Add A New Member To Your Family Today!

The Newberry County Humane Society encourages you to adopt a shelter pet from Newberry County Animal Care and Control. All of their pets come spayed, neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. Each is looking for a new, loving home like yours. To see available pets, and adoption fees, follow the link below to Newberry County Animal Services.

Pets adopted from the shelter receive a complimentary bath and nail trim from Pet Styles Boarding & Grooming located at 4189A Indian Creek Road, Kinards, SC, just 15 minutes from downtown Newberry. You must show your adoption papers and schedule an appointment within 30 days of adoption. Call 803-405-9573 to schedule an appointment.

Find Your Perfect Pet Here

Preparing to Adopt

There are many things to consider when selecting the right dog or cat. Choose one to match your energy level and for the space you have in your home and yard. Some things to consider:

Do you have other pets?

Do you have small children?

Are you away from home a large part of the day?

We want all adoptions to be successful. Check out these resources from Petfinder.com before your make your decision.

Being prepared makes all the difference for the pet and its new family.

Dog Adoption Checklist

Cat Adoption Checklist

Post Adoption Checklist

Adoption Check List

Adoption FAQ

I can get a free pet on the Internet or from family or friends. Why should I pay an adoption fee to the shelter?

According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (via the ASPCA), approximately 65% of pet parents in the U.S. get their pets for free or at low cost, and most pets are obtained from acquaintances or family members. The NCPPSP also reports that pets acquired from friends make up more than 30% of pets surrendered to shelters.

What are the costs of a “free” pet?

While getting a “free” pet may seem like a bargain at first, you’re then responsible for veterinary costs that shelters and rescue groups usually cover, including:

Spaying/neutering $150-300
Distemper vaccination $20-30 x2
Rabies vaccination $15-25
Heartworm test $15-35
Flea/tick treatment $50-200
Microchip $50

Aren’t the pets in shelters there because they don’t make good pets?

The main reasons pets are given up to shelters include:

Owners are moving to housing that don’t allow pets (7% dogs, 8% cats)
Allergies (8% cats)
Owner having personal problems (4% dogs and cats)
Too many or no room for litter mates (7% dogs, 17% cats)
Owner can no longer afford the pet (5% dogs, 6% cats)
Owner no longer has time for the pet (4% dogs)

What are the reasons shelter pets have been relinquished?

The top 10 reasons for relinquishment:

Dogs:

Moving (7%)
Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
Too many animals in household (4%)
Cost of pet maintenance (5%)
Owner having personal problems (4%)
Inadequate facilities (4%)
No homes available for litter mates (3%)
Having no time for pet (4%)
Pet illness(es) (4%)
Biting (3%)

Cats:

Moving (8%)
Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
Too many animals in household (11%)
Cost of pet maintenance (6%)
Owner having personal problems (4%)
Inadequate facilities (2%)
No homes available for litter mates (6%)
Allergies in family (8%)
House soiling (5%)
Incompatibility with other pets (2%)

Characteristics of Pets Being Relinquished

In addition to the reasons for relinquishment, the study collected data on the pets being relinquished. According to the study:

The majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7%) and cats (40.3%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age.
The majority of dogs (37.1%) and cats (30.2) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year.
Approximately half of the pets (42.8% of dogs; 50.8% of cats) surrendered were not neutered. Many of the pets relinquished (33% of dogs; 46.9% of cats) had not been to a veterinarian.
Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers (31.4% of dogs; 33.2% of cats) than from any other source.
Close to equal numbers of male and female dogs and cats were surrendered.
Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training.