Animal Shelters & Rescues in Pittsburgh

Animal control takes in strays in Pittsburgh, and private humane societies and volunteer rescues, many of them foster-based with no building, rehome pets too. Where you start depends on whether you want to adopt, have found an animal or have lost your own.

The city animal shelter

Pittsburgh runs its own Bureau of Animal Care & Control, which captures stray animals, helps with pet and owner recovery and works with non-profit animal shelters. The city says any animal picked up by its officers is taken to Humane Animal Rescue, which it calls the open-door shelter in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh licenses dogs itself rather than through the county.

Found a stray or lost your pet

The city's stray animal policy says dogs running loose are picked up and impounded by police and Animal Control officers. For licensed dogs and ID-tagged cats, the owner is contacted and the animal is held for 10 days at Humane Animal Rescue's East End shelter. Unlicensed dogs and cats with no collar ID may be placed for adoption or euthanized after 3 days following impoundment. That is why a license tag and a collar ID matter.

If you have lost a pet, the city advises you to file a lost report with Humane Animal Rescue and visit in person, since descriptions can differ, and to keep your microchip details up to date. If you find a friendly cat without ID, city officers will pick it up only if it is contained in a carrier, cage or humane trap.

Licenses and microchips

The city says a license is required for every dog age three months and older living in Pittsburgh, and annual licenses run January 1 through December 31. The state confirms that Pittsburgh residents buy a dog license through the City of Pittsburgh. The city's owner guide says cats do not have to be licensed, but a cat allowed outside must have an ID collar or tag. Pennsylvania requires dogs and cats 3 months of age or older to have a current rabies vaccination.

Adopting a pet

Meet the pet more than once if you can, ask about its history and how it behaves with other animals, children and visitors, and have your landlord's pet policy ready before you apply. Ask whether the pet is already spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and what the adoption paperwork covers. Private rescues set their own steps, so ask each one what it requires.

About these listings

Many listings here were added from public business data and have not been claimed yet. Ask the shelter or rescue directly about opening hours, adoptable pets and whether it takes surrenders. If you run one of these shelters or rescues, you can claim or correct its listing from its page.