Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: What is the main purpose of the Animal Shelter?

A: The Animal Shelter’s main purpose is to serve as the rabies control center for the 40 municipalities of Burlington County. The Shelter also provides essential services for reuniting lost pets with their owners and providing unclaimed adoptable animals a chance for a new home.

Q: Can I donate to the Animal Shelter?

A: Yes! The Animal Shelter accepts donations (see our wish list of items). More importantly, you can donate to the Animal Shelter with monetary funds at any time, as a remembrance for a loved one or through your Will/Estate. Any amount donated is appreciated. All funds directly benefit the animals and are not used in the general fund. Your dollars and checks make a great difference in the lives of these animals, and they are tax deductible.

Q: How do I adopt an animal?

A: After you have found an animal you’re interested in, either by visiting the shelter or through the web site, you should then come into the shelter and fill out an application. After an application is submitted and approved you can then interact with the animal outside of the cage. After spending time with the animal, you will then be taken to the front office to fill out the adoption paperwork for the animal. Please see the “Adoption Process” tab on our website for more specific details.

Q: How long does it take to adopt an animal?

A: The timing varies and depends on if the animals came in as a stray, or surrender, and if it came in already spayed/neutered. If the animal still needs to be spayed or neutered the animal can go into our next available clinic to be done and adopted the following day. This could take 7 days or sometimes more depending on when the next spay and neuter clinic is scheduled.

Q: When is the best time to stop by at the Animal Shelter?

A: We open at 12:00 noon and close at 4:00 pm every day, except County Holidays. Thursdays the Shelter remains open until 7:00 pm.

Q: Does the Animal Shelter accept credit cards for payments?

A: Yes we accept credit cards.

Q: How often are Veterinarians and Veterinarian Technicians on duty?

A: One (1) to three (3) Veterinarian Technicians are present at the Shelter every day from morning until late afternoon. Generally, the Veterinarian is only physically present during spay/neuter and rabies clinics. However, they are always on call and very responsive and diligent about returning Veterinarian Technician and senior staff inquiries.

Q: Why do you spay/neuter all the adopted animals?

A: With the expansion and modernization of our Animal Shelter, the County was committed to doing its part in the issue of pet overpopulation. With our spay/neuter program for adoptable pets, we are now part of the solution verses a contributor to the problem. We have vigorously implemented a policy where all adoptable pets are spayed or neutered. Pet overpopulation is basically a problem that stems from the failure of owners to have their pets spayed or neutered.