Answers
Answers before you call
We get at least 3,000 calls and emails a month with a small staff. Most of what people ask is answered here, grouped by who is asking.
1Adopting
When can I come meet the animals?
Visiting and adoption hours are Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 4. We are closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. You can meet cats, kittens, dogs and puppies over four months old without an application. Puppies four months and younger can be visited once your application is approved.
Can I apply to adopt online?
No. Applications are filled out in person at the shelter during adoption hours. If you live an hour and a half or more away, call 724-539-2544 and we can take your application by phone. Calls are returned within 48 hours.
What do I need to bring?
Vet records for the pets you have now. Homeowners bring a property tax or mortgage document (utility bills aren't accepted). Renters bring a copy of the lease and the landlord's phone number, because we have to speak with your landlord. Bring a valid ID; you must be 21 or older. Taking a dog home? Bring a collar and leash that fit, or buy one here starting at $16.
How much does it cost to adopt?
Dogs are $450 from 8 weeks to 6 months, $300 from 7 months to 6 years, and $250 at 7 years and up. Cats are $120 from 8 weeks to 11 months and $100 at a year and up. Every adoption includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations, deworming, a microchip, and a heartworm test for dogs or a FeLV/FIV test for cats.
Is there a discount for seniors?
Yes. Through Seniors for Seniors, adopters 62 and older can adopt a dog or cat 6 years or older for $125 (dog) or $50 (cat), with the same care included.
Can you hold an animal for me, or adopt out of state?
We can't hold animals or guarantee one will still be here, and we don't do out-of-state adoptions.
I already have a dog. What happens?
Once your application is approved, we set up a meet and greet between your dog and the shelter dog you're interested in. The adoption is finalized after everything checks out.
Why is adopting more involved than I expected?
The process is the same for everyone, and it isn't meant to frustrate you. Everything we do is in the best interest of the animals, and we put real time into making sure each match lasts a lifetime.
2Your own pet
How much is spay or neuter?
A male cat neuter is $60 and a female cat spay is $90, plus $40 if she is pregnant. Dogs are priced by weight, so call for a quote. We can add vaccinations, leukemia and heartworm tests and a microchip at the time of surgery. A $15 cleaning fee applies if a cat carrier arrives soiled.
How do I book an appointment?
By phone only: 724-539-2544. We don't schedule by email or online. If you reach voicemail, leave a message and we'll call back within 48 hours. We take cash or credit card (with a card fee), but not checks or debit cards.
I can't keep my pet. Can you take them?
Please call first; arrangements have to be made before you bring an animal in. We can safely care for about 150 animals at a time, so intake depends on space, and we help the animals in the most need first: stray medical emergencies, then abuse or neglect, then strays, then owned pets. When we're full we'll help you with other options. Never leave an animal outside the shelter. Abandoning an animal is illegal.
I lost (or found) a pet. Who do I call?
Call Hoffman's Animal Control at 724-468-5505 and us at 724-539-2544, or email a description and photo to afahs@aol.com. Check with other nearby shelters, police and vet offices too, and put up flyers big enough to read from ten feet away.
How do I report animal abuse or neglect?
We don't have a full-time humane agent right now. Call the All But Furgotten Humane Police Officers at 724-382-7178 and leave the animal's location, your name and a call-back number. Animals can't speak for themselves, so please don't wait.
Why didn't anyone answer the phone?
We get at least 3,000 calls and emails a month with a small staff. Leave a message and we'll get back to you within 24 to 48 hours.
3Giving
What is a Pet Food Star?
A $75 gift feeds every animal at the shelter for a day, and your name or dedication is featured on our Facebook page that day. It can honor a person, a pet or a business, or be a gift; we'll send the recipient a postcard.
What does an Angel do?
Angels give $10 or more a month (or quarterly or yearly) toward the daily care every animal needs. Each month you get the Angels newsletter with a shelter story and a photo of your foster pet. Angels subscriptions make good gifts too.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes, to the fullest extent of the law. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, EIN 25-1495358, and we receive no government funding. We never sell or share your information.
Can I give in memory of someone, or a pet?
Yes. Memorial and honor gifts are published in our newsletter, and we'll mail a postcard to the person you name. An engraved brick by the shelter entrance is another lasting way to remember someone.
Can I hold a fundraiser for AFA?
We'd love that. Pennsylvania law requires written permission from a charity before anyone raises money for it, so email board@afashelter.org first and we'll work with you.
4Helping out
Can I volunteer at the shelter?
We aren't taking volunteers at the shelter right now. You can help at fundraising events, shot clinics and raffles, or join our all-volunteer board. Email board@afashelter.org.
Are you hiring?
We have listed openings for a kennel attendant (full or part time) and a veterinary technician (full time). See careers.
