Frequently Asked Questions ... and Answers

Q. Does your shelter only take in dogs and cats?
A. Yes, primarily dogs and cats are all we are equipped to handle. We sometimes take in rabbits or other small pets. We can sometimes put a person who is trying to help a larger farm animal in touch with the proper authorities.

Q. What happens to an animal that is surrendered?
A. An animal that is surrendered is vaccinated, wormed, and given a rabies shot upon arrival at the Shelter. All animals receive the proper vaccination(s) for their species, such as DHLLP and rabies. In addition cats may be checked for feline leukemia and both dogs and cats are checked for worms. If not already spayed or neutered, they will be spayed or neutered in our Shelter as soon as possible by one of our veterinarians. For obvious reasons, Pennsylvania law prohibits any animal from being adopted from our Shelter until that animal is spayed or neutered.

Q. How are animals accepted to the shelter?
A. We are a no-kill Shelter. We can only take in new animals as our current residents are adopted. Animal adoptions make room for another animal to take the adopted animal's place in a cage or a kennel. Please understand that abused, neglected and abandoned animals have NO ONE to take care of them, and they are accepted into our Shelter before we can take in any privately owned animals. We also ensure that any animal adopted from our shelter can be returned which means that some space be available for that possibility. We maintain a waiting list of animals for surrender and owners are contacted as space becomes available. It is important that people who wish to surrender their animals seek other options such as rehoming the animal with a friend or relative or placing an ad — with a fee to ensure a "good home" — or placing the animal at a kennel temporarily until a suitable adopter comes forward. The shelter should be an absolute last resort for a companion animal. 

Stray animals should be reported to local animal control or to the local police. Click here for a list of contacts. If you find a stray animal, there may be a distraught owner looking for it. Posting flyers with photos and descriptions, placing ads (free in the Pennysaver), canvassing the neighborhood and posting animals online (see downloads for several lost pet sites) often lead to a reunion of pet and owner. Bringing an unexpected stray to the shelter stresses an already overburdened staff and facility.

Q. What animals will you accept?
A. We can only accept an animal when a cage or kennel becomes available. Due to liability issues, we cannot take animals that have displayed unprovoked aggression. This often depends on circumstances surrounding the animal's behavior. Pennsylvania law requires that if an animal has bitten a person or another animal, it should be reported to your local Animal Control Officer. You may call our Shelter during business hours to get the name and number of the Animal Control Officer for your area, or you may get that information from your local or state police.

Q. Are WAHS animals ever euthanized?
A. We will euthanize an animal ONLY if it is suffering beyond any hope of recovery. We rely on local veterinarians to advise us if it is inhumane to allow a seriously ill or horribly injured animal to continue suffering. We also have occasion to euthanize an animal if it is deemed unsafe for the public. These cases are exceedingly rare, but they do occur.

Q. What happens when an animal is sick or injured upon arrival?
A. We do our very best to provide necessary veterinary care for any animal that is sick or injured upon arrival. We rely on our local veterinarians to recommend treatment.

Q. What ongoing care do sick / injured animals receive?
A. We regularly medicate and care for sick and injured animals in our Shelter. We ask people to volunteer to provide foster homes for sick/injured animals while they are recuperating. Sick and injured animals recover more quickly and thoroughly when they are in a home and not suffering additional stress in the confines of a cage or kennel at the Shelter. If you would like to open your heart and home to a convalescing animal, please call our shelter manager or cat care manager.

Q. What happens when a newly adopted animal is found to be seriously ill?
A. We cannot guarantee the health or temperament of any animal that is adopted from our Shelter. We recommend that every animal adopted from our Shelter be examined by your own veterinarian as soon as possible. If your newly adopted pet becomes ill, you must notify us immediately, and we may ask you to bring the animal back to our Shelter to be evaluated by one of our veterinarians.

Q. Under what circumstances are animals removed from their owners?
A. In Pennsylvania, animals are the personal property of the people who own them. Pennsylvania law permits seizure of animals in the event of extreme animal abuse. If an animal is so neglected that its life is in immediate danger, then a Humane Society Police Officer can remove an animal to save its life.

Q. What is a HSPO and what authority do they have?
A. A Humane Society Police Officer (HSPO) is a trained and certified police officer representing a humane society or other animal rescue organization. An HSPO swears an oath to enforce the laws that protect animals from cruelty and abuse. A Humane Society Police Officer can file criminal charges for cruelty to animals. For more information about Humane Society Police Officers or the laws that protect animals from cruelty and abuse, please visit the Federated Humane Societies of Pennsylvania's website at www.humaneinpa.org. 

Q. When funds are raised for a particular medical treatment for a specific animal in need, what happens to any additional funds?
A. When funds are raised for treatment of an animal, any additional funds are used to treat other sick or injured animals, which are constantly coming into our Shelter. We continuously take in stray or abandoned animals that are sick or injured, and many of them require costly ongoing medical treatment which depletes any additional funds we may have.

Q. Why are funds raised not "saved" for animal medical emergencies?
A. Funds are unable to be “saved” since all funds donated to the shelter are necessary for the day to day functioning of the facility, including utilities, staff, insurance, maintenance, vet care, and all other related expenses, (as well as medical emergencies and treatment) that are incurred and necessary for the shelter to operate which in turn allows us to continue to service the community. Understanding that money used to pay for utilitarian things such as electricity and the water bill is critical to the health and well-being of the animals, albeit not as “feelgood” as dogbeds, treats and toys are.

Q. Can I request euthanasia for my pet at your shelter?
A. We do not have veterinarians at our Shelter at all times. If you have an animal that you think is suffering and needs to be euthanized, please take the animal to one of our local veterinarians. Your veterinarian will examine the animal and help you to determine if the animal needs to be euthanized. There are dozens of veterinarians in Washington County, and they are all excellent. Please phone our Shelter during business hours for names and phone numbers of our local veterinarians.

Q. If I surrender my pet, can I find out when someone does adopt it?
A. Yes, we can tell you when your pet gets adopted. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to tell you the name and address of the animal's new family.

Q. Why do you charge so much more for puppies and why is your adoption policy different?
A. Puppies for better or worse are irresistible to most people particularly children. They overshadow older dogs that may be better suited for a particular family situation. Potential adopters confronted with these adorable tiny pups conveniently forget that these little balls of fur get bigger, sometimes much bigger. Requiring a higher adoption fee without the possibility of a refund is the disincentive intended to make adopters give more serious thought and consideration to adopting a puppy. The fact is that the most commonly surrendered dog is between 8 and 12-months old. These are the dogs that were adopted as puppies and have grown into much larger dogs that are still in fact puppies, but are no longer easy to pick up and control.

Q. Where do you derive your funding?
A. Many people assume our Shelter is a government entity. That is a common misconception. We are a private charity. We are funded solely by your charitable contributions. We DO NOT receive any money from your tax dollars. We DO NOT receive any money from local or federal government. It is because of YOU, our supporters that we can keep our doors open and provide for homeless, sick, injured, abused and/or abandoned animals.

Q. Are you affiliated with other Humane Societies?
A. We are NOT affiliated with other Humane Societies or other animal shelters. We are NOT a part of the Humane Society of the United States, nor do we receive any funding from that entity.

Q. If I contribute, can I control what my donation is used for?
A. All contributions are deposited into our general account where the funds are used for the day to day operating expenses of the shelter. If you would like to see a particular project for the shelter completed that you are willing to finance, you are encouraged to approach the board with a proposal that can be voted on by board members. Only those projects that are completely financed externally and need no additional funding from the Humane Society can be considered. Otherwise, all general contributions will be used for general operating expenses.

Q. Can I have fundraisers on my own for the Humane Society?
A. We encourage all supporters to hold drives, collections and fundraisers to help the Humane Society. However, we do not permit the use of our name (Washington Area Humane Society) or logo/image to be used without permission. If you would like to hold a fundraiser for the benefit of WAHS by using our name and/or logo, you must first get permission from our board.