The answers to many questions related to pets and the ARL are at your finger tips with the Frequently Asked Questions Directory (FAQ). If you do not find the answer to your question, please submit a question of contact us (link). The ARL also offers links to several other related organizations for the latest and best information about pets and animal issues. The links page will connect you with some of our favorites. Please remember that the links are to national organizations. To support animals in your area, be sure to give to local shelters like the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adoption
Q: What are your adoption fees? A: The adoption fee for dogs and puppies $125 and for cats and kittens $110. All are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped and have veterinary exams prior to adoption. We’ll also send you home with a starter collar and tags and leashes for dogs or a cat transportation box.
The adoption fee for rabbits is $50 and ferrets are $55. Both are also spayed or neutered before adoption.
Adoption fees for smaller animals vary by species so please call the ARL at 515/473-9101 to inquire about those fees. Small animals available for adoption are typically gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice and rats. Other pets occasionally available for adoption included caged birds, iguanas and pot-bellied pigs.
Q: How old do you have to be to adopt a pet from the ARL? A: 18 years old.
Q: What happens to the pets that don't get adopted? A: The ARL does its best to find loving homes for the thousands of pets that come through its doors each year. However, the pet overpopulation crisis has forced animal shelters to humanely euthanize animals because there simply aren't enough homes for them all.
The ARL keeps pets as long as their health and temperament are good and space is available. The ARL is working hard to reduce the number of pets that are euthanized by encouraging the public to spay or neuter their pets; by spaying and neutering every dog, cat, rabbit and ferret adopted from the ARL; and by providing assistance to the public who are not able to afford to spay or neuter their pets. Further, the ARL has programs like pet behavior counseling and training to help pets and people live happily together.
Q: How do I go about adopting a pet from the ARL? A: The first thing to do is to evaluate the needs, wants and constraints of your home and family to determine what kind of pet is right for you. The ARL can help you with this.
Then, when you decide what you would like, a dog, cat or possibly a bunny, come out to one of the ARL adoption locations and visit with the animals. When you find the pet you like, an ARL staff member will bring the pet into one of the visitation rooms where you can interact with it. Then, if you decide you would like to take the pet home, you will be asked to fill out an adoption application.
On the application, the ARL will ask how you plan to care for the pet and make sure that you understand the needs of the pet. Then, if you are approved for adoption by one of the ARL's adoption counselors, the ARL medical staff will do a final examination of the pet and send you on your way with your newest family member.
Q: Does the ARL send pets that are not adopted to research? A: No. The ARL has never sent pets for research and will not in the future.
Q: Wouldn't you find more homes if you gave the pets away for free? A: There are many reasons the ARL doesn't give pets away for free.
The first is that it’s important for people to recognize that pets have value.
Also, the affordable adoption fees set by the ARL help to care for the animals the ARL takes in. The ARL spends much more per animal than is charged in the adoption fee. Each animal, which stays at the ARL anywhere from 1 day to several months, receives food, boarding, staff interaction, veterinary care (including vaccinations and spaying and neutering) and grooming, if needed.
Q: Do you ever have purebred pets? A: Yes, in fact the ARL estimates that 35% of the animals it takes in are purebred.
Q: How many animals does the ARL take in each year? A: In 2008, the ARL took in over 19,000 animals and that number continues to grow each year.
The ARL is working hard to reduce that number by encouraging the public to help control the crisis pet overpopulation by spaying or neutering and by making lifetime commitments to their pets.
Q: How long does the ARL keep animals? A: The ARL has no set time limit for keeping animals. As long as an animal's health and temperament are good and as long as there is space, the ARL tries to find it a new home.
Q: Does the ARL have a veterinarian on staff? A: Yes, in fact, we have three. Dr. Dan Campbell is the ARL's chief veterinarian. He spays and neuters over 3,000 pets each year. In addition, he provides general health care and emergency care for the ARL's pets. Dr. Leah Braas also spays and neuters animals at the ARL Main shelter and provides general health care and emergency care for ARL pets. Dr. Greg Berry overseas the medical care of the animals at the ARL’s Animal Care and Control Center. Both are assisted by a medical staff of health care technicians and occasionally, veterinary students.
Q: How old do I have to be to volunteer? A: To handle animals, volunteers must be 12 years old. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Q: How do I become a volunteer at the ARL? A: To become a volunteer, you must complete the ARL's volunteer orientation. ARL volunteer orientation is held the second Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. at the ARL's main shelter at 5452 NE 22nd St., Des Moines, IA. You do not need to register to attend orientation, but please be on time. The orientation is 2 hours. If you have questions, please the ARL’s volunteer coordinator at (515) 473-9110.
Q: Do you offer pet training classes? A: Yes, the ARL offers classes from puppy and beginner levels to advanced. All classes are taught highly trained ARL volunteers under the direction of the ARL's dog behavior counselor Paula Sunday.
ARL training classes emphasize positive reinforcement and use Gentle Leader head collars, which are more humane and more effective than the traditional choke collars.
To view all available ARL programs CLICK HERE or contact Mick McAuliffe (515) 473-9125 or
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Q: What is Humane Education and why is it important? A: Humane Education is a process through which we assist children and adults in developing compassion; a sense of justice and respect for all living creatures. A primary goal of each presentation is to identify animals as being worthy of kindness and to encourage people to act responsibly and be compassionate to their own pets and other animals they may encounter.
The ARL humane education program offers presentations to the public about a variety of animal-related topics (link to programs page/humane education).
Research has repeatedly shown that children who are unkind to animals or who are raised in homes where animals are abused are particularly likely to be abusive to animals and to humans over time. In providing humane education programs, the ARL hopes to model an appropriate, respectful and mutually rewarding relationship between humans and animals.
Q: How can I get an ARL humane education presentation at my school, youth group or organization? A: Email or call the ARL humane education coordinator with the following information at least three weeks in advance of your proposed presentation dates (515) 473-9111 or
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A few possible dates for the presentation
Proposed time (most presentations range from 30-60 minutes depending on the age group—add 20 minutes for a shelter tour).
Your first and last name and the name of your organization
Contact phone number and phone number of presentation location , if different than contact phone.
Organization’s mailing address, city, zip and address of presentation location (if different from organization) and basic directions.
Topic you would like covered during the presentation.
Age of audience and number in audience (ARL shelter tour limit is 20 people).
Indicate whether or not the ARL may bring a pet to your presentation location.
Q: Will the ARL representative bring animals with them to the presentation? A: Each presentation is given by the ARL humane education or a trained and experienced ARL volunteer. Many do have a pet that they take with them, however, some do not. Additionally, sometimes it is no possible to bring a pet. The pet may not be feeling well or the volunteer’s schedule will not allow for having a pet with them.
Q: Are there any restrictions/guidelines for bringing a group to the ARL for a presentation and shelter tour? A: All tours begin with a presentation in the Education and Training Center, which is the building behind the main shelter.
Children must be at least five years old to attend a shelter tour.
Space is limited once we enter the shelter. In order for the participants to have the best experience at the ARL, groups are limited to 20 people at a time. Groups larger than 20 people will be split and will tour separately. Please allow an additional 20 minutes for these groups and please give at least four weeks notice.
Q: What kinds of animals will we see if we come for a tour? A: The ARL receives cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, birds, ferrets, iguanas and many other species of animals. Many of these types of animals are regularly available for adoption. It should be explained to children that we are different from a pet store in that we don’t “stock” animals for “sale.” We receive and care for homeless animals in hopes of finding them new, forever, loving homes to “adopt” them. Because the population of the ARL changes daily, the ARL can not guarantee which species will be available in adoption on any particular day. Most every day, cats, dogs and rabbits are available for adoption.
Q: If we come for a tour, will we get to pet the animals? A: During the tour, groups will see all of the animals in the adoption are, but for safety reasons, we will not be taking animals out of the cages or handling them.
Q: How much does it cost to have a presentation/tour? A: The ARL gratefully accepts donations to help offset the cost (staff time, materials, mileage) involved with our presentations. Donations of cash or items used in the shelter are both welcome.
Q: How long does the ARL keep animals? A: The ARL has no set time limit for keeping animals. As long as an animal's health and temperament are good and as long as there is space, the ARL tries to find it a new home.
Q: Why isn't the ARL a no-kill shelter? A: The ARL is the only shelter in the area that never turns away an animal in need. The ARL believes that it is better to humanely euthanize an animal than refuse to accept it and have it be abandoned on the street where it could be hit by a car, starve and suffer.
Restricted access shelters (no-kill shelters) often hold animals for years. Some are never adopted and live their entire lives in kennels or cages. The ARL believes the quality of an animal's life suffers in these situations.
The ARL is working toward its future goal of a society where healthy animals are not euthanized because the pet overpopulation crisis is under control. By spaying and neutering pets and by helping people to make a lifetime commitment to their pets, the ARL believes there will be a day when there are enough homes for every healthy pet. In the meantime, rather than turn animals away, the ARL humanely euthanizes.
Please read the article "I Used to Work at a No-Kill Shelter" for more information.
Q: What happens to the pets that don't get adopted? A: The ARL does its best to find loving homes for the many thousands of pets that come through its doors each year. However, the pet overpopulation crisis has forced animal shelters to humanely euthanize animals because there simply aren't enough homes for them all.
The ARL keeps pets as long as their health and temperament are good and space is available. The ARL is working hard to reduce the number of pets that are euthanized by encouraging the public to spay or neuter their pets; by spaying and neutering every dog, cat, rabbit and ferret adopted from the ARL; and helping people to make lifetime commitments to their pets with pet behavior counseling and low-cost training classes.
Q: How many animals does the ARL take in each year? A: In 2009, the ARL took in over 19,000 animals and that number continues to grow annually.
The ARL is working hard to reduce that number by encouraging the public to help control the crisis pet overpopulation by spaying or neutering and by making lifetime commitments to their pets.
Q: Wouldn't you find more homes if you gave the pets away for free? A: There are many reasons the ARL doesn't give pets away for free.
The first is that it’s important for people to recognize that pets have value. Also, the affordable adoption fees set by the ARL help to care for the animals. The ARL spends much more per animal than is charged in the adoption fee. Each animal, which stays at the ARL anywhere from 1 day to several months, receives food, boarding, staff interaction, veterinary care (including vaccinations and spaying and neutering) and grooming, if needed.
Q: Does the ARL send pets that are not adopted to research? A: No. The ARL has never sent pets for research and will not in the future.
Iowa law states that animals must have food, water, veterinary care and adequate shelter (dogs and cats only) provided to them. If you discover that an animal is not getting needed food, water, veterinary care or shelter, you must report it immediately.
Animal Abuse
Iowa law states that animal abuse is intentionally injuring, maiming, disfiguring or destroying an animal owned by another person, in any manner, including intentionally poisoning the animal.
If you are unsure if a situation is abuse or neglect, it is always best to report it to authorities or the ARL to be sure. The ARL can help you assess the situation and report it to the proper law enforcement agency.
Animal abuse can be more immediately recognizable than neglect. If you see someone abusing an animal, you may want to run over and tell the person to stop. Unless you know that confronting the person will change their behavior and not risk any harm to yourself, don’t do it. You may be putting yourself at risk as well as the animal. Instead take photographs or videotape if you can. This evidence will be invaluable to investigators.
In the case of a child or children abusing an animal, the parent(s) may be unaware of the behavior. Animal abuse has been linked with other types of abuse in the home (child abuse, domestic violence). It is better to let law enforcement investigate.
Animal Abuse/Neglect
Q: What constitutes animal abuse/neglect. A: When helping animals in abuse or neglect situations, it is important to first know and understand what constitutes animal abuse, neglect or torture under Iowa law. Many people have different standards of care for their pets. While someone may not love and care for their pet like you do, it may not be an abuse situation. Ultimately, it will be up to law enforcement, prosecutors, veterinarians and a judge to determine if a particular case is animal abuse/neglect or not, but the following is a basic guideline by Iowa law.
Q: What should I do if I see someone neglecting or abusing an animal? A: If you see someone abusing an animal, you may want to run over and tell the person to stop. Unless you know that confronting the person will change their behavior and not risk any harm to yourself, don’t do it. You may be putting yourself at risk as well as the animal. Instead take photographs or videotape if you can. This evidence will be invaluable to investigators.
In the case of a child or children abusing an animal, the parent(s) may be unaware of the behavior. Animal abuse has been linked with other types of abuse in the home (child abuse, domestic violence). It is better to let law enforcement investigate.
If you are not successful contacting local law enforcement, contact the ARL's cruelty intervention coordinator at 515/284-6905.
Remember, it's important to report animal abuse/neglect. If you don't, who will? Helpless animals depend on you.
