You generally can't get gift certificates from shelters. The reason being is the owner of the dog/cat needs to fill out an application before they are allowed to adopt an animal (at most shelters anyway). If they have a gift certificate, they have it in their mind that they are already approved for adopting an animal. Sometimes the person who is getting them the gift wants to fill out the application for them, but that is NOT cool. Our shelter will not allow anything like that. We want to know from the guardian themselves exactly how their living situation is and how they will care for the animal.

When people complain to me because we won't give gift certificates, I tell them to buy some dog/cat supplies and buy a stuffed dog or cat and wrap it all in a box. After they open it, tell them you'll take them to the shelter.

A pet is a lifelong committment.