Animals & Pets
We know your pets are an important part of your lives. That's why the City of Columbus supports the needs of your furry friends. We provide a wide variety of community resources, such as animal rescue, animal shelters, pet adoption, dog parks and more to help keep your current pets happy and healthy - or to help you find a special pet that's waiting for the perfect home.
Lost Animals
Lost or found a pet?
PetFBI.org is a great tool for posting lost and found pets in Columbus.
Dog Adoption
Both the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center and Columbus Humane can help you select the perfect dog from the dozens waiting for a new home. You can also find out about volunteer opportunities, pet care and animal rescue resources.
PUP
PUP stands for Pick Up Poop. All dog owners can "doo" the right thing and scoop poop when walking and in your own backyard. Our goal is clean water and PUPing is our law. Take the PUP pledge, and you can even get free goodies for your pup.
Cat Adoption
Looking to adopt a new cat or kitten? There are several shelters in the Columbus area.
The Columbus Humane has been sheltering homeless animals, fighting animal cruelty and neglect, and offering programs to address the needs of animals in our community since 1883.
The Cat Welfare Association has been caring for homeless cats since 1945 and offers many cats waiting to be adopted into a loving home. You can also learn about volunteer opportunities, the Guardian Angels and spay and neuter programs.
Other area shelters include Pets Without Parents and Colony Cats.
To search area shelters and various local rescue organizations, visit petfinder.com.
Spay and Neuter
It's important to take proper care of your pets and that includes spaying and neutering. The Capital Area Humane Society has collected a list of low cost spay and neuter resources.
Get Involved
If you'd like to give your time to improve the lives of pets in our City, consider pet adoption or volunteering at the Franklin County Dog Shelter or Capital Area Humane Society.
Report Animal Cruelty
If you know of an animal that has been abandoned, neglected or mistreated, please contact Columbus Humane to investigate or direct you to the proper resource.
Licenses
Learn how to apply for the various animal permits and pet licenses required by the City of Columbus Department of Health.
Resources
To help you discover how to take excellent care of your pets, consult the links below and learn about the many available resources in our City, including animal shelters, pet adoption, pet safety, dog parks and more.
Zoo and Wildlife
Take a walk on the wild side with some of the City's most exotic animals. Make plans to visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - voted the number one zoo in America - and The Wilds, for an unforgettable safari experience.