Are you looking to welcome a new pet into your family? Memphis, TN, is home to compassionate pet shelters dedicated to connecting loving homes with animals in need. Among these, Memphis Animal Services stands out as a vital resource for pet adoption and animal welfare in the region. This guide will walk you through understanding pet shelters in Memphis, focusing on how Memphis Animal Services can help you find your perfect companion.
Understanding Pet Shelters in Memphis, TN
Pet shelters in Memphis, TN, play a crucial role in our community. They are safe havens for lost, abandoned, and homeless animals. These organizations work tirelessly to provide care, shelter, and medical attention to animals while striving to find them permanent homes. Pet shelters like Memphis Animal Services are not just holding facilities; they are centers of hope and second chances for countless animals.
The Role of Pet Shelters
Pet shelters serve multiple critical functions:
- Providing Shelter and Care: Shelters offer a temporary home for animals, protecting them from the elements and dangers of street life. They provide food, water, and veterinary care, ensuring the animals’ basic needs are met.
- Facilitating Adoptions: A primary goal of pet shelters is to facilitate the adoption of animals into loving homes. They act as a bridge between animals needing homes and people looking to adopt.
- Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership: Shelters educate the public about responsible pet ownership, including the importance of vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and proper animal care.
- Animal Control and Welfare: Many shelters, like Memphis Animal Services, are involved in animal control, handling complaints, investigating cruelty cases, and ensuring animal welfare within the community.
Why Choose a Shelter Pet?
Adopting a pet from a shelter is a rewarding experience with numerous benefits:
- Saving a Life: You are giving a deserving animal a second chance at a happy life. Many shelter animals have been through hardship and are longing for a loving home.
- Reducing Pet Overpopulation: Adoption helps combat pet overpopulation, a significant issue in many communities. By adopting, you are not contributing to the demand for commercially bred pets, which can sometimes come from less than ideal conditions.
- Cost-Effective: Adoption fees are typically much lower than purchasing a pet from a breeder. These fees often include initial vaccinations, microchipping, and spaying/neutering, saving you money on initial pet care costs.
- Variety of Pets: Pet shelters often have a diverse range of animals available for adoption – different breeds, ages, sizes, and personalities. You’re likely to find a pet that perfectly matches your lifestyle and preferences.
- Supporting Your Community: Adoption fees and donations to pet shelters directly support their operations, allowing them to continue their vital work in animal rescue and welfare within Memphis, TN.
Memphis Animal Services: A Leading Shelter in Memphis, TN
Memphis Animal Services (MAS) is a prominent and impactful pet shelter in Memphis, TN. They offer a wide array of services and programs designed to support animal welfare and responsible pet ownership throughout the city.
Mission and Services
The core mission of Memphis Animal Services is to provide comprehensive care and solutions for animals and residents in Memphis. Their services are extensive and include:
- Sheltering Lost and Homeless Animals: MAS provides a safe haven for animals who have lost their way or are without a home, ensuring they are cared for while awaiting adoption or reunification with their owners.
- Pet Adoption and Placement: Facilitating adoptions is a central focus. MAS works diligently to match animals with suitable families, ensuring successful and lasting placements.
- Spay/Neuter Programs: Recognizing the importance of controlling pet population, MAS offers spay/neuter programs to prevent unwanted litters and promote healthier lives for pets.
- Handling Animal Control Complaints and Bite Cases: MAS addresses animal control issues and bite incidents, ensuring public safety and responsible animal management.
- Dog Licensing: Administering dog licensing helps ensure pet accountability and supports animal services in Memphis.
- Cruelty Investigations: MAS investigates cases of animal cruelty, working to protect animals from abuse and neglect and uphold animal welfare laws.
- Humane Education: Providing humane education programs to the community, MAS promotes responsible pet ownership, compassion, and respect for animals of all kinds.
In 2021, Memphis Animal Services achieved an impressive 89% save rate for the pets in their care, demonstrating their commitment to saving healthy and adoptable animals.
Adoption Process at MAS
Memphis Animal Services makes the adoption process as accessible and straightforward as possible. Here’s how you can adopt your new furry friend:
- Browse Online or Visit in Person: You can start your search by browsing their online listings of adoptable pets at www.memphisanimalservices.com. The website is constantly updated with new arrivals. You can also visit their shelter at 2350 Appling City Cove during adoption hours. It’s always recommended to check their website for the most current hours before visiting.
- Adoption Hours: As of February 1, 2022, adoption hours were daily from 12 PM to 4 PM. Always verify the current hours on their website before planning your visit.
- Availability: Some pets are immediately available for adoption, while others may be on a stray hold, giving their owners a chance to reclaim them. By law, stray animals are held for a minimum period. For pets on stray hold, MAS provides the date they will become available for adoption if not reclaimed.
- Pre-Adoption: Memphis Animal Services offers a unique pre-adoption program. You can pre-adopt pets who are still on their stray hold by visiting the shelter in person. If the pre-adopted pet becomes available, you will have the first opportunity to adopt. Note that pre-adoption fees are non-refundable but can be credited towards another adoption if your pre-adoption is not completed.
Adoption Fees and What’s Included
Memphis Animal Services offers very reasonable adoption fees, making pet adoption affordable for everyone:
- Barn Cats: $10
- Urgent List Pets: $20
- Adult Dogs (over 5 months, over 30 lbs) & Adult Cats (over 5 months): $40
- Small Dogs (30 lbs & under), Puppies (under 5 months), Kittens (under 5 months): $80
- Other Animals: Fees vary for horses, birds, pigs, goats, rabbits, ferrets, small birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, snakes, lizards, chickens, and rats. Check their website or inquire at the shelter for specific fees.
Dog adoption fees ($20-$80) include:
- Spay/Neuter
- Microchip
- Vaccinations (rabies, distemper, parvo, bordetella)
- Deworming
- Heartworm Test (for dogs old enough)
- Heartworm Treatment Medications (if needed)
- Collar, Leash, and Customized ID Tag
Cat adoption fees ($20-$80) include:
- Spay/Neuter
- Microchip
- Vaccinations (rabies, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia)
- Deworming
- FeLV Test
- Collar and Customized ID Tag
These comprehensive inclusions in the adoption fee provide significant value and peace of mind for new pet owners.
Visiting and Choosing Your Pet at Memphis Animal Services
Visiting Memphis Animal Services is the best way to meet your potential new pet. Here are some tips for your visit:
Shelter Visit Tips
- Walk Through the Kennels: Take your time to walk through the dog and cat rooms to see all the currently adoptable pets.
- Ask Staff and Volunteers for Assistance: Don’t hesitate to ask staff or volunteers for more information about a specific pet or for advice on finding a pet that suits your lifestyle.
- Spend Time with Potential Pets: Interact with pets you are interested in to see if you connect with them. Memphis Animal Services encourages you to spend time getting to know the animals.
- Adoption Consultation: Once you’ve chosen a pet, a staff member or volunteer will guide you through the adoption process, which may include a short consultation to ensure a good match.
- Complete the Adoption Contract: You will fill out an adoption contract and then finalize the adoption with an adoption clerk. Remember to bring your driver’s license and payment (cash or card).
Assessing Pet Compatibility
It’s important to consider pet compatibility, especially if you have existing pets or children.
- Information from the Shelter: Ask Memphis Animal Services staff about any known history or behavior of the pet. However, be aware that shelter information may be limited, especially for stray animals.
- Bring Family Members: Bring all family members, including children, to meet potential new pets.
- Dog Introductions: If adopting a dog and you have existing dogs, bring them to the shelter for a meet-and-greet, provided your current dogs are vaccinated and healthy.
- Cat Introductions: If adopting a cat, it’s best to leave existing pets at home during the initial visit.
- Observe Pet Behavior: Pay attention to the pet’s behavior at the shelter – how they interact with you, other people, and other animals (if possible).
If you have specific questions about a pet’s compatibility before visiting, you can email Memphis Animal Services at [email protected].
Conclusion
Choosing to adopt a pet from a shelter like Memphis Animal Services is a wonderful decision. You’re not only gaining a loving companion but also making a positive impact on an animal’s life and supporting a valuable community organization. With their wide range of services, transparent adoption process, and commitment to animal welfare, Memphis Animal Services is an excellent place to find your next furry family member in Memphis, TN. Visit their website at www.memphisanimalservices.com or call 901-636-1416 to learn more and begin your adoption journey today!
