Rochester Animal Services: Community pet support and resources

Pet-inclusive housing resources

• Pet-Inclusive Housing Research Report 2021 - Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)
• Pet-Inclusive Considerations for Property Managers

“PETS ARE WELCOME” RESOURCE LIST

Many animals are surrendered to shelters each year because their owners have difficulty finding rental properties that allow pets. The "Pets are Welcome" Resource List connects renters to helpful apartment/house rental search engines that provide real-time information on the properties that allow pets. It also contains information that encourages communication between rental management and pet-owning tenants. If rental management and pet owners work together, they can create a mutually beneficial pet-friendly environment, keeping the pet’s family intact and ensuring the protection of management’s properties.

Find helpful information about pet resumes, traveling with your pet, pet-friendly accommodations, and much more at https://www.zumper.com/rental-guides/how-to-rent-pet-friendly-apartments/.

The "pets are welcome" resource list aims to

• Help responsible pet owners find pet-friendly rental housing and help housing management advertise its pet-friendly properties by providing the latest resources, and
• Show responsible pet owners how to present their pets and themselves as the good tenants that they can be.

Featured pet-friendly rentals in Rochester:

• Tower280
• Morgan Communities  

P.A.W. Resources:

• ApartmentGuide.com
• ApartmentList.com
• Apartments.com
• Realtor.com
• Rent.com
• Rentals.com  
• RentLingo
• HotPads Rochester
• My Apartment Map  
• PadMapper 
• Zillow Rochester
• Trulia
• Zumper.com
• Redfin.com
• Renttoownlabs.com

Rochester's Pets for Life Program

Pets for Life is our main outreach program.  Created and supported by the Humane Society of the United States, the program builds humane communities

 using innovative strategies and fresh approaches designed to extend the reach of animal services, resources, and information to under-served areas. Addressing the critical need for accessible, affordable pet care, our program helps animals by empowering the people who care for them.

The Rochester Pets for Life (PFL) program began in February 2018 and is focused on neighborhoods within 14605 as one of the City’s zip codes with the highest percentage of people living in poverty. These focus areas were identified through a community assessment that showed they were low-income, under-served areas with a high concentration of pets and people who love them. People in these areas often do not have access to pet care information, resources, or veterinary and related services, despite an often great need. There are no pet supply stores in this area. There are no veterinarians, boarding facilities, or any other pet-related services.

PFL provides ongoing neighborhood outreach, plans community-wide events, and offers free or very low-cost services such as spay/neuter surgeries and wellness care. We strive for partnerships with animal welfare organizations and other important community leaders and service providers, including faith-based entities, social service programs, health care agencies, and local businesses.

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PFL is based on the fundamental understanding that where there is human suffering, there is animal suffering. To respond effectively to this, we must reach

 out to an audience that has the least access to information about animal wellness. Building trustful relationships with people and their pets, making information and resources affordable and easy to access, and establishing an ongoing presence in areas where people conduct their lives are all critical to having a real impact. Experience has shown us that when we extend our compassion to humans as well as other animals and extend resources where needed, we can create long-term and meaningful social change.

For more information, visit the Pets For Life website or email AnimalServices@cityofrochester.gov.

To support Rochester's Pets For Life program, click the button below:

Make a donation

Keeping families together

We strive to reunify, re-home, or transfer as many animals that enter our care as possible. This is challenging, given that all animals owned by Rochester residents or found within the city are accepted regardless of age, health, species, breed, type, or behavior. 

There are hundreds of sick, injured, abandoned, and lost companion animals that are in greater need of shelter compared to one healthy pet already in a home. Although we will provide the best possible care for every animal that comes in, a home environment is almost always safer and healthier for your pet's medical and behavioral wellness.

The City asks that owners exhaust all options before deciding to bring a pet to the shelter. First, is keeping the pet an option? Perhaps there is some form of support or intervention that we might provide that would help you overcome challenges and keep your pet in your home. 

The following is a partial list of the types of support we may be able to provide or facilitate:

• Pet food or supplies
• Crate and crate training guidance
• Vaccinations
• Behavioral support
• Locating pet-friendly housing

Call us for more information at 585-428-7274 or via email. 

If keeping your pet is not possible, check with family, friends, and co-workers to see if any can accept your pet into their homes. Advertise your pet for adoption.

 Consider using a web-based re-homing service or social media platform to assist in showcasing your pet to the community. If you need assistance from us with re-homing, our preferred protocol is to work with you on direct placement from your home to a new home. This approach keeps your pet in a comfortable home under your care and avoids the stressful and frightening visit to a shelter. Additionally, self-rehoming ensures that you are directly involved in identifying and securing the right home for your companion. 

Re-homing pet resources that we can help with

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• Our supported self-rehoming program  
  • Home To Home    
    Home To Home is a platform that allows interested adopters to connect directly with people looking to re-home their pets. Rochester Animal Services (RAS) has not evaluated or assessed these pets. RAS is unable to provide any additional information or guarantees about the pets – please contact the pet owner directly to learn more about them. 
• Other web-based re-homing services
  • Rehome
  • Petfinder.com
  • Facebook
  • Nextdoor
  • Craigslist
  • Classified ads in local papers

Additional tips and resources to increase the likelihood of finding a new home for your pet

• Spay or neuter the pet. We may be able to help with this.
• Make sure the pet is healthy and current on vaccinations. 
• Work with the pet to make sure it is friendly and comfortable with many different people and situations.
• Allow the pet indoors, so it can learn to be social and have better manners.
• Read these suggestions from Best Friends Animal Society.
• Explore options and solutions as outlined by The Humane Society of Rochester at Lollypop Farm  

End-of-life services for medical or age issues 

If your pet is suffering from medical or age-related issues warranting euthanasia, please contact your veterinarian. 

If you cannot afford the veterinary fees, try contacting Rochester Hope For Pets for financial assistance.  Animal Services staff may perform euthanasia services for pets of Rochester residents as staffing and operational needs allow. Please call (585) 428-7274 to make an appointment. We also accept walk-in requests, but we prefer that you attempt to make an appointment.

Note

Leaving your pet at the Animal Services Center without having a staff person admit the animal to the shelter may be considered abandonment. Please call (585) 428-7274 to schedule an appointment or 9-1-1 for emergencies.