Frequently Asked Questions

Birthday parties last two hours. The typical schedule looks like: 

• 30 minute shelter tour 
• 30 minute interaction time with classroom animals
• 30 minute craft/service activity 
• 30 minutes for any food, cake, gifts, or activities you bring along 

The exact schedule might differ slightly depending on the activity for the day. Activity options are listed within the registration form.

Yes! We save the last 30 minutes of the party for any food, cake, or gifts that you bring along. We have fridge and freezer space available to store items that need to be kept cold. You can also order food delivery to the shelter. You must supply any utensils, plates, napkins, etc. needed for the food.

DCHS will decorate the party room with streamers, tablecloths, table toppers, and some birthday signage. You are welcome to bring additional decorations.

Party guests will get interaction time with our classroom animals. Typically we have time for 2-3 animals, and they might include our guinea pigs, rats, corn snake, or Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. Guests will get to pet these animals, learn about their care, and if time allows, hold them for photos!

During the shelter tour, we view our adoptable cats, dogs, and critters, but the kids are not allowed to touch any of the adoptable animals for safety and health reasons.

We have a 15 youth participant limit to ensure that everyone can fully enjoy the celebration. It becomes more difficult for us to move about the shelter in large groups, and makes the event more stressful for our classroom animals. Parents of the guests are welcome to stay for the party if they would like.

Our parties are for guests 6 and up. Younger siblings can attend with prior approval from our Humane Educator. If younger siblings attend, they must be with an adult at all times.

Please inform guests that they should enter the shelter through the Adoption Center doors. DCHS also utilizes peanut butter for animal enrichment throughout the shelter, and therefore is unable to provide a peanut-free facility. We are unable to make accommodations for children with severe peanut allergies.

DCHS will decorate the party room and lead programming for the party. It is helpful if adults are available throughout the party to ensure guests are following the shelter rules and being respectful of the animals. You are responsible for the last 30 minutes of the party--you can bring cake, food, gifts, or an additional activity to fill this time! We ask that you help clean up any items you bring, but otherwise DCHS will handle the party clean up.

You (or other parents that attend the event) are also responsible for the supervision and discipline of all children, which may include removing individuals from activities if they are not behaving in an appropriate manner.