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Rules for Adopting a Pet From the Maui Humane Society Permission of the Landlord Or Legal Property Owner Is Required. The landlord or rental agency will be contacted for verbal consent. Written permission in the form of rental agreements, lease agreements, or signed letters of consent are also accepted. In the case of multiple family households, the legal property owner must also agree to the adoption before it is approved. We discourage the adoption of any animal to individuals living temporarily in the community. Renters should be aware that it could be more difficult to find rental situations that accept pets. You must be prepared to provide a permanent home and lifelong care to the animal. Adopters Must Be 18 Years of Age Or Older to Adopt an Animal. Picture identification is required to adopt any pet. Proper Restraint and Supervision: In accordance with Maui County Law, all dogs must be properly restrained and controlled on and off their property and may not be allowed to run at large. A Humane Society Representative will conduct a site inspection of your property prior to adoption. Prospective adopters will be required to provide proper outdoor restraint and suitable shelter as defined in this section even if the intention is to have the dog as an indoor pet. A fenced yard is recommended for all dogs. Chain or rope tie-outs are not an acceptable or humane solution due to potential risk for injury. Dog kennels, trolley, and cable tie-outs are acceptable options, provided they allow adequate space for the dog to move about freely and must be of adequate strength to securely restrain the dog. For dogs less than 4 months of age a harness is required in conjunction with a trolley or tie-out. Adequate shelter from the elements is also required and must be accessible from where the dog is contained. Requirements for Suitable Shelter: Housing must be constructed of materials to adequately protect the animal from weather elements i.e. wind, rain, sun and heat and cold. Dog houses must be of adequate size to enable the dog to comfortably stand upright and turn around. Make sure materials are pet safe as some wood and paints can be toxic to animals. Bedding must be provided as well as a dry place for the animal to rest. Dog houses must be placed in an area on the property where it will be shaded throughout the day. In addition, the doghouse needs to be constructed in such a way that proper ventilation is allowed. Requirements for Trolley / Tie-outs: All tie-outs/trolleys must be a minimum of 10 feet in length; and the area must be free of debris which could entangle or endanger the pet, (i.e. bushes, shrubs, furniture etc.). No chains or rope material shall be accepted. If said tie-out/trolley is to be used for an animal under 6 months of age, it must be accompanied with a properly fitted harness. Make sure to always check the harness as puppies grow quickly and harnesses that are to tight can be dangerous. Requirements for Fencing: Material must be specifically designed to safely and adequately confine the dog. Hog wire and most livestock fencing are inappropriate as a means to adequately confine dogs. Fence height needs to be adequate to contain the breed chosen (based on adult size). Fencing must be constructed in a way to ensure the dog cannot dig, climb, jump or otherwise escape the enclosure. Requirements for Kennels: Materials must be specifically designed to safely and adequately confine the dog and prevent the dog from digging, chewing, climbing or otherwise escaping the kennel. The kennel must be of adequate size for the breed of the dog and must allow the dog to move about freely while inside. In addition, it may be necessary to attach shade cloth to the kennel sides to protect the animal from wind, rain, sun and heat. A dog house or other suitable shelter shall be provided within the kennel to allow the dog a place to rest (see requirements above). Dog-to-Dog Introduction. Currently owned dogs must be brought to the shelter for an introduction to the selected animal you wish to adopt. This important step will determine whether they will be compatible and able to reside together. Children and Pets. The Maui Humane Society discourages the adoption of certain animals, breeds or temperaments to families with young children. In general, puppies and kittens should be at least 4 months of age before being placed in homes where there are children under the age of 6 years old. Health and humane authorities agree that a young child usually cannot be expected to handle a puppy or kitten properly. Mishandling is likely to result in an injury to the child, the animal, or both. Regardless of age, children and animals must always be supervised when together. Special Needs for Puppies. Puppies need special care and attention, and should not be left alone for long periods of time. Please consider this when choosing a pet to adopt. Remember to always check puppies, collar to ensure the fit is not too tight. Adopters Will Allow for A Minimum 30-Day Adjustment Period. This is crucial for the animal to adjust to its new environment and family all adopters should be prepared to give the animal proper training and guidance as you both get to know each other. (All dog adopters are encouraged to enroll in our basic obedience classes, which are offered at a discount for dogs adopted from us.) All adopters are encouraged to call us with any questions or concerns regarding their newly adopted pet. Animals Will Be Placed As Companion Animals Only. They are to be accepted as family members, receiving proper nourishment, medical care and attention. Adopters must be financially able to provide for the animals needs, including, food, supplies, licenses, and veterinary care. Be certain that you have adequate time to spend with your new pet, including time for training, exercise and grooming. Continuous confinement without adequate exercise or human interaction is not acceptable. Consent of Household Members. All household members, related or unrelated, must be informed and must consent to the adoption of the pet. All Dogs and Cats Must Be Spayed Or Neutered. No exceptions will be made! All animals being adopted from MHS must be spayed or neutered in accordance with Maui County Law for the health and well being of the animal, and to make a positive impact on the community's pet overpopulation problem. Most will be sterilized before they are released to their new home. In the event that you take home an intact dog or cat, you will be required to return the animal for the sterilization surgery at a time that will be determined at adoption. Failure to have the pet spayed or neutered will result in confiscation by an Animal Control Officer. All Animals Should Have Proper Identification. At the time of adoption, you will receive a dog license or cat ID tag, along with a temporary collar. Your pet should wear these at all times. Dog licenses must be renewed every two years, or by the date of expiration in accordance with Maui County Law. Replacement and renewal tags may be purchased at the Maui Humane Society or your local Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Secondary identification, in the form of a permanent numerical tattoo will be placed in your pet's ear at the time of sterilization. All animals spayed or neutered prior to arriving at the Maui Humane Society will receive a microchip. These procedures are mandatory. Other Pets At Home. Currently owned animals should be up to date on vaccinations and all dogs must be licensed. Your veterinarian may be contacted to verify your existing pet's health. Pets As Gifts. Animals are not to be adopted as gifts. Instead, we encourage people to purchase gift certificates so that potential adopters can choose their own animal. The certificate does not waive the recipient from having to undergo the adoption process, and the shelter can refuse adoption to a recipient who fails to meet the minimum standards for adoption. All Dogs and Cats Should Be Examined By a Veterinarian Within 7 Working Days From the Date of Adoption. A free exam certificate will be provided upon adoption for this purpose. If the exam indicates that the animal is sick or has a serious illness, the shelter should be notified immediately. Animals can be returned to the shelter within 2 weeks of adoption for health related reasons, and may be offered a refund or the adoption of another animal. All adult cats and kittens shall be transported in approved carriers. All cats and kittens adopted from the shelter must be transported in a proper cat carrier. If you do not have a carrier at the time of adoption one can be provided at a discounted rate. Declawing of Cats. The Maui Humane Society does not support declawing cats. We often receive cats for adoption that have already been declawed. Potential adopters interested in a declawed cat may select one that is already declawed or be placed on our Request List for a declawed cat. Please ask our staff for more information on alternatives and solutions to clawing behavior. We have products in our store to alleviate scratching problems. All declawed cats must be kept indoors only, as they have no way to protect themselves from outdoor threats. Download a printable Pre-Adoption Form (Acrobat Reader 7 .PDF) Adoptions | Rules | Process | Application | Fees | Air Travel