Simply come to the shelter during regular adoption hours and meet with one of our adoption counselors. All adopters must be 18 years old or above and adoptions must be done in person.

• Are you looking for a quiet, laid-back lap cat or a “ready-to-play” dog?
• Will your landscaping survive the natural digging behaviors of a lab puppy?
• Does the dog or cat match your energy level?

Once you have an idea of what type of pet fits your lifestyle, stop in and speak with one of our pet adoption counselors. Adopting a pet is a serious, lifelong commitment and our experienced counselors will be happy to help you find and select the right pet for you.

You’ll be given the opportunity to observe, pet and play with your potentially new furry friend before making your decision.

A few suggestions to help prepare for a new pet:

• Be sure other pets you have are currently vaccinated before bringing home a new pet.
  
• Find a veterinarian if you do not already have one.
  
• Prepare other family members and discuss the responsibilities associated with having a new pet in the home. It's important that everyone be in agreement with the decision to adopt.
  
• Evaluate your home and yard to be sure it is safe for your new pet. All dogs and cats in unincorporated Harris County are required by law to be confined in their own yard or on a leash at all times. When adopting a dog, check your fence to be sure it is secure enough to keep your new pet from escaping.
  
• If you are adopting a cat, the safest place to keep them is inside the house. If allowed to roam, cats can be injured by loose dogs, hit by a car or exposed to diseases that could harm the cat and/or family members.
  

Cats and dogs (both) are microchipped, dewormed, spayed or neutered and come with:

• Rabies vaccination and tag
• A Harris County annual license tag
• The medical history while in our care

We strongly encourage everyone to bring their new pet, along with the medical history, to a veterinarian within three days for follow-up exams and vaccination boosters. You will be given a list of veterinarians that will perform the first exam free of charge.

We accept cash, American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover. Checks are not accepted at our facility.

The Harris County Animal Shelter offers cats ready for adoption at certain Petco and Pet Supermarket locations. Adopters will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Adoptions can be processed at the store location, but you will need to email foster@phs.hctx.net so we can arrange to have someone meet you at the store to process the adoption.

Petco locations:
River Oaks : 2110 S. Shepherd Dr. Houston TX 77019
West Road : 10245 North Frwy Suite 150 Houston, TX 77037

Pet Supermarket location:
14044 Grant Rd. Cypress, TX 77429

Cats have been dewormed, spayed or neutered and come with:

• Rabies vaccination and tag
• Harris County annual license tag
• Microchip information

Bring the receipt to the store manager at Petco or Pet Supermarket and they will release your new pet.

Your pets will thank you being a responsible pet owner when you follow these steps:

• Spay, neuter and microchip your pets
• Keep a license tag on them at all times
• Commit to the relationship for the life of your cat or dog
• Recognize that pet ownership requires an investment of time, money and love
• Exercise, train and socialize your pets
• Provide veterinary care (preventive and when ill)
• Don’t allow them to run loose – keep them safely confined
• Clean up after them
• Include your pet in your emergency or disaster plans
• Adopt homeless pets from our shelter!

Guide to Owning a Pit Bull in Harris County English | Español
Tips for Owning a Cat in unincorporated Harris County English | Español

All animals placed in our adoption program are evaluated for health and temperament. Because the animals in our shelter are often stray, with no known medical history, it is possible that some may not show signs of illness until several weeks after adoption. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to take your new pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible to follow up on all necessary vaccinations.

Should your new pet become ill, we do offer a two-week return policy, provided the animal has seen a veterinarian within the first 72 hours of the adoption.  The adoption fee can not be refunded, nor will any veterinary care/supply expenses be reimbursed; however, you can choose another pet within six months of the return.