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Animal Shelters in Cincinnati

Greater Cincinnati's county shelters and no-kill rescues in one place, with a link to each so you can see who is waiting for a home.

Where to adopt around Cincinnati

Direct answer

Hamilton County's public, open-admission shelter is Cincinnati Animal CARE, which also runs the county's dog warden service. SPCA Cincinnati has been the area's humane society since 1873. For no-kill shelters, League for Animal Welfare, Save The Animals Foundation, The Scratching Post, HEARTT Animal Refuge, Animal Adoption Foundation and Animal Rescue Fund all use the no-kill label on their own sites.

Outside Hamilton County, Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton is Butler County's largest and oldest nonprofit shelter, and Animal Adoption Foundation is also in Butler County. In Clermont County, League for Animal Welfare has served Greater Cincinnati since 1949, and Animal Rescue Fund runs a no-kill shelter on 17 acres in Amelia. Across the river, Protect 4 Paws cares for dogs and cats in Wilder, Kentucky, and PAWS of Dearborn County is an all-volunteer group on the Indiana side.

Not sure what no-kill actually promises? Our guide towhat no-kill really means in Cincinnatiexplains the label and why the county shelter matters just as much. Can't adopt right now?Fostering a dog in Cincinnatifrees a kennel for the next animal.

Shelter profiles

Cincinnati Animal CARE Humane Society

Hamilton County

Cincinnati Animal CARE operates Hamilton County's one and only animal shelter and is responsible for the county's dog warden and animal control services. As the sole taxpayer-funded provider of these services, we are committed to ensuring that all animals in our community are valued, protected, and have a safe place to call home.

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Save The Animals Foundation

Hamilton County

Save The Animals Foundation is a volunteer-driven, no-kill shelter providing rescue and rehabilitation to alleviate the suffering of dogs and cats while helping each animal find a loving home.

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Ohio Alleycat Resource and Spay/Neuter Clinic

Hamilton County

OAR helps cats and communities. Twenty-five years ago, O'Bryonville Animal Rescue started to help people spay and neuter feral cats and find permanent indoor homes for friendly community cats. Now, OAR stands for Ohio Alleycat Resource and Spay/Neuter Clinic. Its home has changed to Madisonville, and its mission has greatly expanded.

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The Scratching Post

Hamilton County

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill cat shelter and adoption center in Silverton dedicated to rescuing cats and finding forever homes for homeless felines in our community. Since our founding in 1990, we have been dedicated to the health, welfare, and comfort of the cats and kittens that come through our door. We can house and care for 150 cats in our facility, and we find homes for about 175 cats per year.

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Protect 4 Paws

Northern Kentucky

We occupy a small space on a pretty patch of land in Wilder, KY. At the shelter, we typically have a capacity of 5 to 8 dogs and 15 to 20 cats and kittens. Our time is fully dedicated to ensuring that every animal brought in is loved and cared for and brought up to date on all medical essentials. Our mission is to work to understand the animals in our care and in doing so, find them the perfect home.

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The HEARTT Animal Refuge

Hamilton County

HEARTT Animal Refuge is a 100% volunteer, no-kill animal refuge and adoption center. We rescue abandoned and abused cats and dogs, provide them with a home and good medical care until they are adopted. We are strong supporters of neuter and spay.

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SPCA Cincinnati

Hamilton County

The SPCA Cincinnati is your hometown Humane Society, and has been since 1873. We are the problem solvers for everything animal-related, from pet adoptions to vaccination clinics. We provide care for any animals that come to the shelter: food, medical needs, exercise, enrichment, and affection to get them ready to go to their new homes. We do all we can to support people so that pet surrender is a last resort.

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League for Animal Welfare

Clermont County

Founded in 1949, League for Animal Welfare is a privately funded, non-profit organization providing much-needed care for unwanted, lost and neglected cats and dogs in our community. As the oldest and one of the largest no-kill shelters in the area, the League serves the Greater Cincinnati area through initiatives to reduce the number of homeless animals and to help people better care for their pets.

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Animal Adoption Foundation

Butler County

The Animal Adoption Foundation is a non-profit, no-kill shelter for dogs and cats that have been abused, abandoned, or found as strays. AAF provides a safe and humane environment for dogs and cats that are waiting to be adopted. Our caring volunteers and generous, loving donors enable us to provide a safe and happy haven for our special friends. The shelter currently houses approximately 85 cats and dogs.

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Animal Rescue Fund, Inc.

Clermont County

Animal Rescue Fund, Inc. is a privately-funded, non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization incorporated in the State of Ohio in February 1980. We operate a no-kill shelter for homeless animals called The Farm on 17 acres in Amelia. Our operation has full and part time staff members and volunteers. The shelter provides for the health, safety, and happiness of all our animals.

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Animal Friends Humane Society

Butler County

Animal Friends Humane Society (AFHS) was established in 1952 and is Butler County's largest, oldest non-profit animal shelter. Our mission is to promote humane principles, to protect lost, homeless, abandoned and mistreated animals, and to act as advocates for animals in our communities. In 2009, AFHS relocated to a 22,500 square foot facility with top-notch amenities in Hamilton, Ohio.

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PAWS of Dearborn County

Dearborn County, IN

Known simply as PAWS, the Partners for Animal Welfare Society of Dearborn County is an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats in our county.

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Looking for a smaller rescue?

Our Tri-State Rescue Directory lists more than 60 rescues and shelters by county, including breed, bird, reptile and wildlife rescues.

See the rescue directory →

Having a hard time finding the one?

Give Petfinder a try to search adoptable pets across every local shelter at once.

Search Petfinder →

Animal shelter questions

Which animal shelter serves Cincinnati and Hamilton County?

Cincinnati Animal CARE operates Hamilton County's public animal shelter and handles the county's dog warden and animal control services. It is open admission, which means it accepts every animal brought to it, including strays and surrendered pets.

Are there no-kill animal shelters in Cincinnati?

Yes. League for Animal Welfare, Save The Animals Foundation, The Scratching Post, HEARTT Animal Refuge, Animal Adoption Foundation and Animal Rescue Fund all describe themselves as no-kill on their own sites. Status can change as intake and funding shift, so ask the shelter how it defines the term before you rely on it.

What is the difference between an open-admission shelter and a no-kill shelter?

An open-admission shelter, usually the county shelter, must accept every animal that arrives. Most no-kill shelters are limited admission, so they choose their intake and may keep a waitlist. The two work together: rescues pull animals from county shelters when they have space.

Can I surrender a pet to a no-kill shelter near Cincinnati?

Sometimes, but most no-kill shelters take animals by appointment or from a waitlist, so call first. In a genuine emergency, your county's open-admission shelter is the one required to help.

Where can I find rescues that are not listed on this page?

The NatiPets Tri-State Rescue Directory lists more than 60 rescues and shelters by county, including breed-specific, bird, reptile, farm animal and wildlife rescues. You can also search adoptable pets across many local shelters at once on Petfinder.

Run a shelter or rescue we should list? Tell us about it. Thinking about a retired racer? Read our guide togreyhound adoption in Cincinnati.