GCHS Policies

GCHS Policies

Adoption

You must be 18 years old or older to apply for an adoption, proof of age may be required.
You must have valid identification, with name and present address.
There must be a working telephone in home.
The adopter must be employed or have a steady source of income.
The adopter must agree to follow county laws on the number of pets allowed per household.
The new adopter of a dog must agree to provide health care and maintain heartworm prevention for the dogs life. The new adopter of a cat must agree to house the cat indoors and to provide health care for the cats life.
ALL dogs and cats are to spayed or neutered before being released to go to their new home.
Gift adoptions are not permitted.
No adoptions will be made to residents of apartments, condos or housing where the landlord or regulations prohibit pets.
Adoptions will be refused to anyone suspected of, or having involvement in using animals for vivisection, experimentation, and cult rites, or is suspected of having an intent to use the adopted animals as food source.
Adoption will be refused to anyone suspected of, or having involvement in any illegal activities using one or more animals. This applies to dog or cock fighting by way of example but not exclusivity.
Adoption is refused to anyone attempting to adopt an animal for another individual who has already been refused.
Exotic or wild animals will not be adopted out by the Society as pets.
Any person who has surrendered an animal within the previous 6 months will not be considered for adoption.
Adoption will be refused to anyone who displays any unwillingness to comply with the Society's policies, who is inconsistent or evasive in answers, or who exhibits an attitude of indifference or arrogance, or is contemptuous or argumentative toward the Society's adoption process or any member of the Society's staff (volunteer or employee).
A potential adopter must give a full past and present history in relation to prior and/or present pet animals.
The adoption application is the property of the Gulf Coast Humane Society.
All animals are to be adopted as personal pets.
Gulf Coast Humane Society reserves the right to deny any application for adoption of any animal in its shelter in accordance with these adoption policies.
Gulf Coast Humane Society reserves the right to perform an inspection of the premises where the potentially adopted animals would be kept prior to the animal's adoption.
Adoption will be refused to anyone where an animal in the home has been lost and the owner has made little or no attempt to find the lost animal.
If for the welfare of the animal, special circumstances arise that necessitate a change from any of these adoption policies, such change may only be authorized by the Executive Director.

Euthanasia

Gulf Coast Humane Society does not euthanize for lack of space or length of time spent at our facility. Our board of directors has set very strict guidelines for the performance of euthanasia:

ONLY animals found to have health conditions that are deemed untreatable or severely contagious and will place the other pets in the Society's care in harm will be considered for euthanasia.
ONLY those animals found to be severely aggressive and are a threat to the general public will be considered for euthanasia. In cases of severe aggression we utilize a 5-step policy before such a decision is made.

Spay & Neuter

GCHS spays and/or neuters all animals prior to adoption. Spaying and neutering is the first step in the battle against pet overpopulation. Spaying and neutering your pets also provides numerous health and behavioral benefits. To learn more about spaying and neutering your companion animal, click here.

Volunteers

Ages 13-15 must have a parent/guardian with them at all times.
Ages 16-17 must have a parent/guardian sign a waiver of liability.
Must attend orientation prior to beginning volunteer service at our shelter.
Must adhere to all volunteer policies listed in Volunteer Handbook.

To learn more about volunteering at GCHS, visit our Volunteer Info page.

Gulf Coast Humane Society

2010 Arcadia Street ~ Fort Myers, FL 33916

239.332.0364