Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County
Adoption Policy
Introduction To Adopting
Thank you for thinking of AWLMC and our cats when considering adoption. We have many cats and kittens to choose from and hope that one will steal your heart and become a part of your family and life. The AWLMC adoption program ensures that our cats and kittens are placed into responsible and loving forever homes. Cats can live up to and even beyond 20 years. When deciding to adopt a cat or kitten please keep this time commitment in mind. Pets are part of the family and they need to be considered when decisions are made that change your household. A yearly visit to the veterinarian for a general check-up and vaccinations is necessary to ensure your cat is and remains healthy. We hope the information provided here gives you an understanding about AWLMC and helps you make an informed decision on adopting.
We have cats of various ages, looks, and personalities. Some of our cats play with and do well living with other pets while others prefer to be the only cat in the home. Some of our cats need an adults only home, while others will thrive in a busy active household. We talk with you and take all of this into consideration when helping you look for a new furry family member.
Most of our adult cats are in our shelter in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. Some adult cats live in foster homes and come to the shelter just for an adoption appointment. All of our cats less than one year old are in foster homes and come to the shelter just for adoption appointments.
Because kittens do best with a playmate their own age, our kittens generally are adopted in pairs. However, each adoption is treated individually and occasionally exceptions are made. You can speak with an adoption counselor about your case and what would be best.
What AWLMC Expects of You
If you find a cat or kitten on our website and would like more information, please email our adoptions team at adopt@awlmc.org.
An adoption counselor will correspond with you and email you an application form which you can fill out online and email back directly. It is our policy that we meet all individuals, adults and children, living in the household. Due to COVID-19, we are conducting these meetings via FaceTime or zoom. This will give us the opportunity to learn a little more about you and it will give you the opportunity to ask questions.
To complete an adoption from AWLMC, we need to see a driver’s license. If you rent, we need to speak to your landlord/property manager to confirm you can have pets. You will need to provide the name and contact information for your veterinarian’s office and the name and contact information for one personal reference. If you do not currently have a veterinarian, you will need to provide the name and contact information for two personal references.
A counselor will call your landlord/property manager, if applicable, your veterinarian’s office and/or your references. Once the calls have been made, the adoption counselor will follow-up with you via email or phone to confirm with you that your application has been approved. The counselor will then schedule an appointment with you at our shelter to meet the cat, where the adoption will also be finalized. You will sign a contract and pay the adoption fee at that time.
COVID-19 Safety Measures at the Shelter
Your temperature will be taken prior to entering the main area of our shelter. We ask that our visitors wash hands, wear a mask, and maintain social distancing. You can meet your cat in one of the rooms that we have designated specifically for our adoption appointments. If you wish to see other cats, they will be brought to you in this room. This room is sanitized after every visitor. Only one family/visitor is allowed into the shelter at a given time.
Cost to Adopt from AWLMC
The adoption fees are designed to offset the costs of care incurred by the AWLMC. All AWLMC animals are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped prior to adoption. Typical adoption fees are listed below. We offer special promotions and discounts throughout the year. We currently accept only check or cash.
- One Adult: $100
- Bonded Adult Pair: $150
- Single Kitten: $125
- Two Kittens: $200