Adopting a Cat or Dog

 Contact Us/Visit Us  at the shelter by appointment. 
​Appointments are typically booked between 9 am - 11 am. During your visit, you will spend time with your prospective pet and, in the case of dogs, go for a short walk on the grounds.

Adoption is a significant decision and our policy requires a minimum of two visits before making the choice to apply to adopt. Dogs must meet all people and dogs that are typically in the household during the visits to ensure compatibility.   Many of our pets will have more than one adoption application by suitable families. Unfortunately, it's only one pet and so only one family will be selected.  Decisions are based on the perceived best based on observations by volunteers and staff (not first-come first-served). All applications are reviewed independent of whether or not the family adopted from us before, donated to the shelter or volunteers at the shelter. Follow-up calls are made to the applicant that is getting the pet. We don't call all other applicants but, people are welcome to call the shelter to follow-up on the status of an application. 

If the adoption proceeds, you will finalize an adoption agreement and will be provided additional information including our return policy.  Please don't think of a passed over application as a rejection - our priority is finding homes for the pets and sadly, there are always more looking for homes. Don't give up.

The fee, $400 for dogs, $500 for puppies 6 months and under, and $200 for cats, $250 for kittens, is payable in cash, debit or by eTransfer.   Note: Fees are adjusted for senior animals.

Adopt a Cat

Adopt a Dog

The Grey-Bruce Animal Shelter is committed to ensuring that all cats and dogs passing through our adoption facility are vaccinated for rabies, distemper and parvo (dogs), spayed or neutered and all dogs micro-chipped. However, there will be SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES when these procedures cannot be performed prior to adoption. The Shelter manager shall determine which circumstances are deemed to be special. Where such special circumstances exist, an adoption will only be permitted if the adopter agrees to the terms of and signs the GBAS /ADOPTER/SPAY NEUTER AGREEMENT which can be obtained at the Shelter front desk at time of adoption.

What We Do

• We provide shelter, treatment and care for cats and dogs whose owners, residents of Grey and Bruce Counties, are no longer able to care for their pets

• * In special emergency situations and subject to availability of space, we accept animals destined for euthanasia. They are treated in the same manner as we treat our surrendered pets.


• We arrange for all shots,vaccinations, spaying and neutering of our animals prior to adoption. Rare exemptions are made due to age or health.


• We minimize the time animals remain at the shelter by consistently matching animals to suitable homes. 


• We assist sick or injured dogs and cats toward a humane end of life.

• We are a facility for owner surrendered dogs and cats and we do not surrender animals for research.


• We practice and provide information on humane treatment to help fight pet overpopulation. 


• Resources permitting, we attempt to modify behaviour of "unruly" animals.

What We Don't Do

• ​We do not have the authority to accept stray animals. Only dogs or cats surrendered by their owners are accepted.


• We are not licensed as an animal control agent.


• We are not a boarding kennel for dogs and cats.​