Adoptions

Pets should never be given to anyone as a gift or acquired with the intent that they are solely for
children. Children can interact with pets, and in most cases this can be positive for both, as long as both
the pet and the children are properly disciplined and supervised. Small children should never be left alone
or unsupervised with any pet. Dog bites are at epidemic levels in this country and most bites are to small
children. If a child is teasing or tormenting a dog or cat they will bite in self-defense. This is not abnormal
and it is the fault of the parent who should have been properly supervising the child. The Society will only
work with and adopt a pet to the individual(s) who will be responsible for the well being of the pet after it
is adopted. This means adults over the age of 21 years who demonstrate the emotional, psychological
and financial maturity necessary to be responsible pet owners.

Owning a pet is a privilege, not a right. The life style (hours spent at home), family make-up (family
members, age of children etc.), environment (house, back yard, apartment etc.), of prospective
adopters are the primary considerations of the Society when adopting pets. People living in apartments
must furnish a letter from the apartment manager stating the pet deposit has been paid and they must
have a crate for all dogs. Our first and foremost responsibility is to do our utmost to ensure that we
place each pet in a proper home. On all adoptions the Society retains ownership for the life of the pet
and has the right to inspect the pet at any reasonable time in order to insure proper care is being given.

The Arlington Humane Society is a non-killing Humane Society and as such we only accept pets that in
our opinion are adoptable. This decision is based on many factors including the individual animal's
appearance, age, behavior, health, vaccination history and space available at the time. Pets considered
unacceptable to the Society can be taken to the city operated animal control agency in whatever city
the owner resides. We would love to find a home for every animal that someone doesn't want, for
whatever reason; however, this is not possible. Over 17 million dogs and cats are being killed every year
in the United States because there are no homes for them. Until we can get people educated to be
responsible pet owners, this will continue. The city animal control agencies which are tax funded in
Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Mansfield have proper funding, facilities and staffing and are charged with
performing the animal control function within their respective jurisdictions.Years ago cities did not
operate proper humane animal control facilities and it fell on the privately funded humane organizations
to perform this function. This is no longer true. Most cities, with very few exceptions, now operate
adequate shelters.

Dogs and cats are companion animals and as such, need a family environment. It is cruel and inhumane
to keep dogs or cats in cages all their lives, thereby depriving them of a companion relationship. They
are better off being humanely "put to sleep" at animal control. The Society does not operate a dog pound
and we don't kill animals; hence our philosophy of only accepting adoptable animals. It is not our place,
nor do we have the funding or responsibility to perform the cities' animal control function. The Society
can help with training, spaying/neutering, emergency veterinary care, vaccinations and other educational
programs, but we cannot create homes where homes don't exist.

Please note that the Arlington Humane Society is a privately funded (by donations and operated Society
established for the purpose of helping animals and owners considered helpable. We would love to help all
animals and their owners but unfortunately budget and reality do not permit us to do so. We receive no
tax money or other government funding of any kind and we are totally staffed by volunteers. As such, we
can only do what we can within our limited resources. Donations sent to The Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS), American Humane and other national or regional organizations stay with them.
There is no filter down. Please be as generous as possible with your donations to the Arlington Humane
Society. All donations stay right here and go to help local animals in your local community. Let's clean up
our own back yard before we worry about the whales in Antarctica.

The Society is under no obligation or legal responsibility to either accept or adopt pets from or to
anyone, and the Society reserves the right to refuse to accept, or adopt any animal to or from anyone
for any reason.