Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long do you hold strays before they are available for adoption?
CASA holds animals that have no identification for 5 days before they are evaluated for adoption. This hold period includes the day they arrived if the animal was brought to the shelter during open hours. Staff is available to return phone calls 7 days per week including Sunday and Monday. Adoptable animals will be available on the 6th day. We will make every effort to return animals to their owners before making them candidates for adoption. Animals that are microchipped or wearing current identification may be held for 14 days while attempts to locate their owner are made.
Can animals that are still in the holding period be handled by the public?
No. Animals that are still under the holding period restriction, are not yet condidered the property of CASA. Until the animal is released from the holding period, CASA staff members are the only authorized handlers of the animal.
How do you define adoptability?
CASA adopts out friendly, healthy pets. Animals that pose a risk to public safety for reasons of health or temperament are humanely euthanized. Sick or injured animals are held for the appropriate time to be claimed. If not claimed, they are placed in foster care and provided treatment when possible.
What about euthanasia?
Euthanasia is an unfortunate aspect of shelter life. The decision to euthanize any animal is made by the shelter management often with consultation by the Camano Vet staff. It is never an easy decision, and is based on the animals health and temperament.
What’s included in the price of the adoption?
Adoption fees include:
v age appropriate vaccines (except rabies). This is
distemper combination vaccine for dogs and cats, and bordatella for dogs only.
v Deworming
v Flea treatment
v Spay/neuter surgery
v Complimentary vet visit
v Microchip for dogs (available upon request for cats)
What’s the process for adopting an animal?
Anyone interested in adopting an animal, must meet the animal in person, fill out an adoption application and all current dogs must be brought for an introduction (for dogs adoptions only). The staff then reviews the application and determines whether it is a good match.
Aren’t these puppies and kittens too young to be spayed and neutered?
Animals can be safely spayed/neutered as young as 8 weeks. Our puppies and kittens are usually spayed/neutered between 8-10 weeks.
What if the adopter does not want the spay or neuter surgery performed on a young animal he or she is adopting?
Our policy is to not allow any shelter animal be adopted unaltered.
What vaccinations do shelter animals receive?
Distemper combo vaccine for dogs and cats
Bordatella for dogs
What kind of veterinary care do the shelter animals receive?
All cats are tested for Feline Leukemia prior to being made available for adoption. Animals with any other health concerns are taken to the vet as needed and provided medications or treatment as required.
What is a temperament test?
A temperament test is a series of tests designed to determine a dogs level of adoptability. The testing takes approximately 15 minutes per dog and tests the dogs sociability level, food aggression, child safety and cat compatibility. It gives us valuable information in placing an animal in the most appropriate home.
What is your policy on pitbulls?
Pitbulls and pitbull mixes are made available for adoption provided they are temperamentally sound and healthy. We require all potential pitbull adopters to apply online via www.pbrc.net in addition to meeting the dog in person. PBRC is a volunteer based online resource for shelters and pitbull owners. PBRC Volunteers receive potential adopters application information, and provide CASA with an evaluation of the adopters suitability. The final decision to adopt or not is up to the CASA management.