Missy the dog rolling on the ground and looking at the camera while being petted on the belly by OHS staff.

Adoption Experience

Portland and Salem

Portland Campus Pet Adoption Experience

Adoption meet and greets are done by appointment, but the shelter is open for walk-through viewing. We also have availability each day for walk-in adoptions.

Your best bet for finding a pet is to visit our website and submit an adoption questionnaire online.

If you come to the shelter and see a pet you are interested in meeting, our Customer Care team will be happy to assist you with the next steps.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we find homes for pets as quickly as possible.

Pet profiles are available on our Adopt page. New pets are posted daily between 6 and 7 p.m. Read through the profiles carefully as we do our best to be as transparent as possible with each pet’s information.

Each pet’s profile will contain all information available – you may also find links to handouts and websites that pertain to a pet’s specific medical or behavioral needs.

At the bottom of each pet’s profile, you will see a link to submit a questionnaire for that pet. Click the link to fill out an online questionnaire for that pet and submit it to OHS. If you see this message: “Due to my extreme popularity, I am not accepting any more submissions at this time. Please check back later or check out one of my furry friends.” it means this pet already has 10 people in line and we are no longer accepting inquiries.

You will need to submit a questionnaire for each individual animal you are interested in. If you are interested in adopting more than one cat/kitten at the time of your adoption, please write this on your questionnaire under “Is there anything else you’d like information on when you arrive?” When we invite you for an in-person meet and greet, we will invite you for both of the cats/kittens you want to adopt, if available. If both are not available, we will help find you alternative pets when you arrive for your appointment.

These appointments are only available the same day you receive your email/text. If you are first in line for a pet, we will email and text you a scheduling link to set up a time to come to the shelter to meet in-person, discuss the pet’s specific needs and whether the pet will be a good fit for your lifestyle. During your appointment,  you will have the opportunity to adopt the pet.

Please add [email protected] to your address book to ensure you don’t miss any important communications from us. If you are a Gmail or Comcast user, please be sure to check your spam/junk folders.

We process adoption questionnaires on a first received, first served basis. We recommend you continue to monitor your email as the first person does not always end up adopting. You will receive email notification once the pet has been adopted.

Scheduling links will only be valid for approximately 4 hours after the email is sent. If you do not schedule your appointment before the link expires, we will move on to the next person in line.

Your appointment is for the pet(s) for which you were invited. If the pet isn’t the right match, and we have time during your appointment, we will do our best to match you with another available pet.

We do not offer holds on any animals at this time. For more information about what is included with your new pet’s adoption, please head on over to our Adoption Support page.

All adopted animals are required to go home with safety mechanisms in place. We require that all cats and small animals go home in a carrier. You can bring your carrier from home or we will send your new cat or small animal home in a cardboard carrier. All dogs are required to go home on leash and we will safely secure them in your vehicle or rideshare for you.

Salem Campus Pet Adoption Experience

The shelter is open for walk-through viewing and meet and greets 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., seven days per week. Meet and greets are done on a first-come/first-served basis. The last meet and greet starts at 6:30 p.m.

When you come to the shelter and see a pet you are interested in meeting, please take note of the pet’s name and visit the front desk in the lobby. Our Customer Care team will be happy to assist you with the next steps.

Visit our Salem campus to view available pets in person! You can also view all adoptable animals on our website which is updated with new pets every day.

The shelter is open for walk-through viewing from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days per week. Bringing home a pet is a family decision, so we encourage you to bring the whole family and other decision-makers. If you’re thinking about adopting a dog, don’t forget a leash!

Once you’ve found a pet you’re interested in meeting, take note of the pet’s name and visit the front desk in the lobby. We’ll have you fill out a brief questionnaire.

Please note: Meet and greets are done on a first-come/first-served basis. There may be a wait time during our busiest times, including the weekends. Our goal is to schedule meet and greets within 30 minutes, but wait times may vary. We appreciate your patience.

We do not offer holds on any animals at this time. For more information about what is included with your new pet’s adoption, please head on over to our Adoption Support page.

All adopted animals are required to go home with safety mechanisms in place. We require that all cats and small animals go home in a carrier. You can bring your carrier from home or we will send your new cat or small animal home in a cardboard carrier. All dogs are required to go home on leash and we will safely secure them in your vehicle or rideshare for you.

Adoption Information

Due to the high volume of calls, we are unable to provide specific animal information over the phone if you call in. Please look at each individual animal profile to learn more. The best place to view the most up-to-date information is on the OHS website.

OHS is a private, nonprofit organization that relies on individual donations, grants and our own fundraising to operate. We do not receive any federal, state or government funding.

Adoption fees help offset some of the costs associated with providing for the animals in our care – this includes housing, food, medical care, enrichment, behavior modification and more. We use variable pricing and the adoption fee for each animal is dependent on many factors including age, breed and health of the individual animal.

Adoption fees range from $55 to $600 for dogs and $25 to $200 for cats. The adoption fee for each animal is included in their animal profile.

Who should meet my new pet?

We recommend that all parties involved in the care of the animal be present at the time of the meet and greet. This is to ensure that the entire household is on board with the pet’s specific needs and that you are making the best possible decision for your home.

We do not offer cat-to-cat introductions, rabbit-to-rabbit introductions or interspecies introductions. We do encourage bringing your dog in to meet any dog you are considering adopting. For all dog/puppy adoptions, we require you have a leash or crate to take the pet home, so don’t forget to bring yours from home if you already have one.

How can I be first in line for a pet?

We encourage you to check the website between 6 and 7 p.m. and submit a questionnaire as soon as possible to have the best chance of being first in line for a pet. Please note: Some animals will be made available outside of the 6 to 7 p.m. timeframe, so it is always a good idea to continue to watch our website throughout the day. You can adjust the “sort by” filter to look at the most recent animals.

What sort of cat or dog is a right fit for your family or lifestyle?

We always recommend that potential pet parents ask themselves the following questions before starting their search for an adoptable pet:

  • How will a new pet mesh with your lifestyle?
  • What sort of qualities or personality are you looking for in a pet? Do those qualities align with your current lifestyle and household?
  • Do you need permission from your landlord or homeowners association? Are there fees, deposits, or “pet rent” that must be paid?

How much does it cost to adopt an animal from OHS? 

As an independent non-profit, Oregon Humane Society relies on community donations to fund lifesaving programs. That means the adoption fee you pay helps us provide care for a future pet, as well as helps cover the costs of care that your new animal received before he or she goes home with you—including:

  • Microchip and national registration 
  • Spay or neuter surgery
  • First vaccinations and deworming
  • A collar for dogs or a cardboard carrier for cats

Adoption fees for individual pets are listed on that animal’s profile on our website. Your adoption fee is paid at the time of adoption. OHS accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard, and debit cards. We cannot accept checks. 

The Diamond in the Ruff Foster-to-Adopt Program helps our longer term shelter dogs find homes by offering potential adopters plenty of support while they foster.

How We Assess Our Animals

Age: The age of an animal is subjective and approximate, but we look at their teeth, body condition and behavior.

Behavior: Animals are assessed by highly trained staff to see how the animal responds to things such as handling, walking on leash and meeting other animals in the shelter. Relevant information is gathered and offered to potential adopters as tools for education. The evaluations by our staff are by no means comprehensive and guarantees of behavior. Environment plays a significant role in an animal’s behavior, their behavior is subject to change once the animal is in a different environment. OHS staff do their best to find great matches for all of our adopters along with plenty of post adoption support and resources.

If you need additional support with your adopted pet, please visit our OHS Resource Guide or contact our Training Department.

Medical: Not all of our animals are seen by a veterinarian. At the time of intake, all animals will be looked over by a technician to inspect their coat and skin, ears, eyes, mouth, teeth and gums and their weight. If there is a concern, a request will be submitted to have a veterinarian look at the animal.

Breed: The breed of an animal is subjective, but our highly trained staff uses their expertise to assign a breed that best fits the animal.

Previous Owner Questionnaire: All owner surrendered animals will have a previous owner questionnaire that will tell you what the previous owner wants you to know about their pet. This will go home with the animal at time of adoption.

Second Chance Program

OHS works with more than 92 shelter partners across the Northwest, California, and reaching as far as Louisiana. 

Contact Us

Portland Adoptions

Main Line: (503) 285-7722 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Donations Line: (503) 802-6793