Welcome to Austin Animal Services
Austin Animal Services is the municipal shelter for the City of Austin and unincorporated Travis County, providing shelter to thousands of animals annually as well as providing animal protection and pet resource services. We accept stray and owned animals regardless of age, health, species or breed.
Our goal is to place all adoptable animals in forever homes through adoption, foster care, or rescue partner groups.
Animal Services has numerous programs and partnerships designed to help pets in the shelter, in the community, and in your home.
Quick Links
Adopt a Pet
Looking to add a new pet to your family? Austin Animal Services has more than 500 animals every day in need of loving homes.
Priority Placement Lists
Austin Animal Services maintains two distinct lists to help high-priority dogs find the appropriate care and placement they need.
- Urgent Placement List (UPL): Features dogs needing increased visibility due to behavioral or quality-of-life concerns. These animals are available for adoption, foster, or rescue.
- Rescue Placement List (RPL): Reserved for dogs with significant behavioral or safety concerns. These animals are only available to qualified rescue partners equipped for specialized rehabilitation.
Review the current lists to see how you can help provide a positive outcome for these animals.
Hours
UPCOMING CLOSURES
- Veterans Day - Wednesday, November 11, 2026
- Thanksgivig Day - Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Thanksgiving Friday - Friday, November 27, 2026
- Christmas Eve - Thursday, December 24, 2026
- Christmas Day - Friday, December 25, 2026
DAILY HOURS:
Walk-In Adoption & Reclaim: Daily, 11 am - 7 pm. Adoption lines close at 6 pm.
Pet Resource Center (PRC): Monday - Friday 11 am - 4 pm for microchips and other resources.
Need help with an animal concern?
Call Austin 3-1-1 at 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000, the City of Austin’s services help center, for animal emergencies and other animal concerns.
Hours were adjusted as of Nov. 1.
Austin 3-1-1: Seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed on City holidays)
Outside those hours, you can submit a request any time, day or night, through the 3-1-1 online portal or the 3-1-1 mobile app.
Call 9-1-1 right away, at any hour, if a person’s life or safety is in immediate danger:
- A person has been bitten or attacked by an animal and needs medical care
- A dog or other animal is actively attacking someone
- A person has been bitten by a snake
If 3-1-1 is closed, call 9-1-1 for a true animal emergency:
- A pet is locked in a hot car
- An animal is in immediate danger of death or serious injury
Stay on the line until the 9-1-1 operator says it’s okay to hang up.
Intake: View shelter capacity information.
