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The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter adopts over 1,000 dogs a year. Since these dogs or puppies are all strays, adopters accept the following facts: (Please Check Off Each As Read And Sign Below) [ ] Your new dog/pup comes without any information regarding its prior history or prior health care. [ ] You have no guarantee that your adopted dog/pup is healthy. [ ] You must immediatly take your new dog/pup to a veterinarian for a complete and thorough health check. [ ] Your dog/pup should be checked for fleas, earmites, and sarcoptic mange. [ ] You should have your veterinarian immdiatly run tests; the only way to be 100% safe is to isolate the dog until your veterinarian confirms it is not contagious. Each critter is vaccinated for distemper, hepatitis, leprospires, parainfluenza, and parvovirus (DHLP & P). Puppies are wormed for hook and roundworms. [ ] The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter does not operate a veterinary clinic and is unable to perform these tests. If your dog/pup is already incubating a virus or disease, a vaccination may have no effect. It can take up to 10 days for symptoms tp appear. [ ] Should your adopted dog/pup develop a serious health problem within 10 days, you should immediatly contact one of the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter supervisors by phone. If the health problem is deemed serious, you may return the dog or puppy and select another according to the terms of the Adoption Policy. [ ] Serious health problems are limited to parvovirus, distemper, heartworm, and mange. [ ] If the dog/pup has a virus or disease that may be infectious to other dogs, you must wait one month before bringing another dog into your home. [ ] The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter is unable to provide veterinary care for dogs after adoption. If you choose to treat the dog/pup at your veterinarian, you must do so at your own expense. [ ] Your dog or pup HAS NOT RECEIVED ALL NECESSARY VACCINATIONS. [ ] Puppies under 6 months of age will require additional vaccinations to prevent the contaction of distemper or parvovirus. The first vaccination should be scheduled no later than 2 weeks after the date of the vaccination given here at the shelter as noted on your Adoption Policy. Your veterinarian will schedule them as appropriate. [ ] Adult dogs of unknown vaccination status require 2 vaccinations 3 to 4 weeks apart, then annually. [ ] Dogs confined in shelters are in a stressful environment which causes their immune system to weaken. This often results in repiratory infections and/or canine cough which is contagious to other dogs. Symptoms may include coughing, sneezing, dischare from the nose or eyes. This can be treated with antibiotics. However, these same symptoms can also be present with more serious diseases. [ ] With a stray dog of unknown background, there is always a slight chance that the animal may be carrying something contagious to other animals or humans. [ ] Your adopted dog/pup will receive a 1-year rabies vaccine when spayed/neutered at the County Animal Shelter. If no surgery is performed (pup too young/dog already altered) the vaccine will be given at the time of adoption if the county veterinarian is on duty. Otherwise, you may return with your dog/pup for the rabies vaccination Monday or Friday between the hours of 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM. [ ] Pups under 3 months of age must wait until until returning for their spay/neuter procedure to receive their rabies vaccination. [ ] A stool sample should be taken to your veterinarian to test for heartworm, tapeworm, whipworm, coccidia, and giardia. [ ] DOGS REQUIRE ANNUAL VETERINARY EXAMINATIONS AND VACCINATIONS. The foregoing information has been compiled through our experience here at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter. Your veterinarian is best equipped to guide you in the apprpriate care of your adopted critter. The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter staff and management care about the health and well-being of you newly adopted critter. Please call to advise us of any health problems observed by your veterinarian.
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