Adoptable animals have:

• Sound, aggression-free and inordinate-drive-free temperaments (if an animal has an unusually high dominance, territory, game, food, toy or other resource drive we may not offer it for adoption)
• good health
• old enough for vaccination protection
• can cope medically and behaviorally with the shelter environment 
• are typically under the age of six years 

 Animals are evaluated for both health and temperament in accordance with policies developed over the course of our history (since inception in 1869), by a veterinarian, kennel staff (with over 50 years of combined experience), and our adoption supervisor.  Only healthy and friendly animals are adopted out by the Women's Humane Society. 

A good home that can take an unadoptable animal and provide a lifetime of fulfillment can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack and may take years of waiting, hoping, and praying.  One of the most difficult realities to come to grips with in animal rescue and sheltering is that while devoted rescuers see every animal as adoptable, no matter how many bad habits or special needs that they have, the adopters that can provide these animals with a fulfilling life are a very small pool of people compared to the number of animals that need them.  If the homeless years are spent in a kennel, overcrowded and/or unsanitary sanctuary or foster home conditions that involve frequent fights, or going through a series of failed foster homes; then rescuers are failing to provide a fulfilling or even marginal life for the animals they care so much about.  In this area alone, there are literally thousands of dogs and cats with mild, moderate, and severe medical needs or behaviors that place them at risk of abuse or neglect.  There are much fewer numbers of experienced foster parents or adopters who can give them a fulfilling life that keeps everyone involved safe and comfortable.  Most of these foster parents and owners already have animals whose risk factors make a multiple pet household a danger or stressor to everyone involved.  A special needs animal in an experienced pet owner's home often rules out these owners for the life of their needy pet.

Unadoptable animals will most likely be euthanized.  Animals that are seriously ill, have significant behavioral problems, or pose a potential danger to others' health or well-being will be euthanized.  We will euthanize an animal that shows risk factors while here or those with significant risk factors noted at the time of intake. 

Previously adoptable animals can become unadoptable under the stress of shelter living.  If a previously adoptable animal is euthanized, it is because a risk factor was noted that stood to impact that animal or others' safety or well-being.