Adopting a dog in New York City can be a long process. When you visit a shelter, it's not unusual to find that the pet you've been eyeing online has already been adopted. But rejoice nonetheless. Our guide will assist you in finding the ideal dog that is out there for you. Continue reading to find out how to adopt a dog in New York City.

The ideal dog that is out there for you, you just have to do a little investigative work. It's likely that your search won't take long. NYC has hundreds, if not thousands of shelter dogs. Based on a news release issued by the Animal Care Centers of NYC, shelters have the capacity to admit up to 100 animals daily.

In fact, summer and fall are some of the best times to adopt, for the following reasons: 

• People are more likely to see stray dogs and take them to a shelter because they are more active. Since they often or severely overcrowd, pet rescues may have to hold adoption drives at a discount in order to create room. 
• Shelters hold special events in October to promote adoption during the month-long Adopt a Shelter Dog campaign.

Let's now discuss locating your furry friend. Adopting rather than buying from a breeder is more economical and compassionate due to the large quantity of stray animals.

Nevertheless, shelters are always home to hundreds of pets. It would be impossible to visit the websites of every shelter, much less their actual locations. To assist you select the ideal pet and reduce your possibilities, you have a number of options at your disposal, such as:

• Searching for a specific breed. A comprehensive overview of dog breeds and their typical traits, including how well they might adapt to city life, may be found at the American Kennel Club. You might be shocked to learn that certain larger breeds, like Great Danes, who one would assume would require an expansive yard, are actually enormous couch potatoes who are content to nap all day. You can search for the ideal pet on the AKC website by selecting from a variety of criteria.
• Looking through aggregated websites. Dogs for adoption can be found on the websites of numerous shelters as well as on sites like Adopt A Pet and Petfinder.
  

Depending on the shelter you choose, the procedure is different. Adopting a dog involves, in the simplest terms:

• A visit to the shelter to meet your new pet. Bring your family, roommates, and other pets who will be sharing your new home with you.
• A call or drop-in with your landlord and veterinarian.
• a consultation with a counselor to ensure that you are prepared to own a pet.
• Payment and paper signature (more on that later).

After that, it's time to head home! A lot of agencies will suspend adoptions an hour or so before the organization closes for the day, and same-day adoptions can take up to an hour. 

However, in terms of timeliness, the case mentioned above is somewhat shorter. The procedures may be prolonged by many days or weeks under the policies of other organizations, such as:

• A visit to your home to check on the sleeping, eating, and playing areas for your prospective dog. The adoption agency can check if everyone residing in the home is comfortable with a new pet during home visits.
• If you adopt through an international rescue, the amount of travel time will vary.

According to New York City law, all dogs must have licenses. An application for a license can be picked up from your neighborhood pet store, vet, or adoption agency. On the website of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, you can also download an application to mail in later or submit one online. An annual license fee is $8.50.

The shelter will give you as much information as possible about the health history of your new dog. Take this information with you to your initial appointment at the vet. We recommend scheduling a check-up for your dog within a week or two of adoption. Vaccinations and spaying/neutering are required for all adopted dogs in New York City, but a check-up might catch anything the shelter might have overlooked.

Here are three of the most reputable pet adoption services in New York City, along with information about their fees.

• Cost: $75 for mid-to-large adult dogs, $150 for small adult dogs (less than 20 pounds), $250 for puppies (under 7 months). Fees waived for veterans.
• What's included: spay/neuter, vaccinations, pre-registered microchip, heartworm test, leash and collar, dog license, certificate for free exam at participating veterinary practices.

• Cost: $75 to $250, depending on age and size
• What's included: spay/neuter, vaccinations, pre-registered microchip, heartworm test, medical overview, animal behavior guide, collar with personalized ID tag

• Cost: $150 for mid-to-large adult dogs, $200 for small adult dogs (under 20 lb), $300 for puppies (less than 6 months). 
• What's included: Spay/neuter, vaccinations (rabies, bordetella, distemper, and parvo), pre-registered microchip, medical screening, pet adoption guide, dog license, and free solo or group training session. 

On average, adopting a dog in New York City can cost between $150 and $250.

There are a ton of places where you can adopt your new dog in NYC. Here are few places to adopt a dog throughout the 5 boroughs:

• Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals: A 501(c)(3) organization that has  partnered with more than 150 rescues and shelters to save homeless animals throughout the city. If you have no idea where to start your pet ownership journey, or you want a list of reputable rescues and a lot of options, start here.
• ASPCA Adoption Center: The ASPCA is North America’s first and most recognized humane center. Their headquarters in in NYC.
  
• Best Friends Animal Society: The nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary with an adoption center in SoHo.
  
• Bideawee: In addition to healthcare, Bideawee gives adoptable animals experience in socialization so they’re ready for city living.
• The Humane Society of New York: Founded in 1904, it’s an animal rights advocacy group that expanded into a free clinic and, eventually, a large rescue agency.
• Staten Island Hope Animal Rescue: A volunteer-run nonprofit working to raise awareness and find the best homes for homeless pets. 
• Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue: Specializes in rescuing dogs from high-kill, high-volume pounds. Their motto is, “Saving badass dogs from idiot humans.”

Well done! Milo is delighted to have assisted you on your quest for the ideal friend. We would to help you even more by providing dog walking and pet sitting for you once you've adopted your pooch.  Book a dog walker here!

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