Colony Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
If you searched for “The Colony Animal Shelter,” the official city department is The Colony Animal Services (TCAS). The shelter is at 4720 E Lake Highlands Drive, The Colony, TX 75056, and the main Animal Services phone is 972-370-9250.
The reason for your visit matters. An adoption, a missing pet, a found stray, a bite report and an after-hours animal problem all have different next steps. This guide brings those routes together so you can act without having to piece the process together from several City pages.
Start With the Right The Colony Animal Service
Calling the wrong number can waste time, particularly when an animal is loose, injured or missing. Use the route that matches what is happening right now.
Adopt a dog or cat
Check the current dog or cat listing, note the pet you want to meet, then visit during current shelter hours.
Your own pet is missing
Call Animal Services immediately, submit the City’s lost-pet report and visit the shelter every 48 hours while the pet is missing.
You found a pet
Scan for a microchip, file the found-pet report and call TCAS before moving the animal outside the jurisdiction.
Animal-control problem
Call 972-370-9250 for routine Animal Services help. For immediate danger to a person, use 911.
The Colony Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
The City does not publish a separate daily “adoption desk” timetable on the current adoption page, so the practical adoption-visit window is the public Animal Services schedule shown on the department’s current main and related service pages.
| Day | Current main-page hours | Best planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Do not plan a routine adoption visit unless the City announces a special opening. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Check current pets first if your trip depends on one animal. |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | The City calendar can list occasional late openings or special closures. |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Give yourself enough time to meet the animal and review records. |
| Friday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Call before a long drive if availability of one pet determines the trip. |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Shorter day; arrive with enough time for questions and paperwork. |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Main service pages list Sunday open, despite a conflicting staff directory entry. |
The Colony Animal Shelter Adoption Fees
The City’s current pages need to be read together. The main adoption page calls the fee $95 per animal, while the separate Services & Fees page publishes lower senior-pet and military categories.
| Adoption category | Current City listing | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile / adult dog or cat | $95 | This is the standard amount shown by both the adoption information and Services & Fees pages. |
| Senior pet | $20 on Services & Fees page | The main adoption page separately says $95 regardless of age/species. Confirm the current senior rate with staff before payment. |
| Military adopter | Free with ID on Services & Fees page | Bring the qualifying identification and confirm current eligibility. |
What the $95 Adoption Fee Includes
Sterilization
The City’s adoption page says sterilization is included. Texas law requires adopted animals to be sterilized.
24PetWatch microchip
A 24PetWatch microchip is included with the adoption. Make sure your contact details are correctly registered after adoption.
Rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination is listed among the included adoption services.
Core dog vaccines
The City lists DHPP, leptospirosis and Bordetella vaccines among the dog adoption inclusions.
FVRCP vaccine
FVRCP vaccination is listed among the cat adoption inclusions.
Certificate and adoption folder
Adopters receive an adoption certificate and a folder containing available pet information, documents and coupons.
How to Adopt From The Colony Animal Services
A good adoption visit starts before you arrive. Checking the current animals first reduces the chance that you make the trip for a dog or cat whose status has already changed.
Check current dogs or cats
Start with the City’s current dog listing or current cat listing . Both City pages state that availability is actively updated and subject to change.
Save the pet information
Note the animal’s name, photo and any ID or identifying details shown online. Have a backup choice in case the first pet is adopted or becomes temporarily unavailable.
Check today’s public hours
Use the official Animal Services page before leaving, particularly on Monday, Sunday, holidays or dates when the City calendar announces altered access.
Bring photo identification
The City requires adopters to be at least 18 years old and provide valid photo ID.
Meet the animal and ask practical questions
Ask what staff know about health, behavior, energy, handling, house-training, other pets and the first few days at home. The City explicitly states it cannot guarantee an animal’s health, temperament or specific breed.
Confirm the exact fee before paying
Standard adoption is listed at $95. If the pet is a senior or you qualify for the City’s military category, ask staff which current fee applies because the City’s published pages are not worded identically.
Review the adoption folder before leaving
Confirm the microchip information, rabies documentation, vaccine history, sterilization record and any medical or follow-up instructions that are available for that animal.
The Colony Adoption Requirements
18 or older
The City requires adopters to be at least 18 years old.
Valid photo ID
Bring valid photo identification for the adoption transaction.
Approval is not automatic
TCAS reserves the right to deny an adoption when it believes doing so is in the animal’s best interest or welfare.
What If the Adoption Does Not Work Out?
Sometimes the first days reveal a problem that was impossible to predict at the shelter. The City has a specific short return window, so timing matters.
Return to The Colony Animal Services
The City’s adoption policy says an adopted animal may be returned to TCAS within 72 hours of adoption at no additional charge.
Use the shelter where you live
After the 72-hour period, the City’s policy says the animal must be surrendered to the animal shelter serving the city where the adopter resides.
Lost Pet in The Colony: Do These Steps Quickly
Losing a pet can turn a normal day into a stressful search very quickly. TCAS’s current guidance is unusually specific: call immediately, file the report and keep checking in person.
Call Animal Services immediately
Call 972-370-9250 and ask whether your pet has already been picked up.
Submit the City’s lost-pet report
Use the official Lost & Found Pet Form . Include a detailed description, identifying marks, last-known location and reliable contact information.
Visit the shelter every 48 hours
TCAS strongly recommends an in-person shelter check every two days because you are more likely than anyone else to recognize your own animal.
Do not wait through the stray-hold period
The City’s current Lost Pets page states that stray animals are held for only 72 hours (3 days) before they may become available for adoption.
Bring proof if you find your animal
Bring photo ID plus ownership evidence such as a rabies certificate, pet photos, adoption paperwork or matching microchip information.
Found a Dog or Cat in The Colony?
The City’s guidance asks finders to keep the animal in the correct local jurisdiction rather than transporting it to another city or county without direction from Animal Control.
Scan for a microchip first
A veterinarian, veterinary clinic or shelter can scan a found pet. The Colony also now has a public self-service microchip reader outside City Hall.
Report the animal to TCAS
Complete the City’s Lost & Found Pet Form and call 972-370-9250 so Animal Services knows where the animal is and how to reach you.
Emergency & Important Contacts
The same phone number should not be labeled three different ways. These contacts are separated by their actual City-published purpose.
| Need | Contact | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| The Colony Animal Services | 972-370-9250 | Adoption, lost/found pet help, routine animal-control questions, shelter services, surrender-list questions and normal TCAS business. |
| Animal Services emergency / Police non-emergency dispatch | 972-625-1887 | Animal Services pages label this as the emergency number. The Colony Police also publishes the same number as its non-emergency line. |
| Immediate danger to human life | 911 | Serious immediate medical, police or public-safety emergency. |
Animal Bite, Scratch or Possible Rabies Exposure
The Colony’s ordinance requires animal bites, scratches and suspected rabies cases to be reported promptly to Animal Control.
Get urgent medical help when needed
If a person has a serious injury or other immediate medical emergency, use emergency medical care first and call 911 when appropriate.
Notify The Colony Animal Services / Animal Control
The City’s rabies rules require immediate reporting of animal bites, scratches to a human, possible rabies and suspected rabid animals.
Submit the City’s bite report
The City provides an official Bite Report form for victim, hospital/clinic or animal-owner reporting.
Follow quarantine instructions
The City’s current ordinance describes a minimum 10-day quarantine for an animal that bites or scratches a person in the covered circumstances. Quarantine may occur at the City shelter, an approved veterinary hospital or another approved facility.
| Quarantine type | Current listed fee | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Home quarantine | $25 | Home quarantine is conditional and requires Animal Control approval under the City’s ordinance. |
| Shelter quarantine | $100 | Owner remains responsible for applicable costs. |
| Veterinary facility | Set by veterinarian | Facility must meet the applicable City/state quarantine requirements. |
Reclaiming Your Pet From The Colony Animal Shelter
If you recognize your pet at TCAS, bring proof rather than relying only on a verbal description.
Bring ownership evidence
- Photo ID or driver’s license
- Rabies certificate when available
- Clear photographs of the pet
- Adoption paperwork
- Matching microchip information
Rabies proof may affect release steps
The City states that rabies vaccination is required by state law. If current vaccination cannot be verified, shelter staff will explain how to obtain the required vaccination through a licensed veterinarian.
| Impound item | Current live Services & Fees page |
|---|---|
| First offense | $25 |
| Second offense | $60 |
| Third offense + citation | $80 |
| Fourth offense + citation | $115 |
| Overnight shelter stay | $10 per night, plus applicable impound fees |
Owner Surrender: The Colony Residents Must Call First
Giving up a pet can be difficult, and the current City page says the shelter has a long surrender waiting list. Do not arrive expecting immediate intake.
Call Animal Services
Start with 972-370-9250 and ask about the current surrender waiting-list process.
Confirm residency eligibility
The current City surrender process is for The Colony residents. A valid driver’s license or identification card is required to establish residency.
Adopter/owner must be at least 18
The City’s surrender criteria require the person requesting placement on the surrender list to be 18 or older.
Prepare the City’s forms and pet information
Staff provides forms that must be completed before the animal can be added to the City’s website or shared through its social channels.
Prepare 3–5 clear photos
The City’s current surrender guidance asks for three to five clear photographs of each pet to help with placement.
Pay only if the shelter accepts the pet
The current City surrender fee is $20 per pet, collected only if the shelter accepts the animal.
Microchips: $15 Shelter Service + 24/7 Public Reader
Microchipping: $15
The current City Services & Fees page lists microchipping at $15. Call first if your visit is specifically for this service.
Public self-service microchip reader
In July 2026, the City announced a publicly accessible microchip reader outside City Hall at 6053 Main St, The Colony, TX 75056. The City says the reader is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This is a reader for checking a chip—not a machine that implants one.
Veterinary Care: What TCAS Does and Does Not Publish
The shelter cares for injured and sick animals and uses donated medical funds for treatment, but the current City pages do not establish TCAS as a regular public veterinary clinic where residents can book routine doctor appointments.
Medical treatment is part of shelter care
The City states that donated medical-fund money is used to provide care and treatment for animals in TCAS custody.
Dr. Jennifer White
The City’s current Animal Services Advisory Board page lists Dr. Jennifer White as the board’s veterinarian member.
That listing identifies her advisory-board role. It does not publish her as a walk-in TCAS clinic doctor, appointment provider or shelter examination schedule.
No public vet appointment fee verified
A regular public veterinary examination schedule, named TCAS public doctor roster and public consultation fee were not verified on the current City pages reviewed for this article.
This guide therefore does not invent those details or mark the
shelter up as a public VeterinaryCare clinic.
Volunteer or Help The Colony Shelter
Adult volunteer process
The City’s current adult volunteer process requires volunteers to be at least 18, pay the listed $35 shelter volunteer fee, complete the application and City background check, attend a 30-minute orientation, complete two hours of supervised shadowing and maintain the required monthly service.
Start with the official volunteer instructions because the application and training steps can change.
Medical-fund and supply donations
The City says monetary donations to the animal shelter go to its medical fund for shelter animals. Current wish-list items include pet food, litter, detergent, trash bags, carriers, collars, harnesses, blankets, treats and toys.
Use the current City donation and wish-list page before buying supplies.
Outside The Colony City Limits? Use the Correct DFW Shelter
Lost-pet recovery and Animal Control work best when the animal stays in the jurisdiction where it was found. Do not drive a found pet to The Colony simply because it is the nearest shelter on your map.
Little Elm
If the animal was found in Little Elm, use the Little Elm Animal Shelter & Control guide for that town’s own shelter, lost-pet and Animal Control process.
Dallas
For an animal inside Dallas city limits, use our Dallas Animal Shelter guide for Dallas Animal Services adoption, lost/found and 311 routing.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth operates its own Animal Care & Control system and multiple shelter campuses. Use the Fort Worth Animal Shelter guide rather than The Colony contacts.
North Richland Hills
For a pet found in North Richland Hills, use the North Richland Hills Animal Shelter guide for that City’s own Animal Services and after-hours route.
Map: The Colony Animal Services
Use this address for the municipal animal shelter: 4720 E Lake Highlands Dr, The Colony, TX 75056. If you are bringing or reclaiming an animal, call first when your visit depends on intake status, a particular pet or an altered City schedule.
Official The Colony Animal Services Resources
This page gives you the practical details in one place. Use the City links below for live animal availability, forms and last-minute schedule or policy changes.
The Colony Animal Shelter FAQ
1. Where is The Colony Animal Shelter located and what is the phone number?
The Colony Animal Services shelter is at 4720 E Lake Highlands Dr, The Colony, TX 75056. The main Animal Services phone is 972-370-9250.
2. What are The Colony Animal Shelter adoption hours in 2026?
The main Animal Services page and several current service pages list Monday closed, Tuesday through Friday 10 AM–6 PM, and Saturday through Sunday 10 AM–4 PM. A separate City staff directory currently shows a conflicting Monday–Saturday schedule, so call 972-370-9250 before a Monday, Sunday, holiday or special-date visit.
3. How much does it cost to adopt from The Colony Animal Services?
The City’s main adoption page lists a standard $95 adoption fee. The current Services & Fees page also lists senior pets at $20 and military adopters with qualifying ID as free. Confirm the applicable category before payment because the main adoption page separately describes $95 as the one-time fee regardless of age or species.
4. What is included with a TCAS adoption?
The City’s current adoption page lists sterilization, a 24PetWatch microchip, rabies vaccination, species-appropriate listed vaccines, an adoption certificate and an adoption folder.
5. How old do I have to be to adopt and what ID do I need?
Adopters must be at least 18 years old and provide valid photo ID. TCAS also reserves the right to deny an adoption when staff believes doing so is in the animal’s best interest.
6. Can I return an adopted pet to The Colony Animal Services?
The City’s current policy says an adopted animal may be returned to TCAS within 72 hours of adoption at no additional charge. After 72 hours, the animal must be surrendered to the shelter serving the city where the adopter lives. Adoption fees are non-refundable.
7. What should I do if my pet is lost in The Colony?
Call 972-370-9250 immediately, submit the official Lost & Found Pet Form and visit the shelter in person every 48 hours. The City says stray animals are held for only 72 hours before they may become available for adoption.
8. What should I do if I find a dog or cat in The Colony?
Check for identification, scan the animal for a microchip, submit the City’s found-pet report and call TCAS. The Colony has a 24/7 public self-service microchip reader outside City Hall at 6053 Main St. Do not transport the pet to another city or county unless the appropriate Animal Control authority directs you to do so.
9. What number should I call for an animal emergency in The Colony?
The Animal Services pages list 972-625-1887 as the emergency number; The Colony Police publishes the same number as its non-emergency line. Call 911 when there is an immediate threat to human life or another serious emergency requiring immediate police, fire or medical response.
10. Does The Colony Animal Shelter offer public veterinary appointments?
The shelter provides and funds medical care for animals in its custody, and the City’s Animal Services Advisory Board currently includes veterinarian Dr. Jennifer White. However, the City pages reviewed for this guide do not publish TCAS as a regular public veterinary clinic with routine resident appointment hours, a public veterinarian schedule or a standard examination fee.
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.