Registered shelter Dogs/Cats

City Of Houston Barc Animal Shelter & Adoptions

Houston, TX 77026

About

BARC is the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Facility. BARC is the only city shelter in Houston required by law to accept every animal that comes through our doors regardless of breed, temperament, health conditions, and circumstance (from owner surrender, stray pickup, rescued or confiscated animals). We have built a best-in-class team that stewards our mission of professionalism, responsibility, compassion, commitment, integrity, and accountability. BARC is dedicated to pet adoption and a live release initiative. In addition to sheltering and providing veterinary care to all animals brought to the shelter, we work diligently to place these animals in new homes. We collaborate and coordinate with our Houston Pet Rescue groups and through social media networks to cast the widest possible adoption net. We also provide intensive neo-natal and adult pet fostering programs, along with hands-on volunteer training classes and continuous workshops. Our mission is to promote and protect public health and animal care through sheltering, pet placement programs, pet ownership education and animal law enforcement. We are dedicated to the humane, efficient, high quality care of animals in our shelter. We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership through spaying/neutering, microchipping, vaccinations, and training class services. Campaigns and programs to educate and raise community awareness about these services are ongoing. Houston has the largest urban land area in the U.S. Its size and unique characteristics create challenging circumstances in regards to animal population and control. In addition to a year-long breeding season that steadily increases the area’s animal population, our semi-tropical climate serves as an incubator for fleas, ticks and other parasites harmful to animals. Houston is an urban metropolis, but it is also home to various species of wild animals and reptiles including coyotes, bobcats, bats, raccoons, opossums, skunks, foxes, snakes and even alligators. Because of this, rabies outbreaks are a special concern. A rabies vaccination is required to license your pet, and a pet license is mandatory in Houston. BARC serves as the licensing facility. We work hard to educate the public about rabies prevention and about co-existing with our extensive wildlife population.

Pets available

Dogs Cats

Adoption process

1. Start the process by planning your visit to BARC! 2. Once you arrive to BARC you will be handed a map with additional information. If you already have a pet in mind that you would like to meet, please see staff to direct you to where the pet is housed. 3. When you find an animal you’d like to meet, please ask a team member for assistance so you can interact with the pet. Please do not open kennels without supervision. 4. Spend some time with the pet you may be adopting. BARC team members are happy to answer questions you may have or provide you with details (if available) on the pet you are considering. 5. Once you have made a decision on a pet you would like to join your family, please alert a team member to assist you. 6. Return to the Adoption Lobby to complete the adoption process. Please scan the QR code on the table to fill out the adoption application. Have a seat and our Customer Service team will notify you if you must speak to our Medical team or Adoption Coordinators prior to completing the adoption. 7. Your adoption application will be reviewed and our team will let you know if the pet is able to leave the same day.