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Adoptions
Shelter animals are available for adoption by responsible pet owners with guidance from shelter personnel to insure a mutually-appropriate match is made. We receive approximately 20 to 40 different animals every day so we urge you to visit us periodically. We display photos and descriptions of some of our featured pets on Petfinder.com and Adoptapet.com.
Check the “Daily Record” section of the Topeka Capital-Journal for a list of all animals admitted to HHHS. Monday publications feature a “Pet of the Week” ad. Watch channel 27 KSNT’s News Early Today on Tuesday at 11:15 am to see the “Pet of the Week” live on set. Our pets appear on WIBW TV-Channel 13 every Tuesday morning from 6-7:30 am when "13 This Morning" broadcasts live from HHHS. WIBW also tapes weekly public service announcements featuring pets available for adoption that air throughout the week at various times. KTKA Channel 49 features a "Pet of the Week" at 6:15 am on the first Monday of every month. Volunteers showcase adoptable pets at many different locations in the community. Check our calendar for upcoming Adopt-A-Pet events.
Approximately 25 to 30 percent of the animals we receive at Helping Hands are purebred dogs and cats. Many of them are adopted but senior pets and those with health or behavior issues are often left behind. Each animal’s temperament, health and age are screened to determine if they are adoptable. If they are not a candidate for adoption, rescue might be an option. Robin, an employee of Helping Hands, coordinates our rescue program for those hard-to-place pets. You can email margaretp@hhhstopeka.org for more information.
Helping Hands currently works with 25 different rescue groups to place some of these pets. Rescues have been formed for nearly every breed. Many rescue people are volunteers that rescue animals out of shelters and place them within their network of foster homes until a permanent home can be found. Rescues keep pets longer than shelters and can provide the necessary medical care, socialization and training for successful placement. The relationships we have fostered with these groups have allowed us to save many more lives!
Lost & Found
Stray animals received at Helping Hands Humane Society are sheltered for a minimum of three full days (not including the day they arrive). If the animal is wearing an I.D. tag or has a microchip implant, every effort will be made to contact the owner.
If a pet is not reclaimed by its owner, it may become a candidate for adoption. To recover some of our operating expenses, the owner of a lost pet is required to pay a $20-$30 return-to-owner fee.
If you LOSE a Pet
Call Helping Hands at 785.233.7325 to complete a “lost report.”
Visit the shelter every day and walk through the kennels. This is extremely important because no one knows your pet better than you do. The description you give over the telephone may vary from the description that someone else would provide. It is helpful to leave a current photo of your pet with the staff.
Monitor the “Daily Record” section of the Topeka Capital-Journal for a list of animals admitted to Helping Hands.
Alert your veterinarian in case a good samaritan delivers your pet there.
Contact animal control with a description of your pet, details of when and where the pet was lost, and a phone number to contact you.
Post flyers in your neighborhood and place a “lost ad” in the newspaper. Consider offering a reward.
For more information on lost pets, please visit The Center for Lost Pets.
If you FIND a Pet
If you’d like to house the pet yourself, call Helping Hands at 785.233.7325 and leave a “found report” on file with our staff in case the pet’s owner contacts us.
If you cannot house the animal, please bring it to shelter located at 2625 NW Rochester Rd.
If you are unable to transport the animal, please call animal control for assistance. Within the city limits of Topeka, call 785.368.9203. For Shawnee County, call 785.368.2200.
For more information on found pets, please visit The Center for Lost Pets.
Surrendering a Pet
Helping Hands has an open door policy and we accept any animal in need of sanctuary. Relinquished pets or stray animals may be brought to the Admissions/Lost and Found Department inside the double sliding doors. No fee is charged for surrendering an animal. Donations are greatly appreciated, but not mandatory. We use donations to help offset the cost of providing care for the animal. All dogs and cats are vaccinated and given wormer upon admission. When relinquishing a pet, we do ask that a profile be completed that will provide potential adopters with personality and health information. We make every effort to adopt all animals that come into the shelter. However, we cannot guarantee the adoption of any animal because we are dealing with the societal problem of extreme pet over-population.
Surrendering a Dog Surrendering a Cat
Community Education
Helping Hands is committed to educating children and adults about the issues of pet overpopulation, spaying and neutering, neglect and cruelty, responsible pet care and bite prevention. We have a variety of informational pamphlets and fliers regarding responsible pet care that are available to the public.
Because of the limited space at the shelter, it is difficult to give on-site tours to large groups. Staff members are available to make presentations to school classes or civic organizations. If you are interested in booking a speaker, please call Margaret Price at 785.233.7325. A months notice prior to the event would be appreciated. |