Pet Adoption

Related FAQs

• Where can I go to adopt a pet?

  Pet adoptions are available at the following locations:

  • You can visit the:  
    Miami-Dade Animal Services  
    Pet Adoption and Protection Center 
    3599 NW 79 Avenue 
    Doral, FL 33122

  • You can also visit the offsite location inside the: 
    Petco Adoption Center in Partnership with Animal Services 
    6200 South Dixie Highway, South Miami, FL 33143
    305-662-5541

  • Community events. Check the Animal Services adoption events calendar for additional pet adoption opportunities in the community

  • Cats only are available for adoption at the following retail partner locations:
    • PetSmart Flagler located at 8241 W Flagler St Ste 101, Miami, FL 33144
      
      
    • PetSmart Dadeland located at 8302 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33143
      
      
    • PetSmart West Kendall located at 16514 SW 88th St, Miami, FL 33196
      
      
    • Cats are available at Petco located at 12014 SW 88th St, Miami, FL 33186 and Petco South-Dade located at 18579 South Dixie Highway 33157
      
      
    • Cats are also available at the satellite adoption centers at The Cat’s Meow Café located at 7541 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138
      
      
    • Please check the retail location for hours of operation
• How do I adopt a pet?

  When you adopt you are saving a life and making a commitment to welcoming the animal as a permanent member of your household. 

  • Start your search online by type of animal (dog or cat), gender, age and size, or you can search all by choosing no preference
  • The results will show a list of the animals currently at Miami-Dade Animal Services that match your search parameters
  • Jot down the Animal ID number of at least three or more animals you are interested in. Animal ID numbers all start with the capital letter A
  • Although you can search online, you must personally visit the Animal Shelter to adopt. Adoptions are on a first-come, first-served basis
  • You can also adopt a pet at our satellite adoption centers.
  • You can also adopt at offsite events including the HOPE Express (mobile adoption vehicle) for adoption opportunities
  • On the day of adoption, you need to bring the following information:
  • A copy of your driver license or valid state picture ID
  • Proof of current address
  • A collar and leash for a dog or puppy
  • A signed spay or neuter agreement and a $50 refundable deposit may be required if the pet cannot be sterilized at the time of his or her adoption. The $50 deposit will be refunded upon proof of pet’s sterilization
  • You must be 18 years of age or older to adopt a pet

  Due to the challenges of COVID-19, Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department is also offering virtual meet-and-greets with adoptable pets. This makes adopting a pet easy and safe for those residents who are practicing social distancing at home.

  How virtual meet-and-greets with adoptable pets work: 

  • Start your pet search and write down the name and ID number of the pet or pets you are interested in
  • Once you've identified a pet you're interested in send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “virtual adoption.” Include the name and ID number of the animal, any questions you may have and your contact information in the email
  • An Animal Services adoption counselor will contact you to answer any questions you have about that pet and set up a Skype video meet and greet call with the pet
  • Once you're ready to adopt, Animal Services will email you an adoption contract to fill out and return. With all the paperwork done virtually, the only thing left to do is to come in and pick up your new pet
  • Schedule a pickup time with Animal Services to ensure your pet will be ready and that your time spent at the shelter will be minimal
• What are the adoption fees for dogs and puppies?

  Dogs more than four months old carry a $65 adoption fee. You can pay the fee by cash, credit card, debit card, money order or cashier’s check.

   Adoption fees include:

  • All vaccinations
  • De-worming
  • Spay/neuter surgery*
  • Microchip
  • Heartworm test (over six months in age)
  • Rabies license tags (for Miami-Dade County residents only).

  Dogs less than four months old receive the following services and carry an $85 adoption fee. You can pay the fee by cash, credit card, debit card, money order or cashier’s check.

   Adoption fees include:

  • First set of vaccinations
  • De-worming
  • Microchip
  • Spay/neuter surgery*

  * Animals that are less than three months old, weigh less than three pounds or have health issues will not be sterilized or vaccinated for rabies. A $50 refundable deposit will be required and an appointment will be scheduled for the spay/neuter surgery within 30 days or when they are four months of age. Broward County residents refundable deposit fee is $100.

• What are the adoption fees for cats and kittens?

  Cats and kittens carry a $35 adoption fee. Adopt two and pay only $35. You can pay the fee by cash, credit card, debit card, money order or cashier’s check.

   Adoption fees include:

  • All vaccinations including feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
  • De-worming
  • Microchip
  • Heartworm test (over six months in age)
  • Spay/neuter surgery*

  * Animals that are less than three months old, weigh less than three pounds or have health issues will not be sterilized or vaccinated for rabies. A $50 refundable deposit will be required and an appointment will be scheduled for the spay/neuter surgery within 30 days or when they are four months of age. Broward County residents refundable deposit fee is $100.

• Do you waive adoption fees for military veterans?

  Miami-Dade County Animal Services salutes our veterans by providing free pet adoptions and/or free spay/neuter services for their dog or cat. It's the County's way of saying, "Thank you for your service."

  Eligible veterans can adopt one animal (a cat or a dog) from the Miami-Dade County Animal Services Pet Adoption and Protection Center at no cost within one fiscal year.

  • Veteran must reside in Miami-Dade County and present a DD-214 at time of adoption or spay/neuter appointment. A military ID card is not enough and will not be honored
  • Veteran must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces (i.e., the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve)
  • Veteran was not punitively discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, in the case of enlisted personnel, or dismissed, in the case of commissioned officers
  • Veteran has no unresolved fines or violations with the Animal Services Department
• What do I need to bring with me to adopt a pet?

  On the day of adoption, you will need to bring the following information :

  • A copy of your driver license or valid state picture ID. You must be 18 years old to adopt a pet. 
  • Proof of current address
  • A collar and leash for a dog or puppy (if you don’t have one, you can purchase both at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center).

  * A signed spay or neuter agreement is required if the pet cannot be sterilized at the time of his or her adoption in addition to a $50 refundable deposit upon proof of pet’s sterilization.

• How do I find out if a pet I am interested in is available for adoption?

  You can search online, but it is best to visit the Pet Adoption and Protection Center or Petco in person as pet adoptions are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, and the pet listed online may not be available.

  When you search online, be aware that not all the pets shown are available for adoption.

  The online pet listing also shows the recently found animals which allows the owner the opportunity to find and be reunited with their pet.

• Can I adopt a pet that is listed as a stray hold?

  Pets found as strays, with no traceable identification, are placed on a three-day stray hold before they are available for adoption. This gives a possible owner time to claim the pet. If you are interested in a pet with a stray hold, you may serve as the pet's foster parent until that mandatory three day hold period has passed. This is referred to as Foster to Adopt. 

  • Foster to Adopt means you may care for the pet in your home during the three-day hold period. But you are not the pet’s owner until the hold period has expired
    
    
  • You will be asked to sign an agreement stating you understand you are not the official pet owner until the three-day stray hold and there has been no claim on the pet by an owner
    
    
  • If the pet's owner is not found after three days, it is yours to adopt. You can then spay or neuter the pet and obtain a license tag
    
    
  • All pets will be vaccinated, tested for heartworm, dewormed and microchipped before leaving the Pet Adoption and Protection Center or Petco
• When and where is the next pet adoption event?

  Search for adoption events taking place in the community on the Miami-Dade County calendar or Animal Services Facebook page.

• What if I need to return the pet I adopted?

  Adopting a pet is a great experience but sometimes it doesn’t work out and returning a pet is the only option.

  The return of the pet is then considered a pet surrender and is not eligible for a refund.

  A full refund will be issued, within 30 days of adoption, only under the following conditions:

  • The animal has a medical condition that was not detected at the time of adoption and the condition is confirmed in a written evaluation by a certified veterinarian
  • If the animal dies within 30 days of adoption and is returned to Animal Services deceased
  • If you are ready to re-commit, you may choose to take another pet in its place