Albuquerque Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026

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Verified Albuquerque Shelter Guide

Albuquerque Animal Shelter Guide: Adoption Hours, Fees, Lost Pets, Animal Control, Video & Map

Searching for Albuquerque Animal Shelter usually means the City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department, including the Eastside and Westside shelters. Use this guide for verified addresses, phone numbers, viewing hours, adoption fees, lost-and-found pet steps, surrender guidance, animal-control routing, a helpful video, and official links.

Adoption Info Call 505-768-1975 Watch Video Guide
Official department City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department
Main shelter phone 505-768-1975
Kennel viewing hours 10:30 AM–5:30 PM daily

Quick Answer: Which Albuquerque animal shelter is this page about?

This Albuquerque Animal Shelter guide is for the City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. The two main city shelter locations are Eastside Animal Shelter at 8920 Lomas NE and Westside Animal Shelter at 11800 Sunset Gardens SW. Both official location pages list the same shelter telephone number, office hours, and kennel viewing hours.

Fastest route: for shelter questions, call 505-768-1975. For general non-emergency City of Albuquerque services, use 311 or 505-768-2000. For emergencies, immediate danger, or in-progress cruelty, call 911.

Choose what you need today

Most users visit this page with one practical need. Choose the closest option and jump to the right section.

Adopt a dog or cat Fees, viewing hours, what is included, and visit steps. Lost my pet Search tools, 311, microchip, missing-pet steps. Found a pet Report, scan, flyers, neighbor checks, safe handling. Animal control concern 311, 911, cruelty, barking, bite, and stray routing. Adoption fees Under 1 year, 1 year+, long-term guests, small animals. Need to surrender Capacity warning, waiting list, and owner-help options. Watch video Relevant local video for mobile adoption and community help. Map and locations Eastside, Westside, directions and arrival checklist.

Verified Albuquerque Animal Welfare quick facts

Official departmentCity of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department
Eastside shelter8920 Lomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
Westside shelter11800 Sunset Gardens SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121
Shelter phone505-768-1975
Office hoursEveryday, 9:30 AM–6 PM
Kennel viewing onlyEveryday, 10:30 AM–5:30 PM
Source-check note: shelter capacity, fee specials, pet availability, kennel access, mobile adoption events, reclaim rules, and surrender waitlist instructions can change. Always verify on the official City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare pages before driving.

Video Guide: Albuquerque Animal Welfare mobile adoption context

I did not find a clearly official City-hosted YouTube adoption explainer in the quick search results, so this section uses a relevant local news video about Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department holding a mobile adoption event. It supports the user intent because many people searching “Albuquerque animal shelter” want adoption access, event guidance, and a better sense of how pets may be adopted beyond the shelter building.

How to use this video: watch it for adoption-event context, then use the official City of Albuquerque adoption pages for current fees, shelter locations, adoptable pets, and today’s event details. Video content can become outdated faster than official pages.
If you want to adoptCheck both shelter locations, searchable pet listings, and any mobile Lucky Paws or city adoption events before driving.
If you want to helpUse the video to understand why local shelters need adopters, fosters, volunteers, donations, and people who can keep pets safely at home.

Albuquerque Animal Shelter adoption process: how to adopt from the city shelters

Albuquerque’s Animal Welfare Department lists adoption information and searchable adoptable/lost pets on official City pages. Because animals may move, be reclaimed, go to foster, or be adopted quickly, do not rely only on screenshots or old third-party listings.

Start with the official adoption page.
Use the City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare adoption section to review adoption information, available pets, and shelter policies.
Check both Eastside and Westside locations.
A pet may be at either location. Confirm the shelter shown on the pet profile before driving across town.
Visit during kennel viewing hours.
Office hours are listed as 9:30 AM–6 PM daily, but kennel viewing hours are listed as 10:30 AM–5:30 PM daily.
Ask about the pet’s availability status.
Some animals may be stray holds, medical holds, behavior holds, foster animals, or already pending adoption.
Ask what the adoption includes.
For unsterilized companion animals, the official adoption information says the special price includes important medical and care items. Ask staff what applies to the exact pet.
Prepare for the first week at home.
Have food, bowls, leash or carrier, crate or safe room, litter supplies, ID tag, and a calm decompression plan ready before pickup.
Official Adoption Info Search Pets

Albuquerque Animal Shelter adoption fees

The official City adoption information page lists simple adoption fees by age, plus a reduced fee for long-term shelter guests. Fee specials may change, so confirm before arriving.

Pet type or category Official fee listed What to ask before adopting
Dogs and cats under 1 year $30 Ask about vaccine timing, spay/neuter status, microchip details, and first-week care needs.
Dogs and cats 1 year and older $25 Ask about temperament, known history, medical notes, energy level, and compatibility with your household.
Long-term guests, 30+ days $10 Ask why the pet has been waiting longer and what kind of home would help the animal succeed.
Exotic pets and small animals Fees vary Ask staff about care needs, enclosure, diet, veterinary needs, and exact fee before adopting.
Working cats No fee listed for working cats Ask about the placement process, acclimation setup, food/water shelter, and safety requirements.
What may be included: the official adoption information notes that for companion animals that came into the shelter unsterilized, the special price includes key medical and care items. Always ask staff what is included for your specific pet before you finalize adoption.

Before you visit: adoption checklist for Albuquerque families

Confirm the shelter locationCheck whether the pet is listed at Eastside, Westside, foster, mobile event, or another program route.
Bring safe transportUse a carrier for cats and small animals. Bring leash/harness and safe vehicle setup for dogs.
Prepare renter proofIf you rent, know your landlord rules, pet fees, breed rules, size rules, and lease restrictions before adopting.
Ask about surgery timingIf the animal needs sterilization before release, pickup timing may be different from your visit timing.
Plan the first 72 hoursKeep the pet’s first days quiet. Avoid crowds, dog parks, parties, and too many visitors.
Budget beyond the feeFood, supplies, licensing, training, litter, crates, vet care, and emergency savings matter.

Lost dog or cat in Albuquerque: what to do fast

If your pet is missing, use several recovery routes at the same time. Albuquerque Animal Welfare’s lost-and-found guidance encourages searching the area, checking photos, using microchip scanning, reporting found pets through 311, and using practical neighborhood outreach.

Search official lost/adoptable pet listings.
Use the City of Albuquerque search page for lost or adoptable pets and check both Eastside and Westside shelter routes.
Call the right city route.
For general city service, call 311 or 505-768-2000. For shelter contact, call 505-768-1975.
Update microchip records.
Use AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup, then contact the chip registry to update your phone number and email.
Search physically near home.
Check yards, garages, sheds, under decks, apartment lots, alleys, parks, ditches, and nearby hiding places. Cats may stay close but hidden.
Post and flyer nearby.
Use clear photos, cross streets, date/time lost, and a direct contact method. Do not reveal every identifying detail; keep some proof for ownership verification.
Bring proof if you reclaim.
Use photos, vet records, license records, microchip registration, adoption papers, and unique identifying details.
Do not wait. Pets can move across neighborhoods quickly, and shelter status can change. Recheck daily and search in person if a photo or description might match your pet.
Official Lost & Found AAHA Microchip Lookup

Found a pet in Albuquerque: safe next steps

If you find a dog or cat, the best outcome is usually getting the pet back to its owner. Albuquerque’s official lost-and-found guidance says stray finders should report the found pet to Animal Welfare by calling 311, ask neighbors, post flyers near where the pet was found, and have the pet scanned for a microchip.

Report through 311Call 311 or 505-768-2000 to report the found pet to Animal Welfare.
Scan for a microchipA veterinary clinic or listed scanning location may scan the pet without an appointment.
Ask nearby neighborsThe owner may be walking the area looking for the pet, especially near where the animal was found.
Use safe handlingDo not chase, corner, transport, or handle an injured, aggressive, or extremely frightened animal if it risks your safety.
Found-pet script: “Hi, I found a dog/cat near [street/intersection] in Albuquerque. The pet is [description], has [collar/no collar], and I can send photos. Should I file a found report, bring the pet to a shelter, or use another official route?”

Need to surrender a pet in Albuquerque? Read this first

Albuquerque Animal Welfare’s location page notes that shelters may be at capacity and asks people who want to surrender a pet to speak with an Animal Welfare representative before bringing the pet in. If surrender is not immediate, the city asks people to consider voluntarily going on a waiting list by calling 311 or 505-768-2000.

Important capacity warning: never leave a pet outside a shelter, park, business, or home. Call first, ask what intake rules apply today, and be honest about the pet’s medical or behavior history.
If cost is the problemCheck spay/neuter vouchers, preventive care, vaccine, microchip, and community-support resources first.
If behavior is the problemAsk for realistic training, management, and rehoming support before surrendering.
If housing is the problemAsk about resources, temporary help, and safe rehoming routes before making a permanent decision.
If surrender is unavoidableCall 311 or 505-768-2000 first and ask whether you should come in, waitlist, or use another official route.

Albuquerque animal control, cruelty, barking, bites and urgent concerns

For non-emergency city animal concerns, use 311 or 505-768-2000. For immediate danger, life-threatening situations, active cruelty, serious bites, or public safety emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency police calls, the City contact page lists 505-242-COPS.

City non-emergency servicesCall 311 or 505-768-2000.
Shelter contactCall 505-768-1975 for Eastside/Westside shelter contact.
Emergency dangerCall 911 for life-threatening situations, immediate danger, or cruelty in progress.
Routing tip: use clear location details, photos if safe, license plate or address information when relevant, and explain whether the issue is happening now or already happened.

Pet services, spay/neuter, preventive care, foster, volunteer and donations

Albuquerque Animal Welfare offers more than adoption. The official pages include lost/found pets, foster and volunteer information, spay/neuter resources, preventive care, working cats, and adoption events.

Spay and neuter helpThe city offers free to low-cost spay/neuter service vouchers for cats and dogs of low-income and moderate-income Albuquerque residents.
Preventive care clinicThe official spay/neuter page notes preventive care services such as vaccinations and microchips through program sign-up.
Foster and volunteerUse official Animal Welfare pages to learn current foster, volunteer, or donation requirements.
Mobile Lucky PawsHours and locations vary, so check official event details before assuming the van will be at an event.
Spay / Neuter Help Daily Operations

Call scripts for common Albuquerque Animal Shelter needs

Use a clear script so the city or shelter can route your request faster.

Adoption script: “Hi, I’m interested in adopting a dog/cat I saw on the official Albuquerque Animal Welfare page. Can you confirm which shelter the pet is at and whether the pet is available for viewing today?”

Lost pet script: “Hi, my dog/cat is missing near [street/intersection]. The pet is [description], may have [collar/microchip], and I can send photos. How do I check whether the animal is at Eastside or Westside?”

Found pet script: “Hi, I found a dog/cat near [street/intersection]. The pet is [description]. Should I file a found report, get a microchip scan, or bring the animal to a shelter?”

Surrender script: “Hi, I may need to surrender a pet and want to ask about alternatives, capacity, and the waiting list. My pet is [age/species], with [medical/behavior notes]. What is the correct next step?”

Albuquerque Animal Shelter maps and arrival planning

Albuquerque Animal Welfare operates both Eastside and Westside shelter locations. Confirm which shelter you need before driving, because going to the wrong location can cost time if a pet is at the other side of the city.

Eastside Animal Shelter 8920 Lomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
Official Eastside page
Westside Animal Shelter 11800 Sunset Gardens SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121
Official Westside page

Eastside Animal Shelter map

Westside Animal Shelter map

Before you drive: check the pet’s listed location, confirm kennel viewing hours, bring ID, prepare safe transport, and call first for lost-pet, surrender, or animal-control concerns.

Official Albuquerque Animal Welfare links

Animal Welfare homepageOfficial City Animal Welfare page
Contact311, 505-768-2000 and emergency routing
Eastside shelterEastside location and hours
Westside shelterWestside location and hours
Adoption informationAdoption fees and requirements
Lost and foundLost/found pet help
Spay/neuterFree to low-cost resources
Mobile Lucky PawsMobile adoption van

Common mistakes that slow people down

Going to the wrong shelterCheck whether the pet or service is Eastside, Westside, mobile, foster, or another route.
Confusing office and viewing hoursOffice hours and kennel viewing hours are not the same. Viewing is listed as 10:30 AM–5:30 PM daily.
Waiting on a lost petSearch, call, update the microchip, flyer, and check shelter listings quickly.
Bringing a pet for surrender without callingShelters may be at capacity. Call first and ask about the waiting list or alternatives.
Not planning transportBring a carrier, leash, secure vehicle setup, and a quiet ride-home plan.
Relying on old fee screenshotsFee specials, capacity updates, and event details can change. Check the official city page.

Albuquerque Animal Shelter FAQs

The official Eastside and Westside shelter pages list 505-768-1975. For general non-emergency City of Albuquerque services, call 311 or 505-768-2000.

Eastside Animal Shelter is located at 8920 Lomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112.

Westside Animal Shelter is located at 11800 Sunset Gardens SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121.

The official Eastside and Westside location pages list kennel viewing hours as 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily. Office hours are listed as 9:30 AM to 6 PM daily.

The official adoption page lists dogs and cats under 1 year at $30, dogs and cats 1 year and older at $25, long-term guests over 30 days at $10, and exotic pets or small animals as varying by animal.

Search official lost/adoptable pet listings, call the correct city route, update your microchip records, search nearby areas, post flyers, and check both shelter locations if needed.

Report the found pet to Animal Welfare by calling 311, ask neighbors, post flyers near where the pet was found, and have the animal scanned for a microchip if safe.

Call first. The official locations page notes shelters may be at capacity and asks people wanting to surrender a pet to speak with an Animal Welfare representative before bringing the pet in.

Yes. The City of Albuquerque offers free to low-cost spay or neuter service vouchers for cats and dogs of low-income and moderate-income Albuquerque residents through its Animal Welfare program.

No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent directory guide. The official Albuquerque Animal Welfare pages are on the City of Albuquerque website.

Emergency routing and independent-site disclaimer

Life-threatening or in-progress cruelty: call 911. Pet poisoning: call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 1-888-426-4435; a fee may apply. Crisis for the handler or owner: call or text 988. Emergency animal help: use a qualified emergency veterinarian, 311 where appropriate, or Animal Help Now.

Animal-Shelter.org is an independent animal shelter and animal control directory. We are not Albuquerque Animal Welfare, not animal control, not an emergency dispatcher, not a shelter, not a humane society, not an SPCA, not a veterinarian, not a wildlife rehabilitator, not a microchip registry, not a pet poison hotline, not police, and not an attorney. Always confirm current hours, fees, policies, animal availability, jurisdiction, and emergency instructions with the official organization.

Final summary

For Albuquerque Animal Shelter searches, start with the City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. Confirm whether you need Eastside or Westside, use kennel viewing hours for adoption visits, call 505-768-1975 for shelter contact, use 311 or 505-768-2000 for city service routing, and act quickly if your pet is missing.

USA-wide shelter helper • adoption, lost pets, found pets, surrender and animal control

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.

Lost Pet PlanSearch, microchip, shelter checks, flyers
Found Pet HelpSafety, scanning, reporting, holding
Adoption PlannerReadiness, questions, supplies, budget
Visit ChecklistDocuments, call script, official links

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.

Important: Shelter rules vary by city, county, agency, and animal type. Always confirm hours, intake rules, fees, appointment requirements, and proof-of-ownership rules with the official shelter or animal control agency before visiting.

Lost pet recovery checklist

Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.

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Found pet safety decision helper

Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.

Safety first: Do not approach an aggressive, injured, trapped, or traffic-endangered animal if doing so could put you or others at risk. Contact animal control, emergency services, or a qualified professional when needed.

Adoption readiness checker

This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.

0% readiness signals checked

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.

Helpful reminder: Ask the shelter about pet food pantries, low-cost vet care, behavior support, temporary foster options, and safe rehoming resources before making a final decision.

Animal control contact decision helper

Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.

Emergency warning: If there is immediate danger to a person, a serious bite, traffic hazard, or active attack, contact local emergency services or animal control according to local rules.

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.

USA-wide Shelter user intent Official-source focused

Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.

Independent shelter-help tool. Not affiliated with any animal shelter, humane society, rescue, animal control agency, city, county, state agency, veterinarian, or microchip company. Always confirm current rules, hours, fees, and requirements directly with the official organization.