Davidson County Animal Shelter Adoption Hours, Lost Pets, Fees, Reclaim & Animal Control Help
Use official Davidson County Animal Shelter resources to check adoption hours, view dogs and cats, understand adoption fees, complete the adoption application, search lost pets, reclaim an animal, report animal-control concerns, get $5 rabies vaccines, ask about foster or volunteer help, and understand surrender rules before making a decision.
If you are searching for davidson county animal shelter, choose the task closest to what you need. This finder points users to the correct official Davidson County route for adoption, shelter hours, lost pets, found pets, animal control, adoption fees, reclaim, rabies vaccines and surrender guidance.
Choose one option. The official action card below updates for Davidson County adoption, hours, lost pets, found pets, animal control, adoption fees, reclaim and surrender help.
🐶 Adopt a pet — start with official Davidson County adoptable animals
Use this for: dogs, cats and other pets listed by Davidson County Animal Shelter for adoption.
Best official path: view adoptable animals, submit the official application, and remember that adoptions are first come, first served with an approved application.
Before you go: filling out an application does not guarantee a specific animal, and adopted pets should be checked by your regular veterinarian within five days.
Davidson County Animal Shelter Quick Facts Before You Visit
Davidson County Animal Shelter is an open-admission county shelter located at 490 Glendale Road in Lexington, North Carolina. The shelter protects, feeds and houses stray, injured, abused and unwanted animals in Davidson County, helps return lost animals to owners, and works to place adoptable pets into safe homes.
The biggest source of confusion is mixing the shelter with Animal Control. Davidson County states clearly that the Animal Shelter operates as a separate department from Animal Control. The shelter handles adoption, reclaim, surrender, lost/found and shelter services. Animal Control handles public-safety enforcement such as dogs running at large, stray-animal calls, rabies control and cruelty investigations.
What This Davidson County Animal Shelter Guide Covers
Davidson County Animal Shelter Hours, Address and Contact Number
Davidson County Animal Shelter is located at 490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292. The official shelter phone number is 336-357-0805, and the fax number is 336-357-0807. Public shelter hours are Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Do not treat Animal Control hours as shelter adoption hours. They are separate functions. If your need is adoption, lost/found, reclaim or surrender, use the shelter contact. If your need is a dangerous animal, stray-animal complaint, rabies-control issue or cruelty investigation, use Animal Control routing.
490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292
Use this location for adoption, lost/found, reclaim, rabies vaccine and shelter-service visits.
336-357-0805
Use for adoption, lost pets, found pets, reclaim and surrender questions.
Monday–Friday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
336-249-0131
Use for animal-control complaints, not routine shelter counter questions.
How to Adopt a Pet From Davidson County Animal Shelter
Davidson County Animal Shelter adoptions are first come, first served with an approved application. The official application warns that completing the form does not guarantee a specific animal. That matters because users who assume an application reserves a pet can misunderstand the process and lose time.
View official adoptable animals first
Start with the official Adoptable Animals page, then check the dog, cat or other-pet listings to see what is currently posted by the shelter.
Complete the official adoption application
Use the Davidson County adoption application. The shelter asks about your home, pet history, veterinarian information and the type of animal you are interested in.
Understand that approval is not a reservation
The application is general. It does not guarantee a particular animal. Once approved, adoptions are still handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ask questions before finalizing
Ask about behavior, medical notes, vaccine status, household fit, activity level, other pets, children and any care needs the shelter already knows.
Schedule a vet check within five days
Davidson County states that adopted animals should be checked by your regular veterinarian within five days because the shelter is not a licensed animal hospital and cannot treat illness after adoption.
Davidson County Animal Shelter Adoption Fees for Dogs, Cats and Small Pets
Davidson County lists current adoption fees as $95 for dogs, $75 for cats and $5 to $15 for small animals. These fees already include important starter care for dogs and cats, but adopters should still review the exact record for the individual animal before leaving the shelter.
Adoption fee: $95.
Includes Bordetella vaccine, canine distemper vaccine, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, heartworm test for dogs over 6 months, initial deworming, microchip, rabies vaccine for dogs over 4 months and spay/neuter.
Adoption fee: $75.
Includes feline distemper vaccine, FIV/FELV test, flea and tick prevention, initial deworming, microchip, rabies vaccine for cats over 4 months and spay/neuter.
Adoption fee: $5 to $15.
Small animals may include guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits and birds.
Ask for the exact medical record, vaccine status, age estimate and any known follow-up care for the pet you choose.
Before paying a Davidson County adoption fee
- Confirm the pet is still available and your application is approved.
- Review the animal’s vaccine, microchip and spay/neuter information.
- Ask whether the animal has any medical or behavior notes.
- Plan the required veterinary follow-up within five days.
- Budget for food, preventives, training, grooming and emergency vet care.
How to View Davidson County Dogs, Cats and Other Adoptable Pets
The official Davidson County Adoptable Animals page separates current listings into dogs, cats and other pets. Use those pages first when searching for a pet because they are connected to the county shelter’s own adoption system.
Online listings are a search tool, not a promise. A pet may be adopted, reclaimed, sponsored, transferred, medically held or removed after you last checked. Save the pet details and verify before traveling if one particular animal matters to you.
Official Dog Listings
Use the Davidson County DOGS page to view dogs currently listed for adoption.
Current shelter dogsOfficial Cat Listings
Use the Davidson County CATS page to view cats currently listed for adoption.
Current shelter catsDavidson County Lost Pets, Found Animals and Shelter Search Steps
If your pet is missing, call Davidson County Animal Shelter at 336-357-0805 and check official shelter posts for stray animals currently in care. Davidson County also recommends posting a public photo of your missing pet with your contact information on your own page and in local lost-and-found groups.
If you found an animal, you must call the shelter to make a report. The county also advises bringing the animal to the shelter or a nearby veterinary office to be scanned for a microchip. This is exactly where many people fail: they post on social media but never notify the official shelter, so the real owner cannot connect the dots.
Call: 336-357-0805.
Report your missing pet and keep checking official stray-animal posts.
You must call the shelter to make a found-animal report.
Use the same shelter number: 336-357-0805.
Bring found animals to the shelter or a nearby veterinary office for a microchip scan when safe.
Post clear public photos, location, date and contact details, but do not rely on social media alone.
Lost pet steps that actually help
- Call Davidson County Animal Shelter at 336-357-0805.
- Check official stray-animal photos and updates often.
- Post a public photo with current contact information.
- Search local lost-and-found pet groups as an extra step, not the only step.
- Visit the shelter personally if your pet may be there.
- Update microchip, rabies and veterinary records with current contact details.
How to Reclaim a Pet From Davidson County Animal Shelter
If your animal has been picked up by Animal Control or brought to the shelter by the public, the owner must come during business hours and identify the animal. Davidson County states that only the pet owner can reclaim the animal; the shelter cannot release it to a neighbor, friend, relative or coworker.
Bring a valid ID showing your current address.
If the address is not current, bring proof such as a bill or vehicle registration.
You must be at least 18 years old to reclaim an animal.
Bring photos, rabies certificate or veterinary records connecting you to the animal.
A paper rabies certificate is required. A rabies tag alone is not enough.
$25
$5
$9 per day
$95
Davidson County Animal Control, Rabies Exposure and Emergency Calls
Davidson County states that Animal Control is separate from the Animal Shelter. Animal Control Officers enforce state laws and local ordinances involving domestic dogs running at large, stray animals, rabies control and animal-cruelty investigations.
Animal Control can be reached through Emergency Communications at 336-249-0131. Davidson County Animal Control hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lexington City Animal Control and Thomasville City Animal Control are listed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After-hours emergency calls include vicious animals, severe attacks, sick or strange-acting animals, or animals taken into care during a traffic stop or arrest.
336-249-0131
Use for animal-control complaints involving domestic or wild animals.
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Call the Health Department at 336-242-2310 for possible rabies exposure reporting.
Law enforcement makes the initial after-hours response and determines whether Animal Control is needed.
Rabies Vaccines, Humane Euthanasia and Spay/Neuter Help in Davidson County
Davidson County Animal Shelter provides one-year rabies vaccines for $5 Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary, and all counties are welcome. Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier.
The shelter also provides humane euthanasia services free of charge for Davidson County residents when an animal’s quality of life is no longer sustainable, but owners cannot be present during the procedure due to state law. Owners must provide proof of ownership and valid ID, and the shelter asks people to call in advance.
Davidson County also states that the shelter does not have its own spay and neuter clinic or program. The official Spay and Neuter page instead lists local organizations and nearby low-cost clinics that may help.
$5 one-year vaccine
Monday–Friday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.; no appointment needed.
Dogs must be on a leash.
Cats must be in a carrier.
Free for qualifying Davidson County residents when medically necessary.
Call in advance and bring proof of ownership plus valid ID.
The county shelter does not operate its own clinic or program.
Use the official page for local low-cost options.
Can’t Keep Your Pet? Davidson County Surrender Rules Are Serious
Davidson County asks pet owners to consider surrender only as a very last option. The official page states that once you release your animal to the shelter, it becomes shelter property and may be euthanized within 72 hours or less. The shelter cannot guarantee placement on the adoption floor because space and resources are limited.
Owners must bring valid ID and must live in Davidson County, because the shelter cannot accept animals from other counties. The shelter also states that it does not adopt out aggressive, feral, seriously injured, sick, vicious or wild animals; those animals could be euthanized immediately.
Owners must live in Davidson County.
Bring a valid ID when surrendering an animal.
The shelter cannot guarantee that a surrendered pet will be placed on the adoption floor.
Aggressive, feral, seriously injured, sick, vicious or wild animals may not be adopted out.
Foster, Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor an Animal in Davidson County
Davidson County Animal Shelter says volunteers are vital to its operation. People who want to help can ask about volunteer opportunities, apply to foster animals or donate toward shelter needs. Foster homes must go through an approval process that includes an application, reference check and veterinarian reference check.
The county also offers a direct sponsorship path for adoptable dogs and cats. Donors can choose a particular animal or allow their donation to go toward sponsorship, helping reduce adoption fees. The shelter also accepts bed donations and specifies that its standard dog-bed size is large, 40 by 25 inches.
Call 336-357-0805 or visit the shelter to ask for the volunteer coordinator.
Submit the official application online or in person and complete the approval process.
Donations can reduce adoption fees for selected shelter dogs or cats.
The shelter requests new beds and lists a standard dog-bed size of 40 x 25.
Davidson County Animal Shelter vs Animal Control and Nearby Shelters
The search phrase “davidson county animal shelter” can lead to the official county shelter, Davidson County Animal Control, third-party pet listings, social-media posts, rescue groups or shelters in nearby counties. These are not interchangeable.
Davidson County Animal Shelter at 490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292.
Davidson County Animal Control, which handles enforcement, stray complaints, rabies control and cruelty investigations.
Wrong department means wrong hours, wrong phone, wrong complaint route and wrong expectations.
Confirm the official county domain, address, phone number and page purpose before visiting or reporting.
Official Davidson County Animal Shelter, Adoption and Animal Services Links
Use these official resources first. This protects users from stale hours, copied pet listings, incorrect fee claims, wrong reclaim rules and confusion between the shelter and Animal Control.
🏠 Animal Shelter
Main Davidson County Animal Shelter page with hours, address, contact and shelter overview.
Open Animal Shelter🐾 Adoption
Official adoption hub with process, fees, application and adoptable animal links.
Open Adoption Hub💳 Adoption Fees
Official dog, cat and small-animal adoption fee details.
Open Adoption Fees📝 Adoption Application
Official application and first-come, first-served adoption notice.
Open Application🔎 Adoptable Animals
Official dog, cat and other-pet listing hub.
View Adoptable Animals📍 Lost and Found
Official lost and found instructions for missing and found animals.
Open Lost & Found🏷️ Reclaiming an Animal
Official owner-only reclaim rules, documents and fees.
Open Reclaim Page🚨 Animal Control
Official Animal Control duties, phone numbers, hours and rabies-exposure guidance.
Open Animal Control💉 Shelter Services
Official rabies vaccine and humane euthanasia service information.
Open Services🤝 Foster an Animal
Official foster approval process and application details.
Open Foster Page🙋 Volunteer
Official volunteer page and shelter-help information.
Open Volunteer Page⚠️ Surrendering an Animal
Official surrender rules, residence requirement and euthanasia warning.
Open Surrender PagePhone, address and contact details
490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292
336-357-0805
Use for adoption, lost/found, reclaim and shelter-service questions.
336-249-0131
Use for complaints about domestic or wild animals.
336-242-2310
Use Health Department routing for possible rabies exposure reports.
Davidson County Animal Shelter Map and Visit Location
Davidson County Animal Shelter is located at 490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292. Use this location for official shelter visits, adoption, lost/found, reclaim, rabies vaccine services, foster questions and shelter donations.
Davidson County Animal Shelter
Address: 490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292
Davidson County Animal Shelter FAQs
What are Davidson County Animal Shelter adoption hours in 2026?
Davidson County Animal Shelter is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Verify current hours before a long drive or holiday visit.
Where is Davidson County Animal Shelter located?
The shelter is located at 490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292.
What is the Davidson County Animal Shelter phone number?
The official shelter phone number is 336-357-0805.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from Davidson County Animal Shelter?
The official dog adoption fee is $95. It includes listed starter care such as vaccines, flea/tick prevention, heartworm prevention, heartworm test for dogs over 6 months, initial deworming, microchip, rabies vaccine for dogs over 4 months and spay/neuter.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat from Davidson County Animal Shelter?
The official cat adoption fee is $75. It includes feline distemper vaccine, FIV/FELV test, flea/tick prevention, initial deworming, microchip, rabies vaccine for cats over 4 months and spay/neuter.
Does an adoption application reserve a pet at Davidson County Animal Shelter?
No. The official application says it is a general application and does not guarantee a specific animal. Adoptions are first come, first served with an approved application.
What should I do if my pet is lost in Davidson County?
Call the shelter at 336-357-0805, check official stray-animal posts, share a public photo with your contact details, search local lost/found groups and visit the shelter personally if your pet may be there.
What should I do if I found a pet in Davidson County?
You must call the shelter at 336-357-0805 to report the found animal. The county also recommends bringing the animal to the shelter or a nearby veterinary office for a microchip scan when safe.
How do I reclaim my pet from Davidson County Animal Shelter?
The owner must come during business hours, identify the animal, bring valid ID, proof of ownership and proof of rabies vaccination. The reclaim fee is $25, and a $5 rabies vaccine is required if the pet is not current.
Is Davidson County Animal Control the same as the shelter?
No. Davidson County states that the Animal Shelter operates separately from Animal Control. The shelter handles adoptions, reclaim, surrender and shelter services, while Animal Control handles enforcement, stray-animal complaints, rabies control and cruelty investigations.
Does Davidson County Animal Shelter offer rabies vaccines?
Yes. One-year rabies vaccines are available for $5 Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier.
Can I surrender a pet to Davidson County Animal Shelter?
Only Davidson County residents may surrender animals, and valid ID is required. The official page warns that surrendered animals become shelter property and may be euthanized within 72 hours or less, so surrender should be treated as a last option.
Best Way to Use Davidson County Animal Shelter in 2026
The best path is simple: use the official Davidson County Animal Shelter website first, check current hours, view official dog and cat listings, submit the correct adoption application, call 336-357-0805 for lost/found or shelter questions, and use Animal Control routing when the issue is enforcement or public safety.
For the focus keyword davidson county animal shelter, this guide covers the full user intent: adoption hours, address, phone number, adoption application, dog and cat fees, small-animal fees, available pets, lost pets, found pets, reclaim rules, animal control, rabies vaccines, spay/neuter help, surrender warnings, foster, volunteer, donate, map and official links. That is what separates a useful county shelter page from a thin article that only repeats an address.
Important Notice: This article is an independent informational guide and is not Davidson County Government, Davidson County Animal Shelter, Davidson County Animal Control, a veterinarian, law enforcement, or a legal authority. Adoption availability, shelter hours, fees, reclaim requirements, rabies services, surrender outcomes, animal-control response and shelter operations can change. Always verify urgent or official matters directly with Davidson County official resources, emergency services, or the appropriate agency before acting.