Animal control and the humane society each have headquarters at 616 Big Bear Blvd., where the society has about 70 secure runs. In 1999, the society adopted out nearly 2,000 animals dogs amounting to about 60 percent and cats 40 percent, said veterinarian Steve Finch, executive director of the society. Occasionally, we get in guinea pigs or rabbits. We want them to do that before they start the process. After an interview and completing paperwork, adoptive owners sign a contract for transfer of ownership.
State law requires that animals be spayed or neutered before they re adopted.
You can call it at 445-1680. The all-volunteer group has no facility but relies on a team of foster providers to care for animals that are waiting for permanent adoption. Another alternative is Miller Roth, which operates a kind of electronic bulletin board for pet adoptions. Call it at 657-9633. Columbia prohibits some animals as pets and places limits that make other domestic animals impractical for most inside city limits.