Gloucester County is committed to serving our residents and providing them with the best services we have to offer.
As Director of the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners, I have the privilege to oversee all departments that serve the residents of Gloucester County.
In 2021, we’re continuing these services, events and more and want to educate you on how you can get the most out of living in Gloucester County.
Under the direction of the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners and with guidance from the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee and the County Health Department, the Gloucester County Animal Shelter (GCAS) became operational in July 1990 with the completion of the Animal Shelter building in Clayton.
The GCAS operated as a division of the Gloucester County Health Department to address the growing rabies problems in the early 1990s. In 1994, the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners designated the shelter and its services as the Department of Animal Shelter, operating independently of other departments.
The GCAS has four divisions: Animal Control, Animal Health, Animal Attendance and Adoptions. The adoption division is our focus today. With so many animals looking for forever homes, we want to make sure residents know how easy it is to visit the shelter and take home the right pet for you.
You may be surprised to find that adopting an animal is a more involved process than you expected, or that it means you can't have immediate access to an animal you are interested in. Therefore, it's important to understand two things:
- The process is the same for everyone.
- The process is created with the best interests of the animals in our care and is aimed at giving them the best possible chance of finding a permanent home.
We ask that each individual interested in adopting an animal fill out a Pre-Adoption Application either online or paper copy. Once approved, you will visit the shelter to meet the animal you’re interested in.
You will have a counseling session with a knowledgeable member of our staff who will fill you in on the history and needs of that animal. You can ask your counselor any questions about spaying and neutering, housetraining, scratching (in cats), veterinary care, how to deal with fleas and ticks, and anything else you can think of. Our staff is very passionate about making this process easy for you, your new animal and your family.
You will be asked to sign an adoption contract and pay a fee for adoption. The fees are split for dogs and cats. The fees are:
- Cats/Kittens: $35 for cats/kittens 5 years and younger. Cats 6 and older, the adoption fee waived!
- Dogs/Puppies: $35 for dogs/puppies 5 years and younger. Dogs 6 and older, the adoption fee waived!
- Discounted Fee for Military Veterans: $35 (residents can contact the Animal Shelter for qualifications)
- Discounted Fee for Senior Citizens: $35 (this reflects a $35 fee for Spay/Neuter and no adoption fee)
Adoption fees cover the following for dogs and cats:
- Dogs include:
- All Age-Appropriate Vaccinations
- Antigen Heartworm Test
- Collar
- Identification Tag from Gloucester County Animal Shelter
- Leash
- Microchip
- Nasal Bordetella
- Spay/Neuter
- Worming
- Cats include:
- All Age-Appropriate Vaccinations
- Disposable Cat Carrier
- Feline Leukemia/AIDS Combination Test (12 Weeks and Older)
- Identification Tag and Collar from Gloucester County Animal Shelter
- Microchip
- Spay/Neuter
- Worming
If the animal is not Spayed/Neutered at the time of your adoption, an appointment will be made for surgery and the animal will be delivered to the veterinarian where the new owner can pick up their pet after surgery.
The shelter staff has recently adopted programs like our Barn Cat Program and Bottle Baby Program to assist the shelter with adopting animals into homes. We also have a mobile adoption trailer that we bring to all County events to promote adoptions.
The shelter also holds events and promotions throughout the year, including our Open House, Kitten Shower, BOGO cats during kitten season and more. Keep up to date with all the shelter’s happenings at their Facebook or website.
The Shelter staff is happy to walk you through the adoption process or answer any questions you may have. You can call the shelter at (856) 881-2828 and press 1 for adoptions.
The shelter's adoption department is open Tuesday-Thursday 12-7pm & Fri-Sat 12-4pm. An approved application is not required to walk through the kennel, but we do encourage you to fill an application out prior to arrival just in case you would like to meet an animal available for adoption!
Hours of operations are Tuesday through Thursday 12 p.m.– 7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. The Adoption Office is closed on Sundays, Mondays and all major holidays.
Myself and the entire Board of County Commissioners is committed to providing outstanding services to its residents. Our departments will always provide individuals with the best service for them and their families. We hope if you are in need, you will not hesitate to reach out to our departments and offices.
We are always here to answer questions and listen to suggestions from our residents. It’s with your help that we can continue to make Gloucester County the best place for you, your family and your friends to live, work and grow.
Thank you,
Robert M. Damminger
Director
Gloucester County Board of Commissioners
Pictured: Gloucester County Board of Commissioners Director, Robert M. Damminger, attending the 2019 Gloucester