Meet Our Adoptable Dogs

Finding your new best friend starts right here. Every dog in our care is socialized, and ready to bring a lot of tail wags and joy to your home. The journey of preparing a shelter dog for adoption is a labor of love involving dedicated staff and volunteers who provide high-quality nutrition, lifesaving medical care, and safe shelter. Beyond the basics, we focus heavily on behavioral training, daily exercise, and mental enrichment to ensure each pup is ready to put their best paw forward when they meet you.

We work hard to match our shelter dogs with the home that best fits their unique personality and your specific lifestyle. When you adopt from the Humane Society of Rome and pay an adoption donation, it reflects only a portion of our investment in your new companion. These funds are vital, as they allow us to continue rescuing and protecting the homeless animals in our community to ensure they are safe and loved.

Our application process is designed to ensure a great fit for both you and the dog. If you are interested in adopting, please come and visit us at the shelter so we can arrange a meet-and-greet interaction with the dog you are interested in. To keep everyone healthy and safe, if you have other pets at home, please be prepared to share your primary veterinary information/vet records. If you have other dogs at home, we require a meet and greet with both pets prior to them going home with you.

Adoption Process "At-A-Glance"

Visit Us – Come to the shelter during hours
(Tue–Sat, 11am–4:30pm).
Meet & Greet – Spend time with the dog you are interested in.
Apply – Complete our adoption application on-site.
Approval –We’ll verify your info and vet records.
Go Home! –Pay the adoption fee and take your new friend home.

Animal welfare is our foremost consideration and therefore our staff reserves the right to deny any adoption.

Adoption Includes

Spay or Neuter
Distemper Vaccine (and boosters if in shelter when due)
Rabies Vaccine
(if 3 months of age or older and 3 pounds or more)
Deworming
Flea Control Treatment
Micro-Chip

Adoption Requirements

Must be 18+ with valid photo ID
Adoption fee for dogs begins at $200
Proof of Address
Landlord Permission (if renting)
All family members must meet the dog, prior to adoption
Collar and leash are required to take your new dog home

Questions About Animals

How can I adopt a pet from the Humane Society of Rome, New York?

We are open to the public from 11AM-5PM Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday from 11AM-3PM, and closed Monday. If you see an animal that interests you, the next step is for you to fill out an Adoption Application. Before the adoption is finalized, we encourage you to bring all of the family members who will be living with the pet to our Shelter. If you have other pets, especially dogs, we often encourage you to bring them also so that you can see how your pet interacts with the new animal. Once you have completed the paperwork our staff will talk with you and your family. The Humane Society reserves the right to hold the animal while we check information provided on your application. Our first responsibility is to the animals in our care. We want to find a good home for them and help you get the right pet for your lifestyle.

What does it cost to adopt a pet?

Adopting a pet is a process designed to ensure a successful match between our residents and your lifestyle. Start by visiting our Cats or Dogs adoption pages to browse available animals. You can click on any individual listing to view more details about that pet’s personality, history, and specific adoption costs.

If you find an animal you are interested in, visit us at the shelter during public hours for a meet-and-greet. To finalize an adoption, you must complete an application and provide a current copy of veterinary records for any pets already in your household to ensure a safe transition for all.

How do I know what type of animal is right for me?

Talk to our staff. They are trained to help you through the adoption process. If we don’t think an animal will be right for you or your lifestyle, we’ll let you know.

How do I relinquish an animal to the Humane Society?

If the animal is a stray cat and you live in Rome, please call first to see if we have the space. If we do, you can bring the animal to us. You will need to fill out some paperwork. We ask that you also make a monetary donation to help defray the cost of caring for this animal. For a stray dogs you should first contact your local Dog Control Officer and then our shelter.

If you are surrendering your pet, we work on a first come, first serve basis. Please call ahead, we have limited space. Owners are sometimes placed on a waiting list. We ask that you bring any health records along with the animal's personal items. A surrender fee is required: $100.00 if the animal is spayed or neutered and current on vaccinations, or $250.00 if the animal is not spayed or neutered and/or not current on vaccinations.

Can the Humane Society provide veterinary services for my pets?

No, we don’t have a veterinarian on staff. We can provide you with a list of local veterinarians. If you adopt an animal from us, you will also receive a discount on your first visit from a list we provide to you. This is a list from the local veterinarians association – not us.

Does the Humane Society ever get purebred animals?

Yes. You would be surprised at some of the animals that come through our doors. We do not encourage people to adopt simply because an animal is a purebred but the reality is, we do adopt purebred animals out of the Rome Shelter.

What do I do about a stray cat or dog in my neighborhood?

Your initial step may be trying to find the owner. Sometimes an animal has tags. If you do check for tags, please approach the animal with care. You can check in your neighborhood by going door to door. Other options include calling local vet clinics with a description to see if it matches any of their cases. Because we have limited funding and staff, we don’t go into the community to pick up stray animals. It is best to call the local Police or the Animal Control Officer if the stray is a dog.

What do I do about a dead animal on my property or if I find a badly injured animal in my neighborhood?

Call the Police or the county Department of Sanitation to pick up a dead animal. If the animal is a cat that is badly injured, you can contact us at 336-7070. For a dog please call the Dog Control Officer or the Police.