Waterville Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
When someone searches for the Waterville animal shelter, they are usually looking for Humane Society Waterville Area (HSWA), a shelter and adoption organization at 100 Webb Road, Waterville, ME 04901. HSWA handles dogs, cats and pocket-pet adoption along with owner-surrender and pet-owner resources.
Animal Control is different. Inside the City of Waterville, the Waterville Police Department dispatches the Animal Control Officer through its Regional Communication Center. That distinction matters if you have a loose dog, an animal complaint, a bite or an urgent field situation rather than an adoption question.
Checked September 23, 2026
Shelter hours, phone, address, owner-surrender rules, Waterville Animal Control routing, current state ACO listing, rabies contacts, dog licensing and local veterinary information were checked against official or first-party sources.
Shelter ≠ Animal Control
HSWA is the shelter/adoption resource. Waterville Police handles the municipal Animal Control Officer dispatch route. Calling the correct organization saves time when an animal is loose, injured, involved in a bite or creating a public-safety concern.
Independent guide
Animal-Shelter.org is not HSWA, the City of Waterville, Waterville Police, Maine Animal Welfare or Maine CDC. Official links are provided below for live confirmation.
Choose the Right Waterville Pet-Help Route
Adoption, surrender, Animal Control, lost-pet help and rabies questions do not all go to the same phone number.
Waterville Animal Shelter Hours 2026
HSWA’s current homepage publishes the public hours below. It does not currently display a separate adoption-only timetable, so use these public hours and call before a long drive if you need a same-day meeting with a particular animal.
| Day | Current HSWA hours | Visitor note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Do not plan a routine public adoption visit. |
| Tuesday | 12:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | Check the current animal listing first. |
| Wednesday | 12:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | Current official schedule—not older third-party directory hours. |
| Thursday | 12:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | Allow time to meet the animal without rushing. |
| Friday | 12:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | Re-check availability before traveling. |
| Saturday | 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Saturday provides the longest currently published public window. |
| Sunday | Closed | Use official online resources rather than making a routine visit. |
How Adoption Works at Humane Society Waterville Area
HSWA’s current Petfinder organization profile describes a meet-first approach: spend real time with the animal, make more than one visit if that helps you judge the fit, then complete an application for staff review.
Start with the official listings
Check HSWA’s dogs, cats or pocket-pet pages and note the animal that interests you.
Visit while the shelter is open
Give yourself enough time to interact with the animal rather than arriving just before closing.
Do not rush the match
HSWA’s public adoption profile specifically encourages potential adopters to take their time and even make multiple visits when useful.
Complete the application
Once you believe the animal is a good fit, complete the shelter’s adoption application for staff review.
Ask practical home-fit questions
Ask what staff know about behavior, medical needs, energy, other pets, children and the adjustment period after adoption.
Plan the first week before leaving
Prepare safe transport, food, a quiet settling-in space, household introductions and a veterinary follow-up plan.
Waterville Adoption Fees: Confirm the Current Pet-Specific Amount
HSWA links to an official “Adoption Process and Fees” page, but a reliably extractable current universal fee table was not available during this verification. Individual animals can also have fee changes or waived-fee promotions.
Lost or Found a Pet in Waterville?
A missing pet can turn a normal day into a stressful one very quickly. Start with the location where the animal was actually lost or found, because shelter and Animal Control responsibility is local.
If your pet is missing
- Open HSWA’s Lost & Found resource and contact the shelter.
- Call Waterville Animal Control dispatch at 207-680-4700 when the incident is inside Waterville.
- Search the current HSWA animal listings repeatedly rather than checking only once.
- Update your pet’s microchip company with the correct phone number and lost status, if microchipped.
- Search the neighborhood, garages, sheds, bushes and quiet hiding areas close to the last-seen point.
- Keep recent photos and proof of ownership ready.
If you found an animal
- Check safely for a collar, tag or other identification.
- Contact the ACO when municipal field response is needed.
- Ask a shelter or veterinary provider about a microchip scan when the animal can be handled safely.
- Do not give a found pet permanently to someone without making reasonable efforts to locate its legal owner.
- Do not approach an aggressive, badly injured or traffic-endangered animal if doing so creates danger for you.
Waterville Animal Control: Call Police Communications
Waterville does not direct residents to call the humane society as though it were the municipal enforcement office. The City says the Police Department employs an Animal Control Officer.
Current state listing
Maine’s current Animal Control Officer directory lists Don Decker as the certified ACO for Waterville.
Dispatch route
Call the Waterville Regional Communication Center at 207-680-4700, describe the problem and provide your name, phone number and address.
The ACO calls you back
Waterville’s official FAQ says dispatch pages the ACO, who then contacts the caller directly to arrange the response.
Emergency & Important Waterville Animal Contacts
Each number below has a different purpose. A shelter’s normal phone is not automatically an emergency number, and 911 should not be used merely because the shelter is closed.
| Contact | Number | Verified purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Humane Society Waterville Area | 207-873-2430 | Shelter, adoption, surrender and general HSWA questions. |
| Waterville Police Regional Communication Center / ACO | 207-680-4700 | Police non-emergency communication and Waterville Animal Control Officer dispatch. |
| Emergency | 911 | Immediate threat to human life, dangerous ongoing incident or other genuine emergency. |
| Maine CDC Rabies Exposure Consultation | 1-800-821-5821 | Maine CDC disease reporting and rabies-exposure consultation, available 24/7. |
| Maine Game Warden Service — Augusta Dispatch | 1-800-452-4664 | Maine CDC directs questions involving wild-animal rabies exposure to the appropriate Game Warden dispatch center. |
Animal Bites & Possible Rabies Exposure in Waterville
Rabies is not a problem to “wait and see” about after a credible exposure. Maine CDC continues to report rabies in wildlife and keeps its consultation line available around the clock.
Wash a bite or scratch
Maine CDC advises washing bite or scratch wounds with soap and water for 10–15 minutes and contacting an appropriate healthcare provider.
Domestic animal exposure
Contact the local ACO and your veterinarian when a dog, cat, ferret or other domestic pet is involved.
Wild animal exposure
Maine CDC directs wild-animal exposure questions to the Game Warden Service and recommends veterinary or medical follow-up as appropriate.
Owner Surrender at Humane Society Waterville Area
Giving up a pet can be one of the hardest calls an owner makes. HSWA’s surrender page acknowledges financial strain, behavior, housetraining, medical concerns and family conflicts and says staff may be able to help owners explore resources before surrender.
Do not arrive without an appointment
HSWA explicitly requires owner-surrender appointments.
Confirm residency eligibility
The published policy says owner surrender is available to residents of towns that contract with HSWA.
Call 207-873-2430
Shelter staff use appointments to manage capacity and gather useful information about the pet.
Complete the paperwork in advance
HSWA says it prefers owners to complete the appropriate surrender paperwork before the appointment when possible.
Share medical and behavioral history honestly
The more accurate the history, the better chance shelter staff have to plan care and find a suitable next home.
HSWA Published Owner-Surrender Fees
The HSWA surrender page currently publishes the amounts below for eligible residents of contracted towns. Because fees can change, confirm the total when making the appointment.
| Animal | Published surrender fee | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Adult cat | $10 | Per animal. |
| Kitten under 1 year | $10 | Or $30 for a litter of up to six. |
| Adult dog | $50 | Per animal. |
| Puppy under 1 year | $25 | Or $60 for a litter. |
| Pocket pet | $10 | Confirm species eligibility when scheduling. |
What HSWA Says About Shelter Care
HSWA describes itself as a high-adoption, open-ad facility. Its published surrender policy says animals are not euthanized because of space or because they have reached a fixed time limit.
Medical preparation
For surrendered dogs and cats, HSWA says unaltered animals are spayed/neutered and animals receive vaccines, deworming, flea treatment and a wellness test.
Shelter care is not free to provide
HSWA estimates that preparing a surrendered pet for a new home costs the organization roughly $300–$500.
Read labels carefully
“No-kill,” “open admission,” “high adoption” and similar terms are not interchangeable legal labels. Use the shelter’s own published policy rather than assuming what a label means.
Waterville Dog Licensing in 2026
Maine requires dogs to be licensed through the municipality where they live. A newly adopted dog also needs licensing after it has been with the family for the applicable state period.
| Licensing item | Current Waterville / Maine information | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs that need a license | Maine says dogs need licensing at 6 months of age, or after being with the family for 10 days if adopted. | Keep the current rabies certificate available. |
| Spayed / neutered dog | $6 city-listed annual fee | Bring proof of alteration if the city does not already have it on record. |
| Unaltered dog | $11 city-listed annual fee | Current rabies documentation is required. |
| Late relicensing | $25 late fee after January 31 | Do not wait for online licensing if the state portal is closed. |
| 2026 online licensing | Currently closed | Maine’s current page directs owners to their town office. |
Waterville Dog Rules Worth Knowing After Adoption
These details are easy to overlook when you are focused on the shelter itself, but they matter once the dog comes home.
City maximum
Waterville’s current pet-information FAQ says city ordinance allows a maximum of three dogs.
No city breed restriction
The city FAQ says Waterville does not have dog breed restrictions. Renters should still check landlord or insurance rules separately.
Waterville Dog Park
The city identifies a free dog park on West River Road next to Pine Ridge Golf Course and asks users to clean up after their dogs.
Veterinary Care After Adoption: HSWA Is Not a Public Vet Clinic
HSWA’s current website provides links to area veterinarians and spay/neuter resources, but it does not publish a public in-house veterinary appointment clinic or a shelter veterinarian schedule. For routine pet care after adoption, use a separate veterinary practice.
Animal Hospital of Waterville
One local provider also identified in Waterville’s city pet information is Animal Hospital of Waterville, at 20 Washington Street, Waterville, ME 04901.
Phone: 207-873-2759. Current office hours are Monday–Friday 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., with published doctor hours 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m..
The practice asks clients to telephone ahead for appointments. If you want a particular veterinarian, its appointment page says to specify the doctor when booking.
Verified Local Veterinarians
These doctors are published by Animal Hospital of Waterville on its current first-party About page. They are not HSWA employees and should not be represented as the humane society’s shelter veterinarians.
Dr. Paul Balboni
The practice says Dr. Balboni focuses on small-animal medicine, surgery and dentistry and has been associated with the Waterville practice since 1993.
Dr. Nicole Rice
The practice lists Dr. Rice for traditional small-animal veterinary medicine and acupuncture.
Dr. Heather MacMillan
Dr. MacMillan is listed on the practice’s current veterinary team page as a graduate of Atlantic Veterinary College.
What to Bring or Check Before a Shelter Visit
For adoption
- Re-check the animal’s current listing.
- Bring government-issued identification.
- Confirm landlord or housing permission if you rent.
- Prepare an appropriate carrier, leash or safe transport plan.
- Bring questions about temperament, medical care and household fit.
- Confirm the current adoption fee before checkout.
For surrender or lost-pet help
- Call before surrendering; appointments are required.
- Bring current photos and veterinary records where available.
- Bring microchip, rabies and license information if relevant.
- Explain behavior and medical history accurately.
- For a lost pet, identify the town where the animal disappeared so you contact the correct ACO and shelter.
Map: Humane Society Waterville Area
Shelter and adoption location: 100 Webb Road, Waterville, ME 04901. This map is for directions; it does not prove live pet availability, adoption approval or same-day surrender capacity.
Official Waterville & Maine Resources
Use these first-party and government resources for the final live step, especially when hours, animal availability or municipal rules could have changed.
Waterville Animal Shelter FAQ
What is the animal shelter in Waterville, Maine?
The local shelter is Humane Society Waterville Area (HSWA) at 100 Webb Road, Waterville, ME 04901.
What is the Waterville animal shelter phone number?
Humane Society Waterville Area’s current public phone number is 207-873-2430.
What are Humane Society Waterville Area hours?
Current public hours are Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Sunday are closed.
Does Waterville Animal Control use the humane society phone?
No. For a City of Waterville Animal Control matter, call the Waterville Police Regional Communication Center at 207-680-4700. Dispatch pages the ACO.
Who is the Waterville Animal Control Officer in 2026?
Maine’s current Animal Control Officer directory lists Don Decker as Waterville’s certified ACO. The public contact route remains 207-680-4700.
Does HSWA require an appointment to surrender a pet?
Yes. HSWA’s published policy says owner-surrender appointments are required and surrender eligibility is limited to residents of towns that contract with the shelter.
How much does it cost to surrender a dog to HSWA?
The published surrender page lists $50 for an adult dog and $25 for a puppy under one year, or $60 for a puppy litter. Confirm the current amount when booking.
How much does it cost to surrender a cat?
HSWA’s published page lists $10 for an adult cat or kitten, with $30 for a litter of up to six kittens. Confirm when scheduling.
What should I do after an animal bite in Waterville?
Clean the wound promptly, contact an appropriate healthcare provider and use the Waterville ACO route for a domestic-animal incident. Maine CDC’s 24/7 rabies consultation line is 1-800-821-5821.
How much does it cost to license a dog in Waterville?
Waterville currently lists $6 per year for a spayed/neutered dog and $11 for an unaltered dog, with a $25 late fee after January 31. Maine’s 2026 online licensing is currently closed, so use the municipal licensing route.
How many dogs can you own in Waterville?
The City of Waterville’s current pet-information FAQ says city ordinance allows a maximum of three dogs.
Does Waterville have breed restrictions?
The city’s current FAQ says there are no city dog breed restrictions. Private housing, insurance or lease rules may still differ.
Does HSWA have a public veterinary clinic?
HSWA’s current public website does not publish an in-house public veterinary appointment clinic or a shelter veterinarian timetable. It instead provides area-veterinarian and spay/neuter resources.
Which veterinarians are listed at Animal Hospital of Waterville?
Its current website lists Dr. Paul Balboni, Dr. Nicole Rice and Dr. Heather MacMillan. The clinic publishes general doctor hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., not an individual schedule for each doctor.
Is Animal-Shelter.org the official HSWA or City of Waterville website?
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational guide. Use HSWA, City of Waterville and Maine government sources for current official 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.