So You're Thinking of Adopting a Companion Animal

Adopting an animal is a long-term commitment. Be sure that you are able to make that commitment before bringing an animal into your home. Cats and dogs can have a natural life span of up to fifteen to twenty years.

Petfinder's website is a good resource to find adoptable animals in foster care or in shelters. You can search by VSA chapters or by species, breed, sex, location, etc. Visit Petfinder.com.

You can do your part to prevent more cats and dogs from being abandoned to the streets or entering shelters by spaying or neutering them. In Rhode Island, it is the law that all owned cats must be spayed or neutered by six months of age. Cats can be spayed or neutered earlier, as they can start reproducing at five months of age.

Call VSA at 401-273-0358 if you need information about adopting an animal, or about low cost spaying and neutering.