San Diego Humane Society Launches Adoption Trial Program

Potential adopters can take home a pet home for a “test run” before committing

SAN DIEGO — San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) has launched a new Adoption Trial Program. This program is designed for potential adopters who want to see how a pet fits into their home before making a lifelong commitment.

The program bridges the gap between fostering — which is an intentionally temporary commitment — and adopting. Rather than signing up as foster volunteers, participants act as “trial adopters” — bringing home a specific adult animal (7 months and up) with the intent to adopt, while having up to 14 days to ensure the pet is the right match. Community members are eligible for this program if they live within SDHS’s jurisdiction.

“You can think of it like a test run,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. “If there is a specific pet you want to bring home, we want you to try things out and see if it is a good fit. It is a win-win — potential adopters don’t feel pressure to commit right away, and pets get a break from the stressful shelter environment, which also opens space for more animals who need our help.”

While SDHS already offers an adoption guarantee that allows adopters to return an animal for any reason, the Adoption Trial Program goes a step further by delaying payment and final adoption paperwork for up to two weeks. During the trial period, the pet remains the legal property of SDHS. If the pet is not permanently adopted, SDHS will gain valuable insights about the pet’s behavior in a home environment, helping improve future placement efforts.

Currently, SDHS is caring for 1,550 animals with an average length of stay of 51 days in the shelter. The organization has set a new monthly record for adult dogs in care for the last two months: September and October exceeded adult canine capacity compared to any other year. “We have to find creative ways to connect people with our amazing animals,” said Weitzman. “Adoption is always the best option — our pets go home already spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, and we are here to support every adopter, every step of the way.”

To learn more about the Adoption Trial Program, visit sdhumane.org/adoptiontrial.

Adoption Information: San Diego Humane Society is open for walk-in adoptions Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego.

View adoptable pets online at sdhumane.org/adopt.