Adoption Information

The Cortez Animal Shelter offers area residents a wonderful opportunity to adopt pets that are in need of a home. At any given time, the Cortez Animal Shelter has 15 - 25 cats and 16 - 20 dogs that are in need of a home. You can view our adoptable pets online.

Fees for animal adoptions are $175 for dogs, $100 for cats, and include the animal being spayed or neutered, the first set of shots and a free vet visit. 

Lost Pets

If you have lost a pet, the Animal Shelter is a great place to start your search to have it returned. All animals impounded by the Cortez Police Department are taken to the Animal Shelter. Owners of impounded animals are required to pay a first offense fee of $65 for dogs and $35 for cats to have their animal returned. The impound fee increases each time the animal is impounded. Proof of rabies vaccination must be presented upon collection of the animal. If no proof is available, a $25 deposit will be charged, which is refundable upon presentation of proof of vaccination within 10 days.  there is a daily boarding fee of impounded animals of $15. The animals impounded are held 5 working days for the owner to claim, after that they will become property of the City of Cortez and go up for adoption.  You will also be required to leave a city license deposit if you live in city limits.

Licenses

In addition to pet adoption and lost pet services, pet licenses can be purchased at the Animal Shelter. All cats and dogs within the City Limits of Cortez must be licensed. Fees for licenses are $10.00 for altered animals and $25.00 for unaltered animals.