Elijah RomeroBringing a new pet home is a milestone. However, knowing where to start your search often feels overwhelming.
Whether you plan to adopt a dog or volunteer your time, Denver has several established organizations ready for your support.
Finding the right fit means matching your lifestyle with a rescue’s specific mission. We have reviewed local options to help you identify the best animal shelters in the city and simplify your search.
How much do animal shelter services cost in Denver?
For an adopter looking to bring a new friend home or a community member needing medical support, average shelter costs in the city range from $30 to $150 for adoptions and $50 to $975 for veterinary procedures.
| Service | Average Cost |
| Adult Dog Adoption | $100 – $150 |
| Cat/Kitten Adoption | $30 – $110 |
| Pet Surrender Fee | $50 |
| Spay/Neuter Procedure | $165 – $250+ |
| Advanced Veterinary Procedures | $435 – $975 |
1. Denver Animal Shelter
Website: http://www.denveranimalshelter.org/
Address: 1241 W Bayaud Ave
Contact: (720) 913-1311
Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Tuesday & Thursday: 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Denver Animal Shelter stands out as an open-admission facility that accepts every animal in need from the city and county, regardless of the animal’s health or behavior.
They offer affordable veterinary services and many pets for adoption. Their work keeps the community safe and provides vital support for local animals.
They also serve as the home base for local animal protection officers who handle cruelty investigations and lost pet returns.
While they’re a great resource for finding lost companions, you should note their strict residency rules.
Their surrender services are restricted only to people living within the city limits. This means you can’t drop off a stray if you live in a surrounding metro area.
Customer Reviews:
We were impressed by the facility
We had a great experience adopting our new dog. They had a great Christmas week special that made it possible for our family. We were impressed by the facility, the friendly, helpful volunteer staff and of course finding the gentle sweetheart we had been looking for.
- Stephanie S | Google Review
The best veterinary services
The Denver Animal Shelter is an exceptional facility! They are a dedicated team who take the extra time to make sure that the special animals are taken care of with the best veterinary services and matching animals to the right families. I especially appreciated the help that Aiden and his team provided in taking care of my new puppy!! I highly recommend them. Lori M
- Lori Miller | Google Review
2. True Companions Animal Shelter & Clinic
Website: https://truecompanions.org/
Address: 958 Inca St
Contact: (303) 595-0532
Hours: Monday & Wednesday – Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Finding specialized care for vulnerable strays is very important for a compassionate city. True Companions Animal Shelter and Clinic excels in this area by acting as a dedicated safety net for injured and abandoned animals.
When my neighbor brought in an injured stray cat last year, they were amazed by the team’s medical care. The shelter champions a pioneering no-kill philosophy and operates a community clinic offering advanced treatments such as laser therapy.
However, you should expect potential communication issues, as their high call volumes can make it hard to get a quick response. On top of that, they have very strict rules for appointments.
You will also face a fee if you’re more than ten minutes late for a vet visit. Despite these policies, their accessible payment plans and volunteer options make them a great local asset.
Customer Reviews:
This is now one of my favorite places!
This was my first time walking into the Max fund animal adoption center and it was so welcoming. They were giving away free dog food and toys and coats for different animals. They had all kinds of pet supplies and they were actually just giving them away. I was there because I rescued a mother melon wall that had been running the streets, apparently for a few days searching for her pups. The max fund was able to help take care of her and give her the medical care that they needed. this is now one of my favorite places!
- Terrina FloraAlexander | Google Review
High standard of care and professionalism
This adoption center. is one I would confidently recommend to anyone considering adoption. The organization is well-managed, clean, and clearly committed to animal welfare. Staff members are professional, attentive, and demonstrate genuine care toward the animals. The environment is welcoming and well maintained, reflecting a strong level of support and responsibility. Overall, this establishment meets a high standard of care and professionalism.
- Angelica A | Google Review
3. Humane Colorado – Leslie A. Malone Center
Website: http://www.humanecolorado.org/
Address: 2080 S Quebec St
Contact: (303) 751-5772 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Protecting pets during difficult life transitions requires deep empathy and a strong community. Humane Colorado shines with its socially conscious model; they accept every animal that comes to their door.
They aim to find a home for every healthy pet and offer a unique sanctuary program called Pet Assist. This program helps owners who are facing domestic violence or medical emergencies.
I recently spoke with a volunteer who fostered a dog through this initiative. She praised the organization for focusing on reuniting pets with their families.
A significant downside is that you must legally surrender ownership of your pet to use this crisis housing.
While this is a difficult emotional hurdle, it allows the organization to provide a guaranteed safety net and ensure that no animal is ever left behind during a family crisis.
Customer Reviews:
It was an experience I absolutely loved
It was an experience I absolutely loved. All the staff I was in contact with were nice and respectful. I fell in love with Ace and now he is at his home loving it. The adoption went so smooth. Also my wife absolutely loves Ace. If you want to adopt,I highly recommend Humane Colorado.
- Michael Lynn | Google Review
The people that work there are delightful
Get ready to wait an hour or two over the weekend to meet a pet, but it’s worth it. The people that work there are delightful. Sara made sure we were properly informed of the cat’s background and behavioral issues so we can make the best choice. Facilities are clean and well maintained. Welcomed home a little brown tabby with the best personality.
- Annie Liu | Google Review
4. Foothills Animal Shelter
Website: https://foothillsanimalshelter.org/
Address: 580 McIntyre St, Golden
Contact: (303) 278-7575
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
As the primary open-admission hub for Jefferson County, Foothills Animal Shelter guarantees a safe place for every animal, regardless of its history.
You’ll love their accessible walk-in clinics and the deep behavioral work they do for pets waiting for homes. They centralize many helpful resources for local adopters and donors in one convenient spot.
They’re also a certified fear-free facility, which means the staff uses science-based methods to keep pets calm and happy. This approach is very similar to what you would find with the city’s top dog trainers.
However, you should know that their intake services are only for Jefferson County residents. On top of that, families needing end-of-life services on weekends will face additional mandatory fees.
Customer Reviews:
The staff are really knowledgeable
Are we adopted Darcy a German Shepherd 2 days ago she is fantastic already house trained. She’s super smart and sweet and extremely obedient. I’ve never adopted a dog before and didn’t realize how great of an experience this would be. The staff at Foothills animal shelter are really knowledgeable and give you great benefits when adopting a dog. I definitely recommend this shelter.
- J & R Interior Services INC | Google Review
Extremely caring staff
An incredible shelter for lost pets/run aways, adoption, license, microchips, vaccinations, relinquish your pets, and end of life care. Compassionate, dedicated, and amazing staff. They understand pets, and all their life’s journey’s. Extremely caring staff when it comes to finding your best friend, end of life care, and reuniting with your fur babies. The women of foothills Animal Shelter both staff and volunteers are amazing and deserve your support! Donate, volunteer, adopt, foster, or take care of your beloved pets throughout their lives.
- Joshua Kauffman | Google Review
5. HSSPV
Website: https://hsspv.org/
Address: 2129 W Chenango Ave, Littleton
Contact: (303) 703-2938 | [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
The Humane Society of the South Platte Valley makes finding a new pet easy. To stay fair to everyone, they use a drawing system for highly sought-after pets instead of a first-come, first-served basis.
They focus on brain-based enrichment and never put a time limit on how long an animal can stay.
Their adoption packages are also very helpful because they include surgeries and microchips for a reasonable price. They even have a special partnership with Redstone Animal Hospital to offer health guarantees and free rabies vaccinations.
This helps families avoid extra trips to the vet or local dog grooming spots right away.
However, you should keep in mind that their clinic is only open two days a week. Also, renters must go through a landlord verification process, which can take some extra time.
Customer Reviews:
What a great experience!
What a great experience! We tried out MaxFund Dog Shelter before coming here and it was night and day. The dogs actually ran up to the volunteers and were excited to see them. You can tell they took good care of them. The lady who helped us was very sweet, and allowed us to go through the adoption process that very same day.
This is Dixie, we adopted her about 3 weeks ago and has been living her best life ever since then! I recommend this shelter!
- Zoe Laterza | Google Review
What a wonderful experience
Adopted Turkey a couple weeks ago. What a wonderful experience. We were told he doesn’t like to be held however he loves to cuddle. Found that to not be true. Truly blessed to have come across this great Cat. Thank you for caring for him! He is in a good home.
- Andy Seale | Google Review
