Our Adoption Process

We’re so excited that you’re considering adopting from Nashville Humane Association! You can visit us at 213 Oceola Ave in West Nashville, near the intersection of White Bridge Road and Charlotte Pike, between 10 AM – 12 PM and 1 PM – 5 PM Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays). We are closed daily for Quiet Hour between 12 – 1 PM and the last call for animal visitations is 30 minutes before close (11:30 AM and 4:30 PM). As a heads up, our adoption process takes about an hour, and all adoptions must be finalized on-site at the shelter, so if you’re planning to visit and adopt, be sure to make accommodations for time.

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Pets Adopted in 2024

Adoption Requirements

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • A picture I.D. showing your present address
  • The knowledge and consent of your landlord (if applicable)
  • Ability to spend time/money necessary to provide training, medical treatment, and proper care for a pet

IMPORTANT: The Nashville Humane Association reserves the right to refuse adoption to anyone. No animal will be adopted to prospective owners who mislead or fail to provide accurate information on the application.

Here’s How It Works

As Nashville’s FAVORITE shelter, we adopt thousands of pets annually. In most cases, you are able to come and visit and adopt from our facility on the same day. To adopt from Nashville Humane, please follow our adoption process as listed below.

1. View a Pet’s Page to Learn More

Right now you can take a look at every pet that is currently available for adoption. View Adoptable Dogs. View Adoptable Cats. Our Adoption Pages are updated every hour, so the pets you see online are the pets that are currently available for adoption.

2. Come to Nashville Humane

Once you’re ready to start the adoption process or see a pet(s) online you’d like to visit, you’ll want to come to the shelter during business hours. If you are planning on adopting, you should plan to budget at least an hour of time into your schedule. Please keep in mind that animal visitations end 30 minutes before quiet hour (11:30 AM) and closing (4:30 PM).

3. How to Visit With Our Pets

If a pet’s location is currently listed on the website as “Available to Adopt – In Foster Home”, that means they’re currently living in one of our foster homes. If you’d like to learn more or schedule a meet-and-greet, you’ll just coordinate that through our Pet Services Team by emailing adoption@nashvillehumane.org.

Any pet that is currently listed on the website as “Available In Shelter” will be available for you to meet and spend time with when you visit the shelter.

4. Fill Out an Adoption Survey

Fill out an adoption survey at the shelter. This will begin the adoption process and allow our team to help you find your match!

A member of our Pet Services team will discuss your survey with you and answer any questions. Once you’ve talked with our team to go over information and had time to meet with your future pet, you’ll review and sign our adoption contract and complete payment of the adoption fee. And then it’s time to head home with your new best friend!

Here Are Some Details

All animals in our Adoption Program, while at NHA, receive a spay/neuter surgery, are current on their vaccinations, are micro-chipped, and receive high-quality veterinary care from our team of full-time board-certified veterinary staff.

You can see each pet’s adoption fee listed on their adoption page. Adoption Fees at Nashville Humane start at $110 for adult dogs and $175 for puppies, and start at $100 for cats and $175 for kittens. 

More than 4,000 animals come through our doors every year. Each has a different story to tell. Some are found as strays while others are surrendered by owners who can no longer care for them. Hundreds are rescued from animal cruelty cases. But no matter how they got here, each and every one is loved, cared for, and attended to. Whether that’s individualized medical treatment, behavioral rehabilitation, or treats, food and shelter. Our adoption fees help offset these costs.

Nashville Humane employs what is called a ‘scalable pricing’ system. There are certain in-demand animals that have higher adoption fees. The adorable Yorkie puppy, who will be adopted in five minutes, gets to serve an even greater mission. He gets to help offset the cost of care for the senior dog who will be in our care for months.

Remember, Nashville Humane is an entirely gift-based not-for-profit, and we have to be creative from time-to-time with how we raise funds. We aren’t a government-funded organization. We don’t have a over-arching national organization to support us. We are a small, local shelter, and a scalable adoption fee structure helps us keep our lights on and our doors open.

Adoptability Guidelines

Our Commitment to Adoptable Pets
At the heart of our mission is the belief that every adoptable animal deserves to be a safe, well-adjusted companion pet in a loving home. We are committed to helping prepare each animal for a happy, healthy life as part of your family. For us, an adoptable pet is one that meets the following criteria:
  • Positive Behavior and Bonding: The animal displays acceptable behavior and can form a bond with humans.
  • Health and Well-being: They are medically manageable and can adjust to their environment to enjoy a good quality of life that allows them to thrive.
  • Safety and Containment: They can be safely handled by people and can be securely contained within a typical home environment.
By upholding these standards, our goal is that when you open your home to one of our animals, you are welcoming a safe and social new family member. We are dedicated to making a successful match that brings joy to both pet and owner for years to come!
Nashville Humane Association

Adopt Dogs

Nashville Humane Association

Adopt Cats

Adoption FAQ

You can go here to view the animals that are currently available for adoption.

We do not offer online adoptions. You must come to the shelter to complete our adoption process in-person.

We do not offer the ability to reserve or hold pets online. You must come to the shelter to complete our adoption process in-person.

For the large majority, the answer is yes. Some of our animals have a longer adoption process. In these cases, we work with potential adopters to ensure both they and the pet are set up for success.

Yes. We are open for visits Tuesday-Sunday from 10AM – 12 PM and 1 PM – 5PM. We are closed on Mondays.

Yes. We absolutely encourage your current dog (6 months or older) to meet your potential new family member. We have spaces within the shelter where your current dog(s) can hang out while you walk the shelter to meet prospective dogs. When you arrive, ask a member of our Pet Services team to assist you. Note: we do not do cat meet and greets. This applies to either for our cat with your pets/dogs, or for your cat meeting with our pets/dogs.

No. If you want to adopt, and the pet is listed online then come to the shelter and begin the process.

No. You can be from anywhere, but you do have to physically be at our Nashville shelter to complete our adoption process. We do not offer online adoptions.  Additionally, adopters are solely responsible for any documentation, health certificates, or check-ups necessary for where they live or for interstate travel. Lastly, for health and safety purposes we are not able to “ship” animals.

Maybe? It just depends on the given day, but obviously some “types” of pets are less common to shelters than others. Your best bet is to watch our Adoption Pages on our website to see real-time updates of our current adoptable census. Also, sometimes we post “coming attractions” on social media (Facebook, Instagram), so it’s a good idea to follow us on social, too!

Also, due to the volume of inquiries and animals we care for at any given time, we do not offer a “contact me list.” Just keep checking back on the site!

Studies show there is actually no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog! However, there are breeds that are less likely to elicit allergy symptoms. We recommend researching these breeds on the American Kennel Club website to find the best fit for you. The breeds listed on this site sometimes come into our care, so please check our “Adopt Dogs” tab to see if there are any currently available for adoption.