Small dog sitting in the grass with a person

Adopt a Houston area pet

You can save the lives of dogs and cats in your community when you adopt from a shelter in the greater Houston area.

Greater Houston continues to see a record number of homeless dogs and cats in our communities, and because of that, many shelters and rescue groups in the area are over capacity.

You can save the lives of cats and dogs in Houston when you adopt from your local shelter. When you adopt a homeless pet instead of buying a pet online or from a pet store, you not only give a safe home to an animal who could have been at risk of losing their life due to lack of resources, but you also create space for another pet in our community to be rescued. 

That’s why we are asking pet lovers to locate their nearest shelter in greater Houston and step up to support it by adopting, fostering, volunteering, and promoting the shelter to the rest of their community.

Locations icon

Adopt a pet in Houston and save a life

Shelters and rescue groups throughout the greater Houston area are full of loving cats and dogs looking for homes with people like you.


Don't see your local shelter listed above?

See how your community is doing

In 2022, 68,945 dogs and cats were killed in animal shelters across Texas, but together with your help, we’re changing that.

Saving the lives of dogs and cats in animal shelters is the responsibility of everyone in every community. By choosing to adopt from your local shelter or rescue group, you make a lifesaving impact for that pet and further support making Houston a no-kill community. A shelter is considered no-kill when its save rate for dogs and cats combined is at least 90%.

Shelters near you need help to save more lives and achieve no-kill. Find your nearest shelter below to see the status of your community.

See how your community is doing »

Two smiling people sitting with a cat in a cozy living room

Heartwarming adoption stories

Adoption gives homeless pets the second chances they deserve.
Sunny the one-eyed kitten wearing a green vest

Faces of No-Kill: Cat sails through life after surgery

One-eyed kitten Sunny braved illness and a double surgery. Now she's charting a bold new course with her adopted crew.
Now she's embarking on epic adventures
Video
Dr. Christina Boekhout holding Stone Cold the cat who is wearing a protective e-collar

Faces of No-Kill: Cat noses way into vet’s heart

During Stone Cold’s time in treatment for a hole in his nose, this charming gray tabby won over everyone he met — including his surgeon.
Now he's found love
Video
Lowe the tabby cat in his foster home

Cat who loses a leg gains a lot of love

Lowe, a brown tabby with three legs and a familiar look, leaves his harrowing past behind.
Now his playful spirit shines
Video
Silhouette of two dogs, cat and kitten

When you adopt a pet, you save lives

By adopting a cat or dog from a shelter or rescue group you’ll not only save a life, but you’ll also you gain a friend — a loyal companion who can offer you comfort and love, no matter what uncertainty life holds.

Adopting from a shelter or rescue group
Person kneeling down in the grass to hug a dog

Fostering a pet saves lives

By bringing a pet into your home for a short time, you’re not only helping that animal, you’re helping to make room in shelters for more cats and dogs in need.

A shelter can be a noisy and stressful place, especially for shy and frightened animals. By providing a loving, quiet place for pets to learn and grow, you’re helping to alleviate the burden for a local shelter.

Foster a Pet
Dog and cat sitting together on a blue couch

Found a lost pet?

Before taking a lost pet to your local shelter, try visiting a veterinarian’s office to see if the pet has a microchip. Then try to reunite the pet with their family via social media.
Reunite lost pets with their people
Best Friends Logo Mark

About Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Society is working to save the lives of cats and dogs all across the country, giving pets second chances and happy homes.

Just a few short years ago, cats and dogs were killed in staggering numbers in this country simply because shelters didn't have the community support or the resources to save their lives. That number is now less than half a million per year, but there’s still work to do to ensure a bright future for every dog and cat in America. 

Best Friends operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and is committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by working with shelters and passionate people like you. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill in 2025. Together, we will Save Them All.