FAQs

HSWA serves the following communities: Albion, Benton, Burnham, Canaan, Clinton, Detroit, Dixmont, Fairfield, Freedom, Hinckley, Mercer, Oakland, Palmyra, Pittsfield, Shawmut, Solon, Troy, Unity, Waldo, Waterville, and Winslow.

When you adopt a shelter pet, you save a life. Shelter pets also cost less than a pet from a breeder. All of our pets are spayed/neutered and up to date on age appropriate vaccines, tests and treatments. Dogs and cats are microchipped.

HSWA accepts all major credit cards and cash. We do not accept checks.

Yes. Potential adopters complete an adoption application that consists of the adopter’s basic information, lifestyle and any previous pet history. Our goal is to do our best to match adopters with the pet that would be a great fit for the entire family including your new furry friend. We also require a photo ID (passport, driver’s license, state ID, etc.) at the time of adoption for all animals.

After your adoption application is reviewed, it can take up to 30 minutes to enter your information into our database and merge the animal’s information and the adopter’s information together. This ensures adopters receive the important paperwork for their new pet and activates the pet’s microchip into the name of the new adopter. 

Adding a new pet to your family is an important decision. Adopters will need to bring a valid photo ID. They will need to have the payment type they will use to cover the adoption fee at the time of adoption. Additionally, adopters should consider bringing a pet carrier or leash and collar. However, we do sell Lupine leashes and collars in our lobby. We also sell cardboard cat carriers for $6.00 + tax. Adopters should have a letter from their landlord giving permission for a pet if they rent their home.

HSWA will hold an animal for 24 hours only. Any longer must be approved by management. A deposit may be required to hold animals longer that 24 hours.

We will share as much information as we know about an animal; unfortunately, sometimes when an animal is surrendered to HSWA, we are unable to obtain many details about his or her past. Many animals are brought to us as a stray by a citizen or ACO (Animal Control Officer) so we have no information. Oftentimes we have to rely on what our staff observes in the shelter setting or behavioral tests.

If you are considering adding another dog to your household, HSWA requires you to bring in any dog currently living in your home to meet the shelter dog before adoption (with some exceptions). We also encourage you to bring in any dog with which your new dog may be spending long periods of time.

Dogs – Purina One
Cats – Purina Naturals

There’s no such thing as “too long” at our shelter. We do our best to find a home for every animal that comes through our doors. We care for them, heal them when we can, bring them to specialists if needed, hold fundraisers for special surgeries, place shy or undersocialized cats in barns, comfort and care for our seniors, bottle feed premature kittens…essentially anything we can to give each animal a fighting chance. Euthanasia is the absolute last resort for any animal in our care and only takes place when it is more humane for the animal to end its suffering. We make these decisions with a heavy heart and luckily very infrequently.

Yes, pet health insurance helps to avoid out of pocket expenses if your pet should become sick or injured. HSWA has teamed up with 24Pet Watch Pet Insurance to offer you and your new pet a free first month of pet health insurance with your adoption. Please see their website for more information.

HSWA asks that you take your new pet to meet your vet within 10 days of adoption. We want to make sure your veterinarian, your new pet and you are able to develop a relationship all while receiving a free well check up . This allows you and your vet to become  familiar with your pet.  Our staff makes every effort to ensure adoptable animals are in good  health at the time of the adoption.  All previous medical history and or conditions will be discussed in detail during the adoption process. However there are some conditions which cannot be tested for due to the age of the animal you are adopting. An adopter is responsible for all future care  once the pet leaves the shelter. We highly recommend considering pet insurance and it is available at the time during the adoption process . Please ask an associate at the time of adoption.

See our list of area veterinarians

If you think your pet is sick or injured, contact your veterinarian immediately. If it is an emergency, contact an emergency clinic or area veterinarians.