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New beginnings

At Rochester Animal Services, we believe every pet deserves a loving home. Our Pet Adoption Program is dedicated to matching wonderful animals with caring families, ensuring a lifetime of companionship and joy.

Why Adopt from Rochester Animal Services?

1. Save a life — By adopting from us, you’re giving a deserving animal a second chance at life. Each adoption opens up space for another animal in need, allowing us to continue our mission of rescuing and caring for homeless pets.

2. Variety of pets — We have a diverse selection of pets looking for their forever homes, including dogs, cats, and more. Whether you’re looking for a playful kitten, a loyal dog, or a calm and cuddly senior pet, we have the perfect companion waiting for you.

3. Health and wellness — All our animals are examined by our team. They receive vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and necessary medical treatment before they are made available for adoption. This ensures that your new pet is healthy and ready to join your family.

4. Support and guidance — Adopting a pet is a big decision, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Our knowledgeable staff will provide you with all the information you need about your new pet, including its history, personality, and any special care they may require. We also offer post-adoption support to help you and your new pet settle in comfortably.

5. Affordable adoption fees — Our adoption fees are designed to be affordable and include the cost of medical care and vaccinations. This fee helps us continue to provide high-quality care for all the animals at our facility.

Contact:

Animal Services

Pet adoption hours

Monday - Sunday, 12 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Rochester Animal Services

Pet adoption information

Monday - Sunday, 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

  1. All of our adoptable animals can be viewed online, or in person at the shelter at 184 Verona Street. Some animals may be available now, and some may be on a stray-hold, which could require putting your name on a waitlist. 
  2. If you see an animal that you are interested in on our website, you may click on its picture to apply. Once submitted, we will have your application on file when you visit the Animal Shelter. 
  3. We process adoptions same-day for those who are submitting an adoption form in person, so you may not be first in line for adoption consideration. If you would like to move forward with the next steps in adoption, please come visit Rochester Animal Services during adoption hours. 
  4. Our staff members will ask you for some information to help us ensure the well-being of the animal you wish to adopt, and to ensure the same for any pets that you may already have at home.
    1. We always encourage potential adopters to think about all the responsibilities and expenses associated with owning a pet, because we want to ensure that adopters are up to the task and ready to commit to the life of the pet. 
  5. As part of the adoption process, you will be asked to complete the following steps:
    1. Provide general contact information (i.e., name, address, phone number, email)
    2. Show proof of identity
    3. Read and sign an adoption agreement.
    4. Pay the appropriate fees (see "Adoption Fees" below)

Applying is not a hold or reservation and does not guarantee an approval. We will review your application with you in person when you visit the Animal Shelter.  Feel free to ask questions about spaying or neutering, house training, obedience training, controlling fleas and ticks, and anything else of interest. 

  • 2-Fur-1 Cats: Adopt one cat, get a second cat free
    • Year-round promotion
    • This applies to all cats over 5 months of age if spayed or neutered before release to a new home                                                
  • Seniors-For-Seniors Program
    • Any person over the age of 60 can adopt any pre-sterilized animal over 7 years of age at no charge
    • This applies only to pets that have been spayed or neutered before release to their new home
    • License fees apply to dogs.    

Species  (dog and cat)Fee  Species (other)Fee  
Puppy (<6 mos)$50Ferret$28
Dog (>6 mos)$50Rabbit$30
Senior Dog (>7 yrs)$50Pocket Pet$3
Kitten (<6 mos)$35Parakeet$8
Cat (>6 mos)$35Cockatiel$30
Senior Cat (>7 yrs)$35Parrot$500
  Macaw$1000

Dog and cat fees cover veterinary care, spay/neuter surgery, de-worming, vaccines, disease screening ( HW for dogs and FELV/FIV for cats), dog license, microchip identification, ID tag, initial dose of flea control, and a free health exam voucher.    

Hours & location

  • 184 Verona Street, Rochester NY 14608
  • Monday - Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
  • (Adoptions and visitations end 30 minutes before closing each day)

Support Our Friends

Verona Street Animal Society

The Verona Street Animal Society is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established to help support the mission and programs of Rochester Animal Services.

Annual Fundraiser

Learn more about the event and stay tuned for notifications about The Fast & The Furriest®.

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