Open Your Heart: City Animal Shelters in Houston

Houston, we have a problem...too many adorable animals looking for their forever homes! This city of Southern hospitality is overflowing with love, the furry and whiskery kind of love. Find out where you can get your new furry companion or extend a helping hand to needy animals in this list of city animal shelters in the H-town!

Houston Humane Society

14700 Almeda Rd., Houston, TX 77053 

Holding on to their fierce belief that animals should be free from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, fear, and distress, the Houston Humane Society is a beacon of hope for homeless animals in this city. It is dedicated to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome pets in need. From cuddly kittens and loyal dogs to horses and other animals, HHS provides shelter and care until they find their forever families.

Learn more about the Houston Humane Society

BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions

3300 Carr Street, Houston, TX 77026 

The Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control, more popularly known as BARC, is Houston's municipal animal shelter. It provides temporary homes to lost, abandoned, and surrendered animals. It has an 83.6% total save rate, 4,672 pets adopted, 941 returned to their owners, and over 10,000 spayed and neutered, this city animal shelter is making a huge impact in its community.

Learn more about BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions

Friends For Life Animal Shelter

2902 S Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77098 

Championing the welfare of the underdog and undercat, Friends For Life believes that every animal matters, regardless of breed, age, and condition. While some shelters turn away strays, animals from private citizens, and those of even certain breeds, this Houston shelter helps them all. It provides free spay/neuter surgeries, has the Friends For Life Animal Food Bank, and a Drive-Thru Clinic that gives free vaccinations, vet exams, preventatives, and pet food for the needy.

Learn more about Friends For Life Animal Shelter

Special Pals

3830 Greenhouse Rd. Houston, TX 77084 

Celebrating its 45th year of being a special friend to animals in need, Special Pals goes beyond caring for them. They tirelessly work to create better lives for our furry pals in the Space City. It facilitates fostering and adoption, offers rescue boarding, and provides essential pet services via its low-cost clinics. Special Pals also holds the distinction of being the longest-running no-kill shelter in the Houston metro area.

Learn more about Special Pals

Houston Pets Alive!

2800 Antoine Drive, Suite 2854, Houston, TX 77092 

A lifeline for animals facing euthanasia, Houston Pets Alive! rescues, rehabilitates, and finds loving homes for these furry souls. It focuses on innovative programs and community partnerships toward a no-kill Houston. 

Learn more about Houston Pets Alive!

Wildlife Center of Texas

7007 Old Katy Rd, Houston, TX 77024 

Caring for our feathered and furry neighbors, The Wildlife Center of Texas rescues, rehabilitates, and releases injured, ill, or orphaned wildlife. If you're into helping soaring eagles and tiny bats, this is the city animal shelter you need to go to. It is one of the largest wildlife care centers in the US and receives more than 9,000 wild animals each year.

Learn more about Wildlife Center of Texas

South Houston Animal Shelter

1018 Dallas, South Houston, TX 77587 

The humane department of the government of South Houston, the South Houston Animal Shelter, is committed to providing a safe and loving environment to animals in need. It does rescue work, finds lost animals, and provides shelter to abandoned pets. It also enforces animal welfare laws.

Learn more about South Houston Animal Shelter

Citizens for Animal Protection

17555 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77094 

A non-profit organization founded in 1972, Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) has since helped rescue and place homeless animals for adoption with loving families. It provides shelter and care, spay and neuter surgeries, pet care counseling, lost and found pets, and feral cat assistance. It also provides pets for seniors, advocates for humane education, and has a pet supply.

Learn more about Citizens for Animal Protection

Rescued Pets Movement

The Jack C. Alexander Building, 2317 w. 34th St., Houston, TX. 77018 

Another city animal shelter in Houston that gives second chances to homeless dogs and cats, Rescued Pets Movement, has saved over 89,000 furry pals from overpopulated shelters. It has pulled animals from death row and found them loving homes. Through rescue, rehabilitation, and education, it aims to save 100,000 animals from euthanasia by 2025. Currently, its robust network of foster homes provides rescued pets with care, love, and the medical attention they need.

Learn more about the Rescued Pets Movement

Adopt A Cat, Inc.

17319 Bamwood Rd., Houston, TX 77090 

Founded in 1994, Adopt a Cat Inc. aims to save the world, one cat at a time. Working tirelessly to help cats and kittens in need, it works toward lessening the pet overpopulation in Houston through its spay and neuter programs. It has a no-kill policy and believes that it is only necessary when suffering can no longer be alleviated. They also do not cage cats unless there is a special need for it. Furthermore, it provides treatment and care for sick and injured cats until they become the best furry friends they were meant to be.

Learn more about Adopt A Cat, Inc.

Houston Boxer Rescue

1450 W. Grand Parkway S Suite G-439, Katy, TX 77494 

A city animal shelter that's dedicated to saving boxers in need, Houston Boxer Rescue has a big heart for this breed. Its mission is to end their suffering due to difficult situations such as neglect, abuse, or abandonment. Its dedicated efforts are geared toward providing essential care, rehabilitation, and love, ultimately finding them the loving homes they deserve.

Learn more about Houston Boxer Rescue

Houston PetSet For The Animals

4265 San Felipe, Suite 1100, Houston, TX 77027 

Creating a lasting positive change for homeless animals in Houston, Houston PetSet For The Animals does this through their six impact areas. These include adoption and foster care, spay/neuter programs, education and outreach, volunteer engagement, policy advocacy, and emergency response. It claims to be the only organization in the city that is singularly focused on solving the stray animal crisis. And it seems that this is more than just a claim, but an actuality, having received numerous awards from prestigious award-giving bodies in the city.

Learn more about Houston PetSet For The Animals