Aiken County Animal Shelter, Control & Adoption 2026
If you searched for the Aiken County animal shelter, the official county shelter is Aiken County Animal Shelter at 333 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801. The main shelter phone is 803-642-1537.
Aiken County separates shelter operations from Animal Enforcement. Shelter staff care for animals at the facility, while Animal Enforcement Officers under Code Enforcement handle complaints such as injured or stray animals, abuse or neglect, dog bites, cruelty, barking and tethering issues.
Verified County Shelter
This guide is about Aiken County Animal Shelter on Wire Road in Aiken, South Carolina. It is not SPCA Albrecht Center, a private rescue, a veterinary clinic, or a national shelter directory.
Unincorporated Service Area
The county page says Aiken County Animal Shelter provides animal services for the unincorporated area of Aiken County. City or town limits can change the correct response route.
Independent Guide
Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational guide. Use the official county, sheriff, DPH and partner pages for live instructions.
Start With the Right Aiken County Pet Help Route
The right contact depends on what you need. Adoption and reclaim questions usually start with the Wire Road shelter. Animal complaints, abuse/neglect concerns, dog bites, injured strays, nuisance animals, barking and tethering complaints route through Animal Enforcement under Code Enforcement.
Aiken County Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
Adoption hours are not the same as citizen stray intake hours. Use the adoption window when you want to meet a dog or cat, and use the stray intake window only when you are following the county’s found-animal process.
| Visit type | Current listed time | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption hours — Monday to Friday | 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Main weekday adoption window. Arrive early enough to meet the pet. |
| Adoption hours — Saturday | 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Weekend adoption window; pet availability can change quickly. |
| Citizen stray intake — Monday to Friday | 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. | For citizen stray intake, not a general late-day adoption rule. |
| Owner surrender | By appointment | Call 803-642-1537 and use prompt #7 before transporting an owned pet. |
| Sunday / county holidays | Not listed as normal adoption hours | Check the official shelter page before holiday or weather-event travel. |
How Adoption Works at Aiken County Animal Shelter
A good adoption visit starts before you leave home. Search current pets, make sure the shelter is open, bring safe transport and ask enough questions to choose a pet that fits your real household.
Check current shelter pets
Use the county shelter page and FOTAS adoption pages to review available dogs and cats. Save the pet’s name or ID, but keep a backup option because availability can change.
Call if one animal is the reason for your trip
Pets may be adopted, reclaimed, transferred, placed on hold for review or temporarily unavailable. A quick call can save a wasted drive.
Visit during adoption hours
Use Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or Saturday 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m., unless the official shelter page posts a change.
Meet the animal in a calm way
FOTAS says prospective adopters can visit with pets in enclosed play areas. Ask staff what they have observed about behavior, energy, handling and home fit.
Confirm the fee and included care
Current published fees are dogs $35 and cats $10. Ask whether a current monthly special, waived-fee event or medical detail changes the final amount.
Prepare safe transport
Bring a cat carrier, leash/collar setup, water for the ride home and a quiet first-day plan. Do not let a newly adopted pet ride loose in the vehicle.
Aiken County Adoption and Surrender Fees
Aiken County’s current shelter page and FOTAS adoption page list low adoption fees, while surrender fees are higher and depend on appointment status and special circumstances.
| Fee item | Current listed amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Dog adoption | $35 | Current county and FOTAS pages list dogs at $35, with specials possible. |
| Cat adoption | $10 | County page says cats include spay/neuter, microchip and rabies shot. FOTAS notes adopted shelter animals are fixed, vaccinated and microchipped. |
| Owner surrender without appointment | $200 per animal | Higher fee listed when surrender is not scheduled first. |
| Owner surrender with appointment | $100–$150 | Current county page lists a lower range when surrender is by appointment. Call prompt #7 for the correct amount. |
| Female with litter of 1–6 | $150 | Listed surrender-fee exception. |
| Female with 7+ litter | $175 | Listed surrender-fee exception for larger litters. |
Emergency & Important Aiken County Animal Contacts
Do not use one number for every situation. Routine adoption questions, found strays, bites, dangerous animals, wildlife nuisance and public safety emergencies have different routes.
| Contact | Number / route | Use this for |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken County Animal Shelter |
803-642-1537 shelter@aikencountysc.gov |
Adoption, shelter hours, lost/reclaim questions, citizen stray intake, surrender appointment routing and shelter business. |
| Owner surrender appointment route | 803-642-1537, prompt #7 | Owned-pet surrender questions and appointment scheduling before transporting an animal. |
| Aiken County Animal Enforcement / Code Enforcement dispatch | 803-502-9000 ext. 3704 | Injured or stray animals, abuse/neglect concerns, wellbeing checks, dog bite/attack cases, cruelty, barking and tethering complaints in the county enforcement area. |
| Immediate emergency | 911 | Immediate danger to people, serious injury, active attack, dangerous-animal emergency or other urgent public-safety emergency. |
| Aiken County Sheriff non-emergency |
803-648-6811 800-922-9709 |
Non-emergency public-safety reporting when a sheriff/dispatch route is needed and it is not a shelter adoption question. |
| Aiken County Sheriff general information | 803-642-1761 | General sheriff office information, not shelter adoption or routine Animal Enforcement dispatch. |
| SC DPH Aiken rabies / bite reporting |
803-642-1687 206 Beaufort Street NE, Aiken |
Animal bites, possible rabies exposure and county public-health rabies reporting during normal business hours. |
| SC DPH after-hours rabies route | 1-888-847-0902, option 2 | Nights, weekends and holidays for animal bite or possible rabies exposure reporting. |
| SCDNR wildlife nuisance route | 803-955-4000 | Wildlife nuisance concerns that county Animal Enforcement directs to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. |
Aiken County Animal Enforcement: What Officers Handle
Aiken County Animal Enforcement is part of Code Enforcement. The shelter cares for impounded and surrendered animals, while enforcement officers handle animal-related complaints and field issues.
Injured and stray animals
Use Animal Enforcement for injured or stray animal complaints that require county field response.
Wellbeing checks
Officers handle animal wellbeing checks and concerns about care, shelter, water, food and humane treatment.
Abuse, neglect and cruelty
Report suspected abuse, neglect or cruelty with the exact location, animal description and any evidence you can safely provide.
Bites and attacks
Dog bite and attack cases may involve Animal Enforcement, law enforcement, medical care and DPH rabies reporting.
Barking and nuisance
Barking complaints and other nuisance-pet concerns are listed under the Animal Enforcement complaint scope.
Tethering complaints
Tethering complaints are part of the county’s Animal Enforcement work. Give the exact address and time details when reporting.
Lost or Found Pet in Aiken County
A lost pet search should start quickly and repeat often. Intake records can change after citizen stray intake, Animal Enforcement pickup, owner reports, microchip scans or adoption-status updates.
If your pet is missing
- Call Aiken County Animal Shelter at 803-642-1537.
- Check current available and stray listings through the official shelter/FOTAS routes.
- Contact Animal Enforcement if a field-service pickup may be involved.
- Search close to the last-seen location: porches, sheds, garages, wooded edges, drainage areas and quiet hiding spots.
- Keep photos, microchip details, rabies records, license information and proof of ownership ready.
- If the pet disappeared inside a city/town limit, confirm whether the county or municipal route applies.
If you found an animal
- Do not chase, corner or grab a frightened or aggressive animal.
- Check safely for a collar, tag or owner information.
- Have a veterinarian, shelter or animal-control office scan for a microchip when safe.
- Use citizen stray intake hours if the county shelter confirms that intake is the correct route.
- Call Animal Enforcement for injured, aggressive, at-large or unsafe situations.
- Do not rehome a found animal privately without following the proper local process.
Citizen Stray Intake Hours
Citizen stray intake is a narrower service window than adoption. Use it only after confirming that bringing the found animal to the county shelter is the right step.
Listed intake window
Citizen stray intake is listed as Monday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Call before transporting
If the animal is injured, aggressive, from a city/town area, or possibly involved in a bite, call first instead of arriving unplanned.
Do not risk capture
If safe handling is not possible, use Animal Enforcement or emergency routing. Your safety matters more than fast transport.
Owner Surrender: Appointment, Fees and Reality Check
Surrendering a pet is emotional and expensive. The county lists owner surrender by appointment through the shelter phone and prompt #7, and shows different fees depending on appointment status and circumstances.
Appointment route
Call 803-642-1537, prompt #7 before transporting an owned pet for surrender.
With appointment
The current county page lists owner surrender with appointment in the $100–$150 range.
Without appointment
The current county page lists $200 per animal for surrender without an appointment.
Animal Bites and Rabies Reporting in Aiken County
Animal bites and possible rabies exposures are public-health issues, not just shelter questions. South Carolina DPH says animal bites or incidents should be reported through the county office during business hours or through the after-hours statewide route at night, on weekends or on holidays.
Business-hours DPH contact
The DPH rabies contact table lists the Aiken office at 206 Beaufort Street NE, Aiken, phone 803-642-1687.
After-hours route
For nights, weekends or holidays, DPH lists 1-888-847-0902, option 2.
Medical care matters
Anyone bitten or scratched by a wild, stray or unvaccinated animal should clean the wound, contact a healthcare provider and report the incident.
Wildlife and Deceased Animal Routing
Aiken County Animal Enforcement publishes separate routing for wildlife nuisance and deceased animals. This prevents people from calling the shelter for issues the shelter does not handle directly.
| Situation | Listed route | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife nuisance concern | SCDNR: 803-955-4000 | County page says wildlife nuisance concerns are directed to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. |
| Deceased animal on a state road | SCDOT: 803-641-7665 | State-road carcass removal is not a shelter adoption question. |
| Deceased animal on a county road | Roads and Bridges: 803-642-1532 | County road issues route separately from Animal Shelter adoption. |
| Deceased animal on private property | Property owner responsibility | County guidance says deceased animals on private property are the owner’s responsibility. |
Spay/Neuter Vouchers and Community Cat TNR
Aiken County’s shelter information includes two practical prevention routes: a low-cost spay/neuter voucher program for qualified county citizens and a return-to-field/TNR route for community or feral cats.
Spay/neuter vouchers
County information says vouchers for participating veterinary clinics are available at Code Enforcement for qualified Aiken County citizens who need financial help to spay or neuter dogs or cats.
Return to Field / TNR
The county says community or feral cats trapped by Aiken County citizens may be brought by appointment, fixed free of charge, and returned to the citizen for return to field.
Monthly limit
County lookup information says the shelter can accommodate a limited number of return-to-field surgeries each month, so call first.
FOTAS: Friends of the Animal Shelter Support
Friends of the Animal Shelter — Aiken County, usually called FOTAS, is a nonprofit volunteer organization that supports the Aiken County Animal Shelter. FOTAS is useful for adoptable-pet listings, volunteering, fostering, Doggie Days Out and donation support, but it is not the same as county Animal Enforcement.
Partner nonprofit
FOTAS says its mission is to support the Aiken County Animal Shelter by promoting animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
Foster and volunteer
FOTAS pages route visitors to foster care, volunteer opportunities and programs that help shelter animals outside normal adoption.
FOTAS contact
FOTAS lists 803-514-4313 and info@fotasaiken.org for nonprofit contact.
SPCA Albrecht Center Is Separate From Aiken County Animal Shelter
Aiken searches can also show SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare at 199 Willow Run Road. It is a private, local nonprofit shelter and has its own adoption center and veterinary care center. Do not copy county fees, county enforcement duties or county stray-intake rules onto SPCA Albrecht.
Private local nonprofit
SPCA Albrecht describes itself as a private nonprofit animal shelter and veterinary care center in Aiken.
City-related stray context
SPCA Albrecht FAQ says it accepts stray animals on behalf of the City of Aiken’s Animal Control department because the City does not have its own animal shelter.
Rules are not interchangeable
County shelter adoption fees, county Animal Enforcement routing and SPCA clinic services are separate. Verify the correct entity before acting.
Veterinary Care Reality Check
This page does not add fake veterinarian names, fake clinic hours, VeterinaryCare schema or public hospital claims for the county shelter. Aiken County Animal Shelter lists adoption medical inclusions, spay/neuter voucher help and TNR support, but the official county shelter page reviewed here does not present the shelter as a walk-in public veterinary hospital.
No invented doctors
No public county shelter veterinarian name or public medical appointment schedule was verified, so none is added.
Voucher route is different
Spay/neuter vouchers are a financial-assistance route through participating veterinary clinics, not proof that the shelter is a public vet hospital.
Emergency pet illness
If your owned pet is seriously ill or injured, contact a licensed veterinarian or emergency veterinary provider instead of waiting for shelter adoption hours.
Public Staff Listing: Bobby Arthurs
Animal Shelter Manager
Aiken County’s staff directory lists Bobby Arthurs as Animal Shelter Manager. This is an administrative shelter listing, not a veterinary doctor listing or a public medical appointment schedule.
Before You Visit 333 Wire Road
Adoption checklist
- Check current adoptable pets before leaving home.
- Call first if you are driving for one specific dog or cat.
- Use adoption hours, not citizen stray intake hours.
- Bring photo ID, payment and safe transport.
- Ask whether any special adoption event or monthly discount changes the fee.
- Ask what vaccines, microchip and spay/neuter records will go home with the pet.
Lost / reclaim / found-pet checklist
- Bring proof of ownership, photos and microchip details.
- Bring rabies vaccination and license records if available.
- Confirm whether the animal was picked up by county Animal Enforcement or another jurisdiction.
- Ask what fees, documents and pickup window apply before traveling.
- For found animals, call if you are unsure whether the county shelter is the right intake point.
Simple Call Scripts
When you are worried or rushing, a short script helps you explain the situation without leaving out the important details.
Adoption
Hi, I am interested in [pet name or ID]. Is the animal still
available, and should I come during the Monday-Friday 11-5 or
Saturday 11-4:30 adoption hours? What is the exact fee today?
Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing from [road/neighborhood/town].
The pet is [description] and is [microchipped/licensed/not sure].
Has a matching animal been brought to Aiken County Animal Shelter?
Found animal
Hi, I found a [dog/cat/other animal] at [exact location].
The animal is [safe/injured/aggressive]. Is this county shelter
intake, Animal Enforcement, or another city/town route?
Bite / rabies concern
Hi, I need to report an animal bite or possible rabies exposure in
Aiken County. It happened at [location], the animal was
[owned/stray/wild/unknown], and the injury is [minor/serious].
What is the next step?
Map: Aiken County Animal Shelter
Use this map for directions to 333 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801. Confirm the correct visit window before leaving, especially for adoption, citizen stray intake or owner surrender appointments.
Official Aiken County Resources
Use these official sources for current hours, fees, animal-control routing, rabies reporting, adoption listings and final instructions.
Aiken County Animal Shelter FAQ
What is the official Aiken County animal shelter?
The official county shelter is Aiken County Animal Shelter at 333 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801.
What is the Aiken County Animal Shelter phone number?
The main shelter phone number is 803-642-1537.
What are Aiken County Animal Shelter adoption hours?
Adoption hours are listed as Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What are citizen stray intake hours?
Citizen stray intake hours are listed as Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from Aiken County Animal Shelter?
Current county and FOTAS pages list dog adoption fees at $35, with specials possible.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat from Aiken County Animal Shelter?
Current county and FOTAS pages list cat adoption fees at $10. The county page says cats include spay/neuter, microchip and rabies shot.
What does adoption include?
FOTAS says Aiken County Animal Shelter animals are spayed or neutered, up to date on shots including rabies, and microchipped. Ask staff for the exact record for the pet you adopt.
Do I need an appointment to adopt?
FOTAS says appointments are encouraged. If you are visiting for one specific pet or need a time after the normal window, call the shelter before traveling.
How do I surrender a pet?
Owner surrender is by appointment. Call 803-642-1537 and use prompt #7 before transporting an owned pet.
How much are owner surrender fees?
The current county page lists $200 per animal without an appointment and $100 to $150 with an appointment. Female-with-litter exceptions are listed separately.
Who handles Aiken County animal control complaints?
Animal Enforcement under Aiken County Code Enforcement handles animal complaints such as injured or stray animals, abuse/neglect, dog bites, cruelty, barking and tethering complaints.
What is the Aiken County Animal Enforcement phone number?
Code Enforcement dispatch for Animal Enforcement is listed at 803-502-9000, extension 3704.
What should I do if my pet is missing?
Call the shelter, check current shelter/FOTAS listings, contact Animal Enforcement if a pickup may be involved, and keep searching close to the last-seen location.
Who handles animal bites or possible rabies exposure in Aiken County?
South Carolina DPH handles animal bite and potential rabies exposure reporting. The DPH rabies contact table lists the Aiken office at 803-642-1687, and the after-hours route is 1-888-847-0902, option 2.
What number should I call for an emergency?
Call 911 for immediate danger, serious injury, active attack or other urgent public-safety emergencies.
What is the Aiken County Sheriff non-emergency number?
The sheriff communications page lists 803-648-6811 and 800-922-9709 for non-emergency reporting.
Who handles wildlife nuisance concerns?
Aiken County Animal Enforcement directs wildlife nuisance concerns to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at 803-955-4000.
Does Aiken County have spay/neuter assistance?
County information says low-cost spay/neuter vouchers are available at Code Enforcement for qualified Aiken County citizens through participating veterinary clinics.
Does Aiken County have a TNR or return-to-field program?
County information says community or feral cats trapped by Aiken County citizens may be brought by appointment, fixed free of charge, and returned to the citizen for return to field, subject to capacity.
Is FOTAS the same as Aiken County Animal Shelter?
No. FOTAS is a nonprofit volunteer organization that supports Aiken County Animal Shelter. It is useful for adoptable pets, foster, volunteer and support programs, but it is not county Animal Enforcement.
Is SPCA Albrecht Center the same as Aiken County Animal Shelter?
No. SPCA Albrecht Center is a separate private nonprofit animal welfare organization in Aiken with its own adoption center and veterinary care center.
Is there a verified veterinarian or doctor name for this county shelter page?
No public county shelter veterinarian name or public medical appointment schedule was verified from the official county shelter pages reviewed, so this page does not add fake doctor or VeterinaryCare schema.
Who is listed as Aiken County Animal Shelter Manager?
Aiken County’s staff directory lists Bobby Arthurs as Animal Shelter Manager.
Is Animal-Shelter.org the official Aiken County website?
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational guide. Use official Aiken County, Sheriff, DPH and partner resources for live instructions.
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.