 months to a year.
Q. What do you mean by "healthy and adoptable"?
A. Sometimes we receive animals in the shelter who have been severely neglected, mistreated, or are in overall poor health. If an animal has a treatable condition, we will do everything we can to treat it. If, however, an animal is suffering due to its health and will not be able to lead a quality life, we will euthanize the animal to prevent further suffering. Sometimes, also, we receive animals who, due to past experiences or sometimes simply poor breeding (sometimes the case with dogs originally coming from puppy mills), are aggressive towards people. A truly aggressive animal is a dangerous animal and will be treated as such. We do not consider an aggressive animal to be adoptable. We will euthanize any animal that is determined to be aggressive, both for the sake of the animal and the community.
About our Animals
Q: How many animals does Lakeland have?
A: At any point in time, the shelter will have a minimum of 40 dogs and at least twice as many cats. During certain peak times such as kitten season in the summer, the shelter has many more animals and may have hundreds of cats including cats and litters of kittens in foster homes. Approximately 2,500 animals pass through the shelter each year.
Q: Where do your animals come from?
A: The majority of animals enter our shelter as strays. Some of the stray dogs will be reclaimed by their owners; many will not. Unfortunately stray cats are very rarely reclaimed. Those animals that are not reclaimed by owners become the shelter's responsibility. Many animals are turned into the shelter by owners who no longer want them or are unable to keep them. A small number of our animals are taken from owners due to neglect, abuse, or abandonment situations.
Q: If an animal is turned in by an owner or a stray animal is not reclaimed, does that mean that something is wrong with it?
A: Not at all. There are many reasons animals are turned in or are not reclaimed. Unfortunately, many of these reasons reflect a lack of responsibility or commitment on the part of the original owner. Some of the more common reasons animals are turned in or are not reclaimed are:
Someone in the family is allergic.
The owner moves to a "no pets allowed" residence or sometimes a nursing home.
The owner has been illegally keeping the animal in "no pets allowed" housing and is caught.
The animal was obtained as a gift for a child who is too young to be responsible for it and the animal is subsequently turned in when the child doesn't take care of it.
The animal was obtained for a specific task (e.g. hunting, personal protection) and did not perform that particular task to the owner's satisfaction.
The owner's family situation changes through marriage, divorce, pregnancy, or even death.
The animal grows up to be different than the owner expected (e.g. an 8 week old puppy grows up to be over 100 pounds) or the owner did not research the characteristics of the breed before obtaining the animal.
The owner obtained the animal without considering the time and money required to raise the animal and has found he/she does not want the responsibility.
The owner did not spay his/her adult animal and suddenly has a litter of kittens or puppies on his/her hands--or the owner deliberately bred the animal with the intention of keeping one kitten or puppy but did not consider what he/she would do with the other puppies or kittens of the litter.
Unfortunately, sometimes owners don't reclaim animals because they do not realize they are in the shelter. The owner assumes the animal was stolen or assumes the shelter will contact him her because the animal had identification tags. Many animals are reunited with owners due to tags--but others lose their collars and tags when running loose and enter the shelter without them. The best way to solve this problem is a microchip--but many owners are still unaware of the importance of microchipping.
Q: I see a reference on the stray page to whether an animal is "suitable for adoption" What does that mean?
A: We make every effort to give each and every animal coming through our doors a second chance. However, there are times when placing an animal is not in the best interests of the animal or the community. Examples of when an animal might not be made available for adoption are:
The animal shows a level of aggression that is likely to result in injury to people. Note: if counter-conditioning and/or socialization to address this aggression is considered possible, attempts to work with the animal will be made before a final decision is made regarding the animal's adoptability.
The animal shows an extremely high level of aggression towards other animals and is capable of severely harming another animal, or there is strong evidence that the animal has been involved in severe fights (for example, a pit bull, mastiff, etc. with significant scarring from previous fights)
The animal is unable to handle human contact despite efforts at socialization. The animal becomes withdrawn, depressed, stressed, aggressive, or extremely fearful in response to human contact. This does not apply to animals who are simply less outgoing or "shy".
The animal is found to have an incurable, fatal illness, such as FIV, FeLV, or FIP. Note: In the case of FIV or FeLV, if the cat is symptomatic (i.e. the disease has already progressed and the cat is likely to continue suffering), we will generally not place the cat for any reason. If the cat is not symptomatic, we will consider placement if a suitable home is available. If you are willing and able to care for a cat with one of these illnesses, or you are seeking a cat who has tested positive as a companion for a positive cat in your household, please contact us.
In the case of a dog, the animal is known to be a wolf hybrid. Due to the risks associated with keeping hybrids as pets, we will generally transfer hybrids to a sanctuary equipped to care for them rather than place them in homes.
The animal is found to be suffering due to health problems or traumatic injury, and upon evaluation, it is determined that there are no reasonable options for eliminating this suffering and offering the animal a quality life.
Adoption PoliciesGeneral Adoption Policies
Q: I am interested in getting an animal from the shelter. What does it take to adopt one?
A: The application process is simple. Fill out our application and call us after 2 p.m. the next business day to see if it has been approved yet and to let us know you are still interested. If the animal is still available, once your application has been approved, we will work with you make any necessary arrangements for spaying or neutering the animal. You will be able to bring your new family member home once all necessary paperwork and vet care are complete.
Q: Several other people are interested in the same dog I want. Who will be able to adopt him/her?
A: In the majority of situations, we will process applications in the order in which they are received and first opportunity to adopt will be given to the first application approved. If the first application does not work out for any reason, we will move to the second and so on. However, in cases of animals with special needs, we may review all applications and adopt the animal into the home best able to fulfill the animal's special needs.
Q: Why can't I come in and go home with an animal today?
A: The approximately 24 hour waiting time on an application actually serves two separate but equally important purposes. First, in order to best place our animals, we must perform certain checks on applications and often schedule veterinarian appointments and this takes some time. Second, the time helps to prevent impulsive adoptions--our animals are much more likely to stay in homes if the adopters have seriously considered the animal and the responsibility.. The time spent waiting gives potential adopters a chance to think seriously about whether they are ready for an addition to the family.
Q: I looked around the shelter and saw a gorgeous purebred I would like to breed. Can I skip spaying or neutering?
A: No. We will not adopt any animal to anyone at all without altering. Over 25% of the dogs that pass through our shelter are purebreds-yet they are in the shelter because they are unwanted or unclaimed. It is our goal to stop overpopulation--not to further it. Also, even though we may know an individual animal very well we generally do not have extensive information on its bloodlines and any genetic defects it may be carrying and pass on to its offspring.
Q. I really think my friend/parent/grandchild will want a dog or a cat. May I adopt one for him/her as a surprise?
A: No. An animal is not a good surprise gift for anyone. Companion animals affect the lifestyle of those who care for them and require a major commitment of time (often over a period of 15-20 years or more) and money. All people who will be responsible for an animal need to have the opportunity to consider the animal and decide if they are ready and willing to commit to it.
Q: I have a dog at home and would like to adopt a playmate for him/her. Is there anything special I should do?
A: If you live within a reasonable driving distance from the shelter, we will ask that you bring your dog to Lakeland with you so that we can introduce the dogs under controlled circumstances and verify there will not be major conflicts between the animals.
Adoption Fees/Benefits
Q: How much will it cost me to adopt from the shelter? What does the adoption fee cover?
A: Dogs: Adoption fee includes:
Spay or Neuter
Heartworm Test
Microchip and tag
Flea & ear mite check/treatment as needed
Fecal exam and parasite treatment if needed
- Distemper vaccination (DHLPP) (initial series for puppies)
Bordetella vaccination
Age of Dog Base Adoption Fee* 0-6 months $150.00 7 months - 7 years $125.00 8 years and older $100.00
*In addition, adopters are required to pay the $6.50 registration fee for the microchip at the time of adoption. Walworth county residents are required to pay the dog licensing fee for their municipality, ranging fromSee below for information on our Buddy System, Senior Citizen fees, and Lakeland Animal Welfare Society Member discounts.
B: Cats: Adoption Fee includes:
* In addition, adopters are required to pay the $6.50 registration fee for the microchip at the time of adoption.
- Spay or Neuter
- Flea & ear mite check/treatment as needed
- Distemper vaccination (FVRCP) (first series for kittens)
- Fecal exam and parasite treatment if needed
- FeLV/FIV testing
- MicroChip
Bordetella vaccination
Age of Cat Base Adoption Fee* 0-6 months $125.00 7 months - 7 years $100.00 8 years and older $75.00 C: Rabbits: Adoption fee of $25 plus microchip registration includes spay or neuter and microchip. Please note that although adoption fees for all animals are typically significantly below the shelter's actual expenses, rabbit adoption fees are reduced even further, so no additional discounts apply.
D: Other Animals: Adoption fees vary for other animals. Please contact the shelter for information regarding other species.
See below for information on our Buddy System, Senior Citizen fees, Senior Animal fees, and Lakeland Animal Welfare Society Member discounts.
Q. What if I want to adopt 2 dogs or cats to keep each other company?A. Lakeland Animal Shelter has a buddy system--if you choose to adopt 2 animals together, the adoption fee is reduced by $25 for the second animal. We have this policy because we realize that most of our adopters cannot be home 24 hours a day--and having a furry friend at home when you are away can help your pet avoid loneliness and separation anxiety. Please note that the buddy system only applies when both animals will be living in the same home. The buddy system applies for 30 days after adoption of the first animal, and you may choose an additional animal within that 30 day time period. Note: the buddy system cannot be combined with other discounts.
Q. Is there a discount for seniors?
A. Yes. Dog and cat adoption fees are reduced by $25 for seniors (age 62 and older).
Q. What if I am a member of Lakeland Animal Welfare Society?
A: LAWS members receive a $25 discount on all dog and cat adoption fees.
Q. Why does it cost more for puppies and kittens?
A: Puppies and kittens require additional vaccinations and deworming before placement. In addition, puppies and kittens require additional care and age and health-appropriate diets. The supply of kitten and puppy formula and food and baby food donated by caring citizens, though greatly appreciated, is generally not adequate to cover our need, so additional supplies must be purchased. The additional $25 fee only represents a portion of the additional expense the shelter typically incurs in caring for litters of puppies or kittens.
You can complete our adoption application online! Completing our application online is the fastest and easiest way to apply. Simply click on the links below to go to our online dog or cat application. If you do not want to fill out our application online, please follow the instructions below for a copy of our application that you can print and complete to fax or mail in.
Interested in an animal other than a cat or dog? Click here to complete our farm/other animal interest form.
If you are not able to complete our application online, click on the link below for a dog , cat, or other adoption application. If the application does not automatically open or you would like to save the application for future use, right click on the appropriate link. Choose Save As, Save Link As or Save Target As (depending on your browser) to save the application to your hard drive. The file is in rich text format which can then be opened by most word processing applications, or even Windows WordPad. Completed applications can be brought in to the shelter or faxed to us at 262-723-1001, or emailed to adopt@lakelandanimalshelter.org. If an application is emailed, you will be required to sign it when picking up the animal at the shelter. Note: due to space limitations, if emailing your application please send it only in .doc or .rtf format.
Cat application Dog Application Farm Animal Application
General Information
Q: My dog or cat does not listen, misbehaves, or is not housetrained and I just can't take it any more. Should I turn it in to the shelter?
A: Animals with behavior or housebreaking issues can be a handful, and we realize that. Before giving up on your furry friend, however, we hope that you will contact us or an appropriate specialist for help. It is amazing how often problems that can seem insurmountable can be solved! A visit to the veterinarian is a must when dealing with housesoiling issues--in fact, the top cause of litterbox problems in cats is medical! Some other behavior problems can be rooted in a medical issue, too. Spaying or neutering your pet will actually help to reduce several common behavioral problems, and spare a litter of unwanted puppies or kittens a bleak future. A good trainer or behaviorist can help tremendously in solving other problems when there seemed to be no solution. If you contact us before your problems escalate, we may be able to help you find solutions, or provide literature or referrals to someone who can help.
Q: My cat has had another litter of kittens, and I just can't find homes for them. What do I do?
A: If you live in Walworth County we will most likely be willing take the kittens in and try to find them homes (please see surrender policies below), but the root of the problem is the fact that your cat has not been spayed, and until she is, she will continue to bring unwanted kittens into the world. The sad reality is that millions of cats and kittens die in shelters each year because there just aren't enough homes. Please make an appointment to have your cat spayed as soon as possible. If you cannot afford the surgery, please contact us and we may be able to help or point you in the direction of a low cost spay/neuter program.
Q: I am moving and am not taking my 15 year old diabetic cat or my geriatric arthritic dog with me. Can I turn him in to you?
A: Although we make an effort to give a second chance to every animal that comes through are doors, geriatric animals, especially those that already have significant health problems, are difficult to place. In addition, some of these animals, after spending their lives in the comfort of a home with a family they love, are not equipped to deal with the chaos and overstimulation of the shelter environment. These animals may become severely depressed, stop eating, or become very ill due to their overstressed immune systems. Their quality of life in the shelter may be very low, with little or no chance for improvement by adoption. If your animal is geriatric or has significant health problems, we ask that you consult with your veterinarian as to what would be best for your furry family member. In addition, our staff will be happy to discuss your situation and whether surrendering your animal to us is an option for your pet.
Q: My dog bit the neighbor's child and they (or the police) are insisting I get rid of him. Will you take him and find him a new home?
A: In some cases, we will, but in many others, we will not. We have a responsibility to the animals, and we also have one to the public. This responsibility includes protecting the safety of the people around us, and placing an aggressive animal in the community is not fair to the public, or to the dog who will likely be returned to the shelter after more incidents arise. In addition, insurance issues, liability for owners, and even legislation can complicate the process of finding a home for a dog with a bite history. However, we realize that there are some circumstances in which re-homing the animal may be feasible. A shelter staff member can talk to you about your dogs' circumstances to determine what is in the best interests of the animal.
Q: I adopted an animal from you 5 years ago and I no longer want it / can take care of it. Can I give it away to a friend?
A: Not without contacting the shelter for approval first. One of the requirements in our adoption contract is that you return the animal to us if for any reason you are unable to keep it. Animals are a lifelong responsibility, and we take that responsibility seriously. That means that if we placed an animal in a home, we will be responsible for taking it back at any point in its life. Please contact us as soon as possible if for any reason you cannot keep an animal from us.
Q: Can I just show up at the shelter with my animal?
A: No. We do require appointments for surrenders. Scheduling appointments for surrenders helps us to ensure that each animal has the best possible chance for a happy ending. Appointments can be booked several weeks in advance, so please be sure to allow enough time when scheduling an appointment
Q: I took in a stray animal 3 months ago and have been feeding or caring for it ever since. Can I bring it in to the shelter as a stray animal?
A: In most cases, No. At this point you are most likely considered the owner of the animal, and you need to make the appointment to surrender the animal. If you are unsure of whether a surrender appointment is needed, please contact the shelter.
Q: If I surrender my animal to you, can I get a guarantee that the animal will be placed?
A: Unfortunately, No. The shelter staff works very hard to ensure that we act in the best interests of the animal and the community. In some cases, due to health or temperament issues identified while the animal is in the shelter, re-homing is not in the best interests of the animal. The decision not to place an animal is often a difficult one, and is not taken lightly, but at times, euthanasia is the best option for the animal.
Surrendering your animal
Q: Can I make an appointment via email?
A: Not at this time. We ask that all surrender appointments be made via telephone so that a staff member can discuss the situation with you and obtain all necessary information. Collecting the right information in advance helps us to help them, and often we need description or clarification that is simply not feasible via email.
Q: Is there a fee to surrender an animal?
A: There is no fee, but in some situations you may be asked to update your animals on vaccination before entering the shelter, or to pay for an initial vaccination for your animal. If this is needed, a staff member will discuss this with you when making the appointment.
Q: Can I make an appointment via email?
A: Not at this time. We ask that all surrender appointments be made via telephone so that a staff member can discuss the situation with you and obtain all necessary information. Collecting the right information in advance helps us to help them, and often we need description or clarification that is simply not feasible via email.
Q: I have tried everything I could without success, or my personal situation requires that I surrender an animal. What is required in order to do so?
A: To surrender any animal there are some basic requirements:
You are the owner of the animal or have signed consent from the owner.
You and the animal live in Walworth county. If you do not live in Walworth county, we can likely help you to find the right organization for your animal.
You are 18 years of age or older.
Shelter staff has determined that surrender of this animal is in the best interests of the animal.
You have an appointment
You are willing to provide honest information about the animal's history and health, and in some cases, bring the animal in for pre-surrender evaluation if it is required based on the animal's situation.
Q: How do I make the appointment?
A: Call the shelter at 262-723-1000 to make an appointment. Please be prepared to answer some basic questions regarding your animal via telephone to help our staff member to assess the situation.
Q: My appointment to bring my animal in is tomorrow. Is there anything else I need to do?
A: Please allow at least 15-20 minutes to fill out a complete profile on your animal and/or perform an intake interview order to help us to identify the best opportunities for the animal. In addition, please be prepared with the following paperwork /information:
Your vet's name and telephone number, and any medical records you may have for the animal.
Dates of the animal's most recent vaccinations if you do not have the record.
Any medications your animal is currently taking.
The name/type of food(s) you currently feed your animal.
Your animal's tags
The animal's favorite toys, food, etc. are welcome but not required.
If you purchased or adopted the animal from a breeder, store, or organization, any records from the purchase will help us to identify all options for the animal.
Q: After I bring in my animal, can I find out what happened to it?
A: You are free to contact the shelter to find out how your animal is doing, and we will be happy to tell you whether your animal is still with us or not, and whether it has been placed with an adopter or an organization. We do, however, respect the privacy of all those who work with us, and we therefore will not give owner information to any other party. If you would like to speak to the adopters, we are willing to give your contact information to the new owner at your request. However, the new owner will choose whether or not they wish to contact you. We will not give previous owner information to adopters, rescue groups, or vendors without consent.
How can I update the contact information for my microchipped pet?
Perhaps you moved or changed your phone number and need to update your contact
information. If so, please visit us on the web, or you can fax or mail your
updated contact information to the HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service.
To update your contact information, please call the HomeAgain Pet Recovery
Service at 1-866-PET-ID24 (1-866-738-4324).
Our fax number is: 1-315-634-9076.
The HomeAgain mailing address is:
HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service
Attn: Updates
P.O. Box 2014
East Syracuse, NY 13057-4514
I adopted a pet, and it already has a HomeAgain microchip. How can I
change the contact information?
To avoid disputes of ownership, HomeAgain requires that the new owner be
provided with the pet's original Confirmation Letter. The new owner must fill
out the area on the reverse side of this letter and return it to HomeAgain with
a payment of $6.00. If you have lost the Confirmation Letter, or if the previous
owner is unavailable, please contact HomeAgain directly at 1-866-PET-ID24
(1-866-738-4324).
How can I get a replacement collar tag for my pet?
Replacement collar tags with your pet's unique HomeAgain ID number printed on it
are available from the HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service. Please call us at
1-866-PET-ID24 (1-866-738-4324) to order a replacement collar tag.
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