Dubuque Humane Society was founded in 1901 to prevent cruelty and abuse against children and animals (mainly horses at the time). A Chief Humane Officer was appointed within the local police to enforce anti-cruelty laws. He essentially replaced the local dogcatcher, which led to the opening of the first small animal rescue shelter in the city.
The shelter has moved locations several times over the years, increasing in size each time. Thankfully, due to kind donations and fundraising over the years, Dubuque Humane Society has been able to grow to meet the ever-increasing need for their services.
Every year 25 dedicated staff members help save over 2,700 rescued, lost, abandoned, neglected, and surrendered animals in the region. The shelter rescues and finds homes for dogs, cats, and other small animals such as rodents, guinea pigs, and rabbits.
Adopting from Dubuque Humane Society is easy!
Check out the adorable critters up for grabs on their website before visiting the center in person. If you see one online that makes your heart flutter, hurry to make sure they aren't reserved by filling out an application form here.
Next, contact the shelter to arrange a visit. It's recommended that you spend at least 15 minutes with each animal you'e interested in adopting. During your visit, one of Dubuque Humane Society's helpful staff members will discuss your situation, needs, and preferences to find the best fit for you.
Once you've found your perfect partner, the rest of adoption process can take as little as 45 minutes to complete. You'll need a photo ID, and it's recommended you bring your dog for a quick meet-and-greet if you're considering adding another canine to your collection!
Adoption fees at the Dubuque Humane Society are as follows:
Your adoption fee for dogs and cats covers spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, appropriate vaccinations, flea and tick treatment, rabies shots, deworming, any other necessary veterinary care, and a small amount of food to get you started.
Adoption fees for other small animals at Dubuque Humane Society vary. Contact the shelter directly or check out individual animal profiles on the website for further information.
Our writing team is hard at work researching this shelter's adoption process and fees, so this page will be updated soon!
In the meantime, here's some nice-to-know info that applies to nearly every animal shelter, humane society, and rescue.
Because shelter dogs are full of love!
Is it because they know you saved them and love you harder for it?
I can't say for certain, but yes.
Jokes aside, there are three things all shelter dogs need to thrive in their new home:
Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:
These issues are correctable! Your dog isn't broken, they're just damaged. You can fix them with enough love, patience, and a good training plan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding good dog trainers can be hard. Like everything else, dog training is moving only. but there are great online dog trainers that are proven to work and can help get your new pup on the right path.
You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.
Adoption processes vary drastically from organization to organization, but here are some general tips that apply in most instances. Note that we'll use the term "shelters" here for simplicity but it includes all types of rescue organizations.
If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!
If you're looking to adopt a new dog, our Dog Adoption Guide is a must-read. It has everything you need to know about bringing a shelter dog home:
And we're adding new guides all the time.