General
What are your hours of operation?
We are open Tuesday through Saturday.
Tuesday - Friday 12 - 4
Saturday - 11 - 4
Can I come to the shelter and visit the animals to see which one I want to adopt?
Yes, of course! The staff can tell you about them and help determine who would be the best fit.
How do I learn what animal would fit with my lifestyle?
Animal bios on Facebook, Instagram, and our website contain valuable information. We also have a photo adoption board in the Shelter foyer.
Please read all of the animal bios information carefully. For example, if the bio says “high energy” and “needs exercise” but you live in a condo, work 10hrs/day and are not active, it is unlikely this would be a good match. Our goal is to give the animal a good quality of life and to match your lifestyle to the animal's temperament and needs.
How do I learn what animals are available?
Animals available for adoption are posted on our website, Facebook page, and Instagram after they have been screened by a veterinarian for any health concerns.
If you are interested in an animal, you can come by and do an adoption questionnaire with staff.
How do the adoptions work?
In November 2022, Humane Society Yukon hired Dr. Alexandre Ellis, a veterinarian and shelter consultant. As a result of this consultation, our adoption policy and procedures were updated to reflect current evidence surrounding animal adoptions. We have now moved to a ‘low barrier’ adoption system, which operates on a first come, first served basis.
So let's get into this in more detail. We have had some confusion and frustrations expressed by both adopters and staff over this. Our procedures are based on the “Adopters Welcome” Documents, as studied and presented by Humane World for Animals (formerly The Humane Society of the United States).
Please see the link if you would like to read the 40 page document - https://humanepro.org/page/adopters-welcome-manual
We no longer take applications and we do not hold animals. Adoptions are done in person, through conversations and a brief interview, this can be specific to an animal you have seen in the shelter, or can be done to help suggest suitable animals that are available. Most kittens and puppies are highly adoptable and can easily move into various types of homes. These and our more adoptable adult cats and dogs often go fast and are essentially fast tracked through the shelter.
The goal is always to get animals into homes quickly as the shelter is not always the best place for them. It is often stressful, loud and lacking in the ‘normal’ day to day enrichments animals get in homes. However, that being said, we do sometimes have animals in our care that need specific types of homes and we work hard to find them the perfect home. We will say no to adoptions that are unsuitable and suggest animals that are more suitable. We know some animals need quiet single pet homes, or do not work well with certain other animals. Once an adoption is complete it is a “Soft Adopt” for the first 30 days.
What is Soft Adopt?
Soft adopt is a 30 day trial adoption. The Adoption if fully processed and paid for, but if something was not working, or life changed in the first 30 days, the animal can be returned and a full refund will be given. We do not question and we do not judge.
This allows us to get animals into homes quickly and it also allows the adopters to do a trial. The adoption must be processed for this to happen. Allowing a few-day trial or placing an animal on hold while someone decides can prevent that animal from being adopted if another suitable home comes in looking for that same type of animal.
Animals are posted when they are available. They are posted on FB and Instagram. Generally you will see new animals posted on Tuesdays and Fridays. Animals who have been in our care longer, or those needing a foster home, are featured on our website. Keeping on eye on our FB or Instagram page, or popping into the shelter regularly can help you find the perfect new companion.
You will often see cats and dogs in our general population that are not quite available for adoption as they are waiting to be neutered or spayed. Moving animals into the general population before they are fully adoption-ready allows them to go on walks and participate in the Adopt a Dog for a Day program, giving us valuable information about their behaviour and the types of homes in which they will thrive. It also allows us to keep taking animals in as we can move them out of isolation. While seeing animals not available can be frustrating it allows us to continually move animals into homes and new animals into the shelter. The majority of animals over 6 months that come into our shelter are not fixed, and we cannot adopt adult animals out without spaying and neutering them. Our vets are amazing but they can only do so many surgeries a week, so we do get backed up occasionally.
And no, we cannot hold an animal for someone while they wait for it to be fixed, nor can we send them home with anyone for a few days until they are fixed. If we did this for one, we would have to do it for all. We also will no longer deviate from these policies, we cannot give preferential treatment to people, nor can staff or volunteers tell people when we have specific animals coming up for adoption. This causes anger, resentment and general bad feelings.
We do understand that sometimes people miss out on an animal, and this can cause disappointment. No system is perfect and we are doing our best to get animals into homes.
We ask for your understanding and respect. We are open to honest and respectful dialogue. Thank you for reading.
What is fostering vs. adoption?
Sometimes we have kitty and puppy litters and/or mature animals who do better in a home setting for a short duration. If you want to care for dogs or cats for a period of time without the commitment of adoption, this is a good program to explore. There is a foster application on our website.
How does adoption work?
You complete the adoption questionnaire with staff and can go visit the animal you would like to adopt. The Shelter staff will discuss your application with you, and if the animal is a good fit for you, you complete the paperwork for the adoption, pay the adoption fees, fill out the microchip registration, collect health records and confirm the spay/ neuter appointment date if not already spayed/neutered. We will provide you with transition food for the animal and anything else you may need to help them transition.
You are now a new pet owner! If at any time you need advice or support, we are always available to help
What if my adoption simply doesn't work out?
After you have adopted your new pet, there is a 30 day "soft adoption" period where you can bring them back and receive a refund. We understand that sometimes things just don't work out and will discuss with you possible solutions prior to bringing the animal back.
Why can’t I know all about the animal’s history and reason for surrendering to the Shelter?
We will not disclose the personal information of people who have adopted from us or surrendered to us.
People give up their beloved pets for various reasons and it can be a heartbreaking and traumatic experience. We take confidentiality very seriously and pledge to keep the information of the people who turn over their pets private.
What are some of the rules around adopting an animal?
Within city limits, if you already have either two cats or two dogs, check with Bylaw Animal Services about a permit.
If you are renting, check with your landlord to confirm that pets are allowed in your agreement.
Our adoption fees are applied on a sliding scale based on the animal’s age and include vaccination, microchip and spay/neuter vet purchase order if not already spayed or neutered. Also included is the assurance that the animal you are adopting has been seen by a vet and had any necessary health concerns attended to with medication or surgery.
You may need to have some follow-up at the shelter for follow through with spay/neuter appointments.
If I find a lost cat or dog, can I bring it to the shelter?
Animals found outside of the Whitehorse City limits and other municipal boundaries, contact the YG Animal Health Unit at animalhealth@yukon.ca and/or 867-667-5600
If the animal you have surrendered to either of these authorities is not claimed by the owner within 72 hours, the animal will be turned over to the Shelter and we will proceed with placing it up for adoption.
If I have lost my animal, will you help me find it on your social media and what are other resources to find my pet?
Facebook pages and groups are very effective in finding lost animals as they circulate widely. Some of the most common ones are Whitehorse Yukon Lost & Found Pets, Yukon Helpers Network, and your local community/neighbourhood pages/groups. We can also post on our page if requested.
All owners are encouraged to have their pet licensed with the city, have their pet microchipped and wear a collar and ID tag. ID tags and licensing are done with the Bylaw at the city animal shelter.
Emergency Assistance
My pet has suffered a medical emergency and I do not have the funds to pay the vet bill, can you help?
Unfortunately, at this time Humane Society Yukon does not have the funding to aid already owned animals. We understand the financial stress a veterinary emergency can put on a family and we wish we could help everyone; however, Humane Society Yukon has to prioritize our very limited budget for the animals under our care.
I have had an emergency come up and need a safe place to temporarily house my pet, what can I do?
If you have reached out to your support network of family and friends and are unable to find assistance caring for your cat or dog, we has an Emergency Boarding program. This is strictly limited to providing compassionate relief to pet owners in unavoidable and unexpected circumstances, such as natural disaster, temporary hospitalization of the pet owner. The program is not in place for travel or rental difficulties. Emergency boarding is limited to a two-week stay and requires pre-approval from the Executive Director.
