Forever Paws Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
Use this page as a quick action guide for Forever Paws Animal Shelter in Fall River, Massachusetts. It covers appointment-only adoption visits, applications, open appointment calls, reclaim hours, surrender rules, Fall River Animal Control and New Bedford Animal Control.
Key rule: Forever Paws is the contracted shelter for the City of Fall River and the City of New Bedford, but animal-control complaints should go to the correct city animal-control office first.
Clickable Forever Paws Action Cards
Start with the action you need. This avoids missed appointment windows and wrong animal-control calls.
Forever Paws Adoption Hours and Reclaim Timing
The shelter is not open for general walk-in browsing. Adoption visits are appointment only.
| Need | Official timing | What to do first | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption appointment | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 AM-4 PM | Become preapproved or call at 11 AM to ask if open appointments exist. | Do not arrive expecting walk-in browsing. |
| Daily closure | Closed 12:30 PM-1:30 PM every day | Plan calls/visits around the closure. | Morning call window matters. |
| Wednesday | Closed | Use online pet list and forms. | Owners may still reclaim animals. |
| Sunday | Closed | Do not plan an adoption visit. | Owners may still reclaim animals. |
| Holiday hours | Vary | Check Forever Paws Facebook before driving. | Holiday updates are not safe to guess. |
Adoption Micro-Steps
Forever Paws does not use a simple first-come, first-served adoption model. The shelter reviews applications and matches animals to the best situation for their needs.
Pick a specific animal
Open the Forever Paws Petfinder list. Write down the animal’s name before applying.
Download the correct form
Use the Forever Paws adoption-forms page for dog, cat or small-animal applications.
Submit the application
Email it to FPAS1@ForeverPaws.com, mail it to Forever Paws at 300 Lynwood St, Fall River, MA 02721, or bring it in person.
Expect reference checks
Forever Paws says homeownership, landlord and veterinary references may be checked during the process.
Visit in person
Forever Paws requires prospective adopters to visit the animal in person. No exceptions are listed on the official adoption-forms page.
Interview with counselor
An in-person interview with an adoption counselor takes place before adoption.
Bring your current pet when useful
Forever Paws encourages people who already own pets, especially dogs, to bring them to meet the potential new family member before adoption.
Sign the contract
Every adopter must sign an adoption contract before bringing a new pet home.
Adoption Prices: What Is Verified
Forever Paws links to an official downloadable adoption price list from its adoption page. Because the fee values are inside a downloadable file, do not rely on copied third-party fee tables without checking the official file first.
Fee values
Click the official “Adoption Prices” file on the Forever Paws adoption page before visiting. Fee amounts can change.
What the policy page confirms
Forever Paws spays or neuters cats and dogs for adoption. Small animals may or may not be altered.
Payment question
Call 508-677-9154 and ask: “What is the current adoption fee for [animal name], and what payment methods do you accept?”
How Forever Paws Chooses Adopters
Application required
All potential adopters must fill out an adoption application.
References checked
The shelter says applications are checked completely, including homeownership, landlord and veterinary references.
Best match wins
Animals are not adopted first-come, first-served. Forever Paws matches animals with the best adopter for their individual needs.
Health check note
Animals are evaluated for obvious health and behavior issues, but the shelter does not guarantee health or temperament.
Meet resident dogs
If you already own a dog, bring your pet when the shelter asks so compatibility can be checked before adoption.
Contract required
Adopters must sign the adoption contract before taking an animal home.
Lost or Found Pet in Fall River / New Bedford
Forever Paws houses stray animals for contracted cities, but animal-control pickup and reporting should go through the correct city route.
If your pet is lost
- Call Forever Paws at 508-677-9154 and ask if a matching animal has arrived.
- If the pet was lost in Fall River, call Fall River Animal Control at 508-324-2037.
- If the pet was lost in New Bedford, call New Bedford Animal Control at 508-991-6366.
- Send clear photos, microchip number, collar/tag details, sex, age, color and exact last-seen location.
- Check in person when the shelter or animal-control staff advises it.
- Update your microchip registry and post to local lost-pet groups.
If you found an animal
- If safe, keep the animal away from traffic and separate from your pets.
- For Fall River strays, report to Fall River Animal Control because stray dogs must be reported to animal control.
- Ask a veterinarian, shelter or animal-control office about microchip scanning.
- Do not assume the animal is abandoned; the owner may be searching.
- For sick, injured, dangerous or abandoned animals, call animal control instead of handling.
- For after-hours Fall River emergencies, use the police non-emergency emergency-service route listed by Fall River Animal Control.
Shelter vs Animal Control: Who Handles What?
Forever Paws is the shelter. Animal Control handles public-safety, legal and pickup reports.
| Need | Official route | Phone | Use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption / shelter question | Forever Paws Animal Shelter | 508-677-9154 | Adoption appointments, applications, Petfinder pets, surrender availability and reclaim questions. |
| Fall River animal-control issue | Fall River Animal Control | 508-324-2037 | Stray/abandoned pets, cruelty complaints, bites, sick/injured animals and local wildlife help. |
| Fall River after-hours emergency | Fall River Police emergency-service route | 508-676-8511 | After-hours animal-control emergencies through the police department non-emergency line. |
| New Bedford animal-control issue | New Bedford Animal Control Office | 508-991-6366 | New Bedford animal-control route; the office is listed as a division within the New Bedford Police Department. |
| Immediate danger to people | Emergency services | 911 | Use for immediate human safety emergencies. |
Fall River Dog Licensing: Verified City Details
This is not an adoption fee. It is a city dog-license requirement for Fall River residents.
| License situation | Fall River fee | Where / requirement | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spayed or neutered dog | $10 | Bring rabies vaccine certificate to the City Clerk, 2nd floor of City Hall. | Keep the license current every year. |
| Unaltered dog | $15 | Bring rabies vaccine certificate to the City Clerk. | Higher fee than altered pets. |
| Citizen age 70+ | Free | Bring rabies vaccine certificate and ask the City Clerk. | Confirm current local process before going. |
Owner Surrender: Call First, No Walk-Ins
Forever Paws clearly asks owners not to bring same-day surrender animals without an appointment.
What Forever Paws says
- Forever Paws has contracts with the City of Fall River and the City of New Bedford to house, hold and accept homeless animals of their residents.
- Due to limited space, it cannot accept unlimited animals from the general public.
- Call to ask about availability or to be added to the surrender waitlist.
- Same-day surrenders and walk-ins are not accepted.
- If a person or animal is in danger or there is an urgent emergency, call 508-677-9154.
Before surrendering
- Prepare the pet’s medical records, vaccine history and spay/neuter information.
- Write behavior notes honestly: bite history, fear triggers, kids, cats, dogs, handling and house-training.
- Ask about rehoming resources first because the shelter says you know your pet best.
- Do not hide medical or behavior issues; it can hurt the animal’s placement.
- Ask whether the shelter is currently accepting your pet type.
Foster-to-Adopt and Spay/Neuter Policy
This section helps adopters understand why some animals may not be finalized immediately.
Cats and dogs
Forever Paws says cats and dogs are spayed or neutered for adoption.
Small animals
Small animals may or may not be altered, according to the adoption policy.
Foster-to-adopt
If a cat or dog cannot be altered before adoption for medical or other reasons, the animal may be considered foster-to-adopt until altered.
Legal ownership
While in foster-to-adopt status, the animal remains legally owned by Forever Paws until the adoption is finalized.
Medical issue rule
If a medical issue comes up during foster-to-adopt, the foster home must contact Forever Paws before bringing the animal to a veterinarian.
Contract still matters
Review the adoption contract before committing, especially if the animal may need foster-to-adopt timing.
Before You Leave Home
Animal name, completed application, ID, landlord approval, vet reference, payment question.
Bring your dog if the shelter asks for a meet before adoption.
Photos, microchip number, rabies/vet records, collar/tag details, last-seen location.
Appointment, waitlist confirmation, medical records, honest behavior notes, urgent-safety details.
Copy/Paste Call Scripts
Adoption appointment
Hi, I am interested in [animal name] from Forever Paws. I submitted / want to submit an application. Am I preapproved, and do you have any open appointment times today?Adoption fee check
Hi, before I visit, can you confirm the current adoption fee for [animal name/type] and what payment methods you accept?Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing from [street/city]. Description: [color/size/collar/microchip]. Has a matching animal arrived at Forever Paws?Found animal
Hi, I found a [dog/cat] near [exact location]. The animal is [safe/injured/aggressive]. Should I call Animal Control or bring the animal to the shelter?Surrender waitlist
Hi, I need to ask about owner surrender availability for my [pet]. I live in [Fall River/New Bedford/other]. I understand you do not take same-day walk-ins. Can I be added to the waitlist or schedule an appointment?Animal control
Hi, I need Animal Control for [stray dog/abandoned pet/bite/cruelty/sick animal/wildlife] at [exact location]. Is this the correct city route?Map: Forever Paws Animal Shelter
Use this map for appointment, adoption, reclaim or shelter visits. For stray pickup, bites, cruelty, abandoned pets or sick/injured animals, call Animal Control first.
Official Forever Paws and Animal-Control Links
The important details are summarized above. Use these official pages for live availability, forms, holiday changes and final confirmation.
Forever Paws Animal Shelter FAQ
Where is Forever Paws Animal Shelter located?
Forever Paws Animal Shelter is located at 300 Lynwood St, Fall River, MA 02721.
What is the Forever Paws phone number?
The main Forever Paws Animal Shelter phone number is 508-677-9154.
What are Forever Paws adoption hours?
Forever Paws lists appointment-only adoption hours for preapproved applicants on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Is Forever Paws open on Wednesday or Sunday?
Forever Paws says it is closed every Wednesday and Sunday, but owners are available to reclaim their animals.
Does Forever Paws close for lunch?
Yes. Forever Paws says it is closed every day from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM.
Do I need an appointment to visit Forever Paws?
Yes. Forever Paws says it is open by appointment only. If you are not preapproved, call at 11 AM to ask whether open appointments are available.
How do I submit a Forever Paws adoption application?
Download the correct application, then email it to FPAS1@ForeverPaws.com, mail it to Forever Paws at 300 Lynwood St, Fall River, MA 02721, or bring it to the shelter in person.
Does Forever Paws adopt animals first come, first served?
No. Forever Paws says animals are not adopted on a first-come, first-served basis. The shelter matches animals with the best adopter for their individual needs.
Can I surrender a pet to Forever Paws the same day?
No. Forever Paws says it does not take same-day surrenders or walk-ins. Call to ask about availability or to be added to the surrender waitlist.
Who do I call for Fall River Animal Control?
Fall River Animal Control lists 508-324-2037 as its office phone and 508-676-8511 for emergencies or after-hours situations through the police non-emergency route.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.