Souris Valley Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
Souris Valley Animal Shelter (SVAS) is a nonprofit cat and dog shelter at 1935 20th Avenue SE, Minot, ND 58701. Its current public shelter hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 1 PM–5 PM, with other access available by appointment.
If you searched for “Souris Valley Animal Shelter & Control,” one 2026 change is essential: SVAS is not currently the City of Minot Animal Control or municipal impound facility. Adoption, rescue, foster, managed surrender, community programs and the Severson Ahart Community Clinic are SVAS services; loose animals, municipal impounds and enforcement use the City of Minot / Minot Police route.
Which Minot Animal Service Do You Actually Need?
Using the correct route matters more in 2026 because SVAS adoption services and City of Minot impound/Animal Control services are separate.
Adopt a dog or cat
Use Souris Valley Animal Shelter. Browse current animals, apply for the specific pet and wait for staff to arrange the meet-and-greet.
Loose, stray or nuisance animal in Minot
Use City of Minot Animal Control / Central Dispatch. SVAS is not the current municipal impound route.
Your pet may have been picked up by Animal Control
Call the City’s dedicated animal-pound line at 701-857-4785 for impound status, reclaim fees and release procedures.
Your own dog or cat needs veterinary care
The Severson Ahart Community Clinic is a companion-animal veterinary clinic located inside Souris Valley Animal Shelter.
You need to surrender your pet
SVAS uses managed intake. Email an intake request first; submitting a request does not guarantee immediate acceptance.
You need temporary pet housing during a crisis
SVAS has an Emergency Housing program for qualifying situations including domestic violence, emergency medical treatment, chemical-dependency treatment and some homelessness emergencies.
Souris Valley Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
SVAS publishes shelter hours rather than promising that every animal can be adopted during any walk-in minute. The adoption process itself is application-based and staff arrange meet-and-greets after reviewing an application.
| Day | Current shelter hours | Adoption planning |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Closed | Browse pets online and prepare an application. |
| Monday | Closed | Online application and planning day. |
| Tuesday | Closed | Wait for application follow-up or schedule by arrangement. |
| Wednesday | 1 PM–5 PM | Public shelter hours; specific adoption meetings may depend on application status. |
| Thursday | 1 PM–5 PM | Confirm a specific pet is still available before a long drive. |
| Friday | 1 PM–5 PM | Public shelter hours. |
| Saturday | 1 PM–5 PM | Weekend public shelter hours. |
How to Adopt From Souris Valley Animal Shelter
The practical first step is not driving to the building. SVAS asks potential adopters to start with the current pet listings and submit an application for the animal they are interested in.
Review current available pets
Open the official SVAS available-pets page and review the dogs and cats currently listed.
Choose the specific pet
Read the animal’s profile instead of choosing only from a photo. Consider age, size, energy level and any household-fit information published by the shelter.
Submit the adoption application
Use the application route linked from SVAS’s official adoption instructions . If you have a specific pet in mind, select that animal on the application.
Wait for the shelter’s review
SVAS reviews applications case by case. The shelter explains that individual animals can have different needs and preferences, so approval is based on the fit between the animal and household rather than a simple first-click rule.
Arrange the meet-and-greet
Once the application has been received and reviewed, an SVAS staff member contacts the applicant to set up a meeting with the animal.
Ask practical questions before finalizing
Ask about known medical history, energy level, house-training, behavior, other animals, children, adjustment time, food and any follow-up veterinary needs.
Souris Valley Animal Shelter Adoption Fees
| Pet | Current published adoption fee | Age category |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy | $275 | Under 1 year |
| Dog | $225 | Adult dog |
| Kitten | $125 | Under 1 year |
| Cat | $125 | Adult cat |
What the SVAS Adoption Fee Includes
Core care before adoption
- Age-appropriate vaccinations.
- Deworming.
- Microchip.
- Local and national microchip registration.
- Spay/neuter for pets over six months of age.
Help does not end with the paperwork
- Free adoption counseling.
- Free post-adoption support.
- Opportunity to ask animal-specific questions before placement.
Minot Animal Control in 2026: Use the City, Not SVAS
Current City of Minot information places Animal Control within the Minot Police Department. Officers respond to concerns involving loose animals, potentially dangerous animals, injured animals, neglect, abuse and nuisance-animal problems.
Monday–Friday
Current City information lists Animal Control Officer hours as 7:30 AM–10:30 PM Monday through Friday.
Police/Animal Control: 701-852-0111 (City directory lists Animal Control as option 1).
Minot Central Dispatch
For a non-emergency Animal Control or Community Service Officer response, the City’s current impound page directs residents to 701-857-1500 .
Minot Animal Impound & Reclaim Process
If Animal Control picked up your dog or cat, do not call SVAS assuming your pet is there. The City now publishes a separate Temporary Animal Impound Services route.
| Current City charge | Published amount | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| First-offense administrative fee | $20 | Paid through the City reclaim process. |
| Second offense | $30 | City lists $20 administrative fee plus $10 additional fee. |
| Third/subsequent offense | $50 | Published administrative amount. |
| Daily boarding / pound fee | $60 per day | Call the pound for the exact current reclaim total because other charges can apply depending on the circumstances. |
Call the dedicated pound number
Call 701-857-4785 and ask whether a matching animal is impounded. This number is specifically published for pound-management, reclaim-fee and release questions.
Confirm the reclaim amount and requirements
Ask what proof of ownership, vaccination information, identification and total payment will be needed for your animal.
Complete payment through Police Records
The City says owners complete payment through the Police Department Records Division before the animal is transported for reunification.
Do not plan an after-hours release
Current City information says normal animal releases occur Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
Lost or Found a Pet in Minot
A missing pet can become harder to trace if the owner checks only one shelter. In Minot, check the municipal impound system as well as local lost-pet networks and SVAS resources.
Search the City impound route first
- Call the Minot animal pound at 701-857-4785.
- Call Animal Control / Police when appropriate.
- Update the pet’s microchip registration immediately.
- Search the neighborhood physically.
- Check local lost/found postings repeatedly rather than only once.
Report the animal to law enforcement / Animal Control
SVAS’s own stray-pet guidance tells people to contact the appropriate local law-enforcement non-emergency number for lost pets, found pets, animals at large and possible neglect.
For Minot, use the current City Animal Control / Police routing rather than assuming the animal should be taken to SVAS.
Owner Surrender & Rehoming Through SVAS
Souris Valley Animal Shelter is a managed-intake shelter. That means it does not take every owner-surrender request immediately simply because a request is submitted. Available space, foster availability and urgency affect intake priority.
Email an SVAS intake request
Send the request to intakes@svaspets.com .
Include complete animal information
SVAS asks for your name/contact information, the animal’s name if known, medical or behavioral concerns, gender, age, size, compatibility with children/cats/dogs, reason for surrender and photos.
Wait for triage review
SVAS prioritizes vulnerable or urgent situations first, including certain law-enforcement emergencies, returns of former SVAS animals, rescue transfers and emergency-housing cases.
Understand that intake may take time
If accepted to the wait list, SVAS warns that intake can take weeks or months depending on adoptions, shelter capacity and other higher-priority needs.
Severson Ahart Community Clinic at SVAS
SVAS is also home to the Severson Ahart Community Clinic, a companion-animal veterinary clinic for dogs and cats. This is a real public veterinary service, not merely medical care for shelter animals.
Inside SVAS
1935 20th Ave SE
Minot, ND 58701
701-852-6133
Call during business hours to schedule.
Monday–Thursday
8 AM–5 PM, with the clinic closed over the noon hour.
Primary care
- Wellness examinations.
- Routine vaccinations.
- Parasite control.
- Spay and neuter surgery.
- Microchipping.
- Blood panels.
- Wound management.
- Limited urgent-care needs.
Testing and additional medicine
- In-house and send-out blood panels.
- Heartworm testing.
- Parvovirus testing.
- Giardia testing.
- FeLV/FIV testing.
- Pancreatitis testing.
- Urine/fecal microscopic testing.
- Skin, mass and infection evaluation where appropriate.
Veterinary Leadership at Souris Valley Animal Shelter
Spay It Forward: $50 Needs-Based Spay/Neuter Assistance
SVAS’s Spay It Forward program helps qualifying North Dakota households reduce the cost of dog or cat sterilization. It is assistance toward the bill, not a promise of free surgery.
$50 discount certificate
Approved applicants currently receive a $50 certificate that can be used toward eligible spay/neuter service.
The pet owner remains responsible for the remaining surgery cost and any additional veterinary services.
Current geographic eligibility
The program currently lists residents of Ward, Bottineau, McLean, Mountrail, McHenry and Renville Counties.
Financial eligibility
SVAS says applicants must meet program requirements such as needs-based public assistance and/or published household-income thresholds. Proof of income or assistance is required during review.
- Single-person income threshold currently listed: less than $35,000 per year.
- Multiple-earner household threshold currently listed: less than $65,000 per year.
- Certificates are limited and applications are reviewed monthly.
- A certificate is valid for five months from issue.
SVAS Programs That May Help You Keep Your Pet
If the reason you are considering surrender is temporary hardship, check whether one of these programs solves the immediate problem first.
Community Pantry
SVAS provides pet-food assistance for households facing financial hardship. Call the shelter at 701-852-6133 to ask about current help.
Emergency Housing
SVAS may provide temporary pet care when an owner is fleeing domestic violence, seeking emergency medical treatment, entering chemical-dependency treatment or experiencing certain unforeseen homelessness situations.
Foster program
SVAS foster homes help puppies, kittens, nursing families, animals recovering from medical problems and other pets who benefit from time outside the shelter.
Minot Dog & Cat Licensing
City licensing is separate from SVAS adoption. Minot’s current ordinance requires dogs and cats six months of age or older kept in the city to be licensed unless a listed exemption applies.
Rabies proof is required
Current City information requires proof of rabies vaccination before a dog or cat license can be issued.
Current City-listed license locations
Minot currently lists these veterinary clinics as places where pet licenses can be issued:
- Pinkerton Animal Hospital.
- West Oaks Veterinary Clinic.
- Minot Veterinary Clinic.
Minot Emergency & Important Animal Contacts
| Situation | Contact | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| SVAS adoption / rescue question | 701-852-6133 | Souris Valley Animal Shelter programs, adoption, community resources and clinic routing. |
| Minot non-emergency Animal Control response | 701-857-1500 | Current City route for non-emergency Animal Control / Community Service Officer response. |
| Minot Police / after-hours animal assistance | 701-852-0111 | Police non-emergency contact and the current City-listed after-hours animal-assistance route. |
| Impounded / reclaimed pet | 701-857-4785 | Dedicated animal-pound questions, impound status, reclaim fee and release procedure. |
| Immediate life-threatening emergency | 911 | Immediate threat to human life or another true emergency. |
Looking for a Shelter Elsewhere in North Dakota?
Fargo
For adoption, lost/found routing and shelter information in Fargo, use the Homeward Animal Shelter Fargo guide . Fargo uses different shelter, pound and law-enforcement systems, so Minot Animal Control numbers should not be copied to Fargo cases.
Map to Souris Valley Animal Shelter
Adoption is application-first
If you are driving to Minot for one specific animal, submit the application first and wait for shelter follow-up. A current online listing can change before you arrive.
Official Souris Valley & City of Minot Resources
Use these links for live pet availability, current applications, appointment changes and City animal-service updates.
Souris Valley Animal Shelter FAQ: Top 10 Questions
1. Where is Souris Valley Animal Shelter located?
Souris Valley Animal Shelter is at 1935 20th Avenue SE, Minot, ND 58701. Its main phone number is 701-852-6133.
2. What are Souris Valley Animal Shelter hours in 2026?
SVAS currently lists public shelter hours Wednesday through Saturday from 1 PM to 5 PM. Sunday through Tuesday are closed for normal public shelter hours, with other access available by appointment.
3. Can I walk in and adopt a pet from Souris Valley Animal Shelter?
Do not assume a simple walk-in will complete an adoption. SVAS asks adopters to browse available animals, apply for a specific pet and wait for shelter staff to contact them to arrange a meet-and-greet after application review.
4. How much does adoption cost at Souris Valley Animal Shelter?
Current published fees are $275 for a puppy under one year, $225 for an adult dog, $125 for a kitten under one year and $125 for an adult cat. Confirm the fee before finalizing because adoption promotions or policy changes may affect current pricing.
5. What is included with an SVAS adoption?
SVAS says adoption pricing includes age-appropriate vaccinations, dewormer, microchip with local and national registration, spay/neuter for pets over six months old, adoption counseling and post-adoption support.
6. Is Souris Valley Animal Shelter the Minot Animal Control agency?
No. SVAS is a private nonprofit shelter and rescue organization. Current municipal Animal Control and impound services are handled through the City of Minot and Minot Police Department.
7. Who should I call for Minot Animal Control or a stray animal?
For non-emergency City Animal Control response, current City guidance lists Minot Central Dispatch at 701-857-1500. Minot Police can be reached at 701-852-0111. For a true emergency, call 911.
8. How do I find out if my missing pet was impounded in Minot?
Call the City’s dedicated animal-pound number at 701-857-4785. That line is published for impound status, pound management, reclaim fees and release procedures.
9. Can I surrender my pet to Souris Valley Animal Shelter immediately?
Not necessarily. SVAS uses managed intake. Email intakes@svaspets.com with the requested animal and household information. Submitting a surrender request does not guarantee immediate intake, and accepted cases can wait weeks or months depending on space and priority.
10. Does Souris Valley Animal Shelter have a public veterinary clinic?
Yes. The Severson Ahart Community Clinic is located inside SVAS and provides veterinary care for dogs and cats. Current clinic hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM, closed over the noon hour. Call 701-852-6133 during business hours to schedule; the clinic says it does not accept appointment requests by email.
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.