Animal Shelters & Rescues in St. Louis
Animal shelters and rescues across St. Louis, from Soulard and The Hill to the Central West End and Tower Grove. Contact them directly to ask about adoptable pets, visiting hours and surrenders.
Shelters and Rescues
8 animal shelters and rescues in St. Louis
Tenth Life Cat Rescue
Stray Rescue of St Louis
Judy's Forgotten Jewells
Humane Society Of Missouri
Gateway Pet Guardians Emergency Shelter
Clowder House Foundation
Care Stl Adoption Center
Animal House Cat Rescue And Adoption Center
Animal shelters & rescues near St. Louis
- Brentwood 1
- Olivette 1
- Crestwood 1
- Saint Ann 1
- Maryland Heights 1
- Fenton 1
- Saint Charles 3
- Saint Peters 1
Other pet services in St. Louis
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Before You Adopt
- Contact the shelter or rescue before you visit
- Ask what the adoption process involves
- Think about the time and space a pet needs
- Ask about the animal's history and health
Adopting, rehoming and finding lost pets in St. Louis
In St. Louis, city animal services, private humane societies and volunteer rescues all play a part in rehoming pets. Many rescues are foster-based and have no public building, so their pets are often seen by appointment or at adoption events.
The city animal shelter
In St. Louis, animal services sit inside the city government, in the Health Department's Animal Care and Control division. The division's pet registration and licensing page is the starting point for the city's rabies and registration rules. This guide covers the City of St. Louis only; for an address outside the city limits, contact the government that covers where you live.
Licenses and microchips
The city's pet registration page says that anyone who owns, keeps or harbors a dog, puppy, cat or kitten in the city must have that animal vaccinated against rabies and registered with the City. Puppies and kittens must get their first rabies vaccination and be registered between 3 and 4 months of age, and new arrivals to the city have a 30-day grace period to register. Failing to keep the vaccination and registration current can result in a ticket and a fine.
Adopting a pet
Meet a pet more than once if you can, ask the shelter or rescue about its history and behavior, and have your landlord's pet policy ready before you apply. If you adopt a dog or cat in St. Louis, plan for the rabies vaccination and city registration soon after it comes home.
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.
Last updated
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I adopt a pet in St. Louis?
Browse the shelters and rescues listed on this page and contact them directly about adoptable pets, visiting hours and applications. Each organization has its own process, so ask what it requires before you visit.
What should I do if I find a stray dog or cat in St. Louis?
Check for a collar or tag, ask neighbors, and have the pet scanned for a microchip at a veterinary clinic. Then contact a local shelter or rescue for help.
Do I need to register my dog or cat in St. Louis?
Yes. The City of St. Louis requires dogs, puppies, cats and kittens kept in the city to be vaccinated against rabies and registered with the City. Puppies and kittens must be vaccinated and registered between 3 and 4 months of age, and new arrivals have 30 days to register.
What happens if my pet is not registered in St. Louis?
The city's pet registration page says failing to maintain the required vaccination and registration can result in a ticket and a fine.
How do I rehome a pet I can no longer keep?
Start by asking friends and family, then contact local shelters and rescues directly through their listings to ask whether they take surrenders and how they handle them.
What is the difference between a city shelter and a rescue?
A city or county shelter is run by local government. Rescues and humane societies are private, and many are foster-based with no public building. Each sets its own adoption process, so ask before you visit.