How do I go about Adopting? There are many resources for adopting an orphaned animal and each has its pros and cons.  Weigh each carefully before you go on your search for a new family member. Community Animal Shelter Your local county shelter is owned and operated by the county government and paid for with your tax dollars.  Who can adopt from the shelter depends on the laws of your state.  Virginia law permits county shelters to adopt to residents of its own county and those residing in adjacent counties.  Some Virginia shelters have a broad definition of, “adjacent.”  The reason for this rule is to ensure it can enforce state law requiring spay/neuter of animals adopted from the shelter. Pro Shelter fees are pretty minimal.  Most charge $10.00 - $60.00.   Cons The turnover of animals in a county shelter can be high.  The animals receive minimal care and the caretaker rarely knows anything about the animals temperament or health. If things do not work out, you must deal with the guilt of returning the animal to the shelter.  A death sentence. Humane Societies and SPCAs Many humane societies are funded by the local government/county.  Because they are non-profit organizations, many have nicer facilities and more resources to care for the animals.  The Richmond SPCA and Charlottesville SPCAs, for example, have gorgeous facilities.  These organizations are either no kill or very low kill.   Pro No kill or low kill SPCAs and Humane Societies interact more with the animals and can tell you about their personalities.  They provide preventative veterinary care, to include spay/neuter. Con I don't think the fact that they charge more for a pet is a, "con" per se.  You are received a spayed/neutered and vaccinated pet for a very reasonable fee. Foster based Animal Welfare Organizations It is important to do some checking on the organization.  Make sure the organization is a 501(c)(3) charity registered with the Commonwealth of Virginia's Consumer Affairs office.  This is important because these organizations are regulated and the state can reach out and touch them if there is something amiss.   Virginia has a quirky statute that permits, "home based" rescues.  These organizations are often well meaning but, lack the resources to provide the proper veterinary care for the animals because they have no legal venue to raise funds.  They are no a non-profit.  When you adopt an animal from a non-profit organization, the animal should, at a minimum, be spayed/neutered (to include puppies), fecal test, vaccinated and if the pet is over 12 weeks, there should be a rabies vaccine.  For cats and kittens, there should be a veterinary record that shows the cat was tested for FiV and FiLV.  These are two very deadly diseases.  For dogs 12 weeks and older, there should be a veterinary record that indicates a negative heartworm test. Pets adopted from foster based animal welfare organizations are more expensive with the cost ranging from $125 - $300 in the D.C. Metropolitan area.  While this may seem expensive, it really is a bargain when you consider the cost of the preventative veterinary care.  You cannot obtain the services provided for this cost.  That is the benefit of working with a non-profit animal welfare organization.  The funds raised from the public and grants offsets the adoption fee for the pet.  Don't be put off if the organization nets a profit of $50-$100 for the pet.  This is really a drop in the bucket when one considers the cost of treating a sick or injured animal, food, leashes, collars, flea/tick and heartworm preventative and the list goes on and on.   A reputable animal welfare organization will require an adoption application and home visit where the family is interviewed to ensure the pet is a good match for your family.  The pets live in a foster family who knows he or she very well.  The last thing anyone wants is for the pet to be returned because it wasn't a good fit for the family. Conclusion When considering adding that family member, please evaluate your time and resources.