ADOPTABLE ANIMAL PHOTOS
West Seneca Shelter & Off-Site Adoption Locations

Locations & Hours

See the SPCA Serving Erie County's adoption contract.

SPCA Serving Erie County Adoption FAQs

What are the SPCA adoption locations? What are your hours?

Click here to visit the Locations & Hours page.

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What does the SPCA's animal adoption fee include?

Thank you for choosing to adopt your new family member from the SPCA!

Adoption fees include the following:

  • A general physical exam for all animals given by a member of the SPCA’s veterinary services staff
  • Spay/neuter surgery for dogs, cats, rabbits, and domestic male rats (read why domestic rats have been added to the neuter list here >>)
  • Age-appropriate vaccinations, including bordetella
  • Initial worming
  • Seasonally, dose of flea control medicine
  • Feline leukemia test (cats)
  • Microchip for dogs and cats
  • Temporary identification tag for dogs and cats
  • Certificate for your new pet’s first physical examination at the Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society’s veterinarian of your choice
  • Adopters receive three weeks’ e-mail access to the SPCA’s Behavior and Training Department
  • Free bag of Purina dog or cat food (while supplies last)

Your adoptions counselor will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have!

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Wow! There's a lot included with the adoption fees! What are they?*

  • Cats 7 and older for people 50 and older: Fee waived as part of the SPCA’s Golden Ears program
  • All Shadow Cats, regardless of age: Fee waived
  • Most cats 5 and older: $50
  • Most cats/kittens 21 weeks – 5 years: $120
  • Most kittens 20 weeks and younger: $200
  • Dogs 10 years and older: $100
  • Most dogs 7 years up to 10 years: $200
  • Most dogs 1 year up to 7 years: $250
  • Most dogs/puppies 21 weeks up to 1 year: $400
  • Most pups 20 weeks and younger: $450
  • Special prices in effect for particular dogs of a certain size: $200 – $500
  • Ferrets: $100
  • Rabbits: $60
  • Guinea Pigs: $25
  • Domestic rats (fee includes neutering): $15
  • Gerbils/hamsters/domestic mice: $5
  • Small animals, exotics, farm animals, and others: various prices depending on animal

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How can I pay for an adoption?

Our West Seneca shelter accepts Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or cash. No personal checks will be accepted.

Offsite SPCA adoption locations accept cash only.

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What should I bring with me to adopt an animal?

In addition to method of payment, photo ID is required, and proof of your current address, the address at which the animal will be living. All dogs must leave with a leash, along with either a collar or a recommended harness. All cats must leave in an appropriate cat carrier. Don’t have these items? Don’t worry! We carry many of them in the Petique, located right inside our Adoptions lobby!

Also: BRING YOUR TIME & PATIENCE! You’ll want to have plenty of free time to spend with your potential pet! Any proper adoption process takes time and patience…a rushed adoption is rarely a good one.

BUSIEST ADOPTION DAYS/TIMES (you may be waiting longer to process adoptions):
Saturdays, and now that we’re bringing back Monday evening adoption hours until 8 p.m. (through Labor Day 2023), we expect Mondays to be busy as well. Weekday afternoons usually boast shorter waiting times.

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Am I on my own, or are there people to help me?

Adoption counselors and volunteers are available to assist you in learning more about the animals awaiting adoption and which species/breed might fit best into your lifestyle. You’ll want to do your homework first, though, before visiting. Take an honest look at your lifestyle, the ages and temperaments of people living in your home, the number of hours an animal would be alone, decide who would be the pet’s primary caregiver…then take some time to research what species (and then within that species, what breed) would make the best pet in your home. The SPCA Serving Erie County also utilizes the MEET YOUR MATCH adoption program to help make masterful matches between people and pets!

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Can I put a dog on hold? I see a dog I think I like, but haven't decided on whether or not I'd like to adopt.

There are two circumstances in which the SPCA will hold a dog:

HOLD TO MEET OTHER PETS/PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD
If there is a dog you meet, adore, and would consider adopting, yet there are other people or pets in the home who need to meet the dog before an adoption decision is made, the SPCA will hold the dog for the next available “meet and greet appointment,” or up to 24 hours, free of charge! At the meet and greet, members of our Behavior Department will work with you, the dog, and your current pet and/or other family members to make a preliminary determination as efficiently as possible regarding how relationships may (or may not) flourish in your household!

HOLD TO GIVE POTENTIAL ADOPTERS MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION
If there is a dog you meet, adore, and would consider adopting, yet you want a little more time to think about adoption, the SPCA will hold the dog for up to 24 hours for a $30 NON-REFUNDABLE hold fee. This fee is not applied to any future adoption, whether it’s the adoption of this animal or a different animal.

At the present time, animal holds for any other reason are not possible.

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Who can I call for more information on SPCA adoptions?

  • Adoptions Supervisor Geena DeMaioribus: 716-875-7360, ext. 203
  • SPCA Off-Site Adoptions Department: 716-875-7360, ext. 235

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