Fulton Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
This page covers Fulton County Animal Services in Atlanta, Georgia. Use it to adopt, foster, report a stray, reclaim a lost pet, register a pet, check intake hours, understand fees, and contact field services.
Important: Fulton County Animal Services is the county shelter and animal-control route. It is operated by LifeLine Animal Project, while field services are provided through Fulton County Police Department Animal Services Officers.
Official source checked
Last verified: August 12, 2026. Details use Fulton County Government and Fulton County Animal Services / LifeLine official pages.
Correct Fulton identified
This article is for Fulton County, Georgia, not Fulton cities or counties in New York, Missouri, Indiana or Illinois.
No fake data added
No fake reviews, fake ratings, fake staff names, fake open hours, or BreadcrumbList schema are included.
Choose What You Need
- Clickable action cards
- Right Fulton check
- Adoption vs field services
- Who to call first
- Shelter and adoption hours
- Adoption and reclaim fees
- Adoption micro-steps
- Reclaim rules
- Lost/found pets
- Found cats and kittens
- Field services
- Pet registration
- Rabies vaccines
- Deceased animals
- Surrender and pet help
- Foster, volunteer, rescue
- Call scripts
- Map
- Official links
- 10 FAQs
Right Fulton Check
Because “Fulton Animal Shelter” is a broad search, verify the location before calling or driving.
| If you meant… | Correct page route | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton County Animal Services, Georgia | This page | Atlanta address, Fulton County field services, LifeLine operation, Fulton County pet registration and Georgia county rules. |
| Fulton city shelter in another state | Search by city + state | Hours, fees, animal-control law and lost/found rules may be completely different. |
| Fulton County, New York / Indiana / Illinois / Ohio | Use that county’s official government or shelter website | Do not use the Atlanta/Fulton County GA phone number for another county. |
Clickable Fulton Animal Help Cards
Tap the matching action. Each route is official or directly tied to Fulton County Animal Services.
Adoption Shelter vs Animal Control
Fulton County uses one shelter system, but different phone routes depending on the problem.
| Need | Best route | Phone / email | Use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt a dog or cat | Fulton County Animal Services adoption desk | 404-613-0357 adoptions@fultonanimalservices.com | Pet availability, adoption fee, out-of-state adoption question, visit planning. |
| General shelter question | FCAS general information | 404-613-0358 | Hours, address, shelter services and general routing. |
| Stray, bite, injured animal or cruelty issue | Fulton County Field Services | 404-613-0358 option 2 | Field officer service during regular service hours. |
| Owner surrender or hardship support | Community Support | pethelp@fultonanimalservices.com | Pet help, surrender inquiries, owner resources, rehoming support. |
| Lost or found pet help | Lost & Found team | lostandfound@fultonanimalservices.com | Lost-pet and found-pet support. |
| Life-threatening emergency | Emergency services | 911 | Immediate public danger, urgent bite/attack, severe emergency. |
Who to Call First
Use this before driving, submitting a report, bringing in a found pet or reclaiming a lost pet.
| Situation | Call / click | What to say | Next micro-step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt a specific pet | 404-613-0357 | “Is [pet name/ID] still available, and what is the current adoption fee today?” | Check live listing and bring ID/payment/leash or carrier. |
| Found healthy dog | Found Pets guide | “I found a healthy dog at [exact location]. I can/cannot hold safely.” | Use Petco Love Lost and consider Friendly Finder if eligible. |
| Sick, injured or owner cannot be located | 404-613-0358 option 2 | “This animal is sick/injured or no owner can be found at [location].” | Follow field officer instructions. |
| Lost pet may be at shelter | Lost Pets page | “My pet is missing near [cross streets]. I need to check shelter custody pets.” | Visit in person because shelter says phone/email cannot positively confirm your pet. |
| Animal cruelty, bite or fighting | 404-613-0358 option 2 | “This involves [cruelty/bite/fighting] at [address].” | Use 911 if there is immediate danger. |
| Owner surrender question | pethelp@fultonanimalservices.com | “I need help keeping or rehoming my pet before surrender.” | Request help online first if possible. |
| Foster question | foster@fultonanimalservices.com | “I can foster a Fulton County Animal Services pet. What is needed now?” | Ask about supplies, vet care, length and dog/cat fit. |
Fulton Animal Shelter Adoption Hours
Shelter visitor hours and public intake hours are different. Do not use adoption hours for public pet drop-off.
| Service | Official hours | Best action | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter visitors / adoptions | Monday-Friday 11am-7pm | Call or check live pets before driving. | Animal availability changes quickly. |
| Shelter visitors / adoptions | Saturday-Sunday 11am-6pm | Arrive earlier for popular pets. | Weekend traffic can be higher. |
| Public pet drop-off / intake | Monday-Friday 11am-5pm | Call first, especially for healthy found pets. | Shelter says it prioritizes emergencies or critical need due to limited housing. |
| Public pet drop-off / intake | Saturday 11am-4pm | Confirm before transporting an animal. | Sunday public intake is closed. |
| Public pet drop-off / intake | Sunday closed | Use field services/emergency route only when appropriate. | Do not abandon an animal. |
| Veterinary clinic | Tuesday-Thursday 1pm-5pm | Book or confirm appointment route. | Do not assume clinic is walk-in for every service. |
| Animal Services Officers | Monday-Friday 6am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday 8am-6pm | Call 404-613-0358 option 2. | After-hours and holidays are emergency-only. |
Adoption and Reclaim Fees
Adoption fees are separate from reclaim, impound, boarding and owner-surrender fees.
| Fee type | Official listed amount | What it means | Verify before paying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog adoption | $85 | County page says dog adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip. | Live promotions may change final fee. |
| Cat adoption | $65 | County page says cat adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip. | Live promotions may change final fee. |
| Current promotion | Live adoption page may show limited promotions such as $25 adoptions in August | Promotion is time-sensitive. | Confirm on the live adoption page or by phone. |
| Impound fee: intact dog/cat | $60 | For reclaim situations where the pet is not spayed/neutered. | Additional boarding/medical fees may apply. |
| Impound fee: spayed/neutered dog/cat | $30 | For reclaim situations where the pet is altered. | Bring proof if requested. |
| Domestic boarding | $12 per day | Daily custody/boarding fee for domestic animals. | Ask for current total at reclaim desk. |
| Owner surrender | $35 | Listed shelter fee for owner surrender. | Use Community Support before surrendering. |
| Trap rental | $20 refundable | Listed trap rental fee. | Confirm availability before planning. |
Adoption Micro-Steps
Follow this order to avoid old listings, surprise fees and wasted trips.
Check live adoptable pets
Open the FCAS adoptable pets page and screenshot the pet name, ID, photo and profile notes.
Confirm today’s availability
Call 404-613-0357 or email adoptions@fultonanimalservices.com for a specific animal.
Confirm the fee
Base county fees are $85 for dogs and $65 for cats, but the live adoption page may show time-limited promotions.
Bring basics
Bring photo ID, payment method, leash or carrier, household decision-makers if needed, and landlord approval if renting.
Ask health questions
Ask about spay/neuter, vaccines, microchip, medical notes, behavior, children, cats, dogs and first-week care.
Plan decompression
Give the animal a quiet first week, slow introductions and a consistent feeding/walk routine.
Reclaim Rules for Lost Pets in Shelter Care
Do not wait. Reclaim periods are short and in-person confirmation matters.
3 business days without ID
Pets found without identification have a hold period of 3 business days from intake.
7 business days with ID
Pets found with identification have a hold period of 7 business days from intake.
Walk-through required
FCAS says a shelter walk-through is the only way to positively confirm your pet is in their care.
Bring ID
You must come in person and bring personal identification.
Proof of ownership
Bring photos, veterinary records, microchip details, license or other proof.
Ask about payment help
FCAS says payment options and amounts may be discussed if you cannot afford reclaim fees.
Lost or Found Pet in Fulton County GA
Use shelter records, neighborhood search, microchip updates and official lost/found tools together.
If your pet is lost
- Search shelter custody pets on the FCAS Lost Pets page.
- Visit the shelter in person because FCAS says phone/email cannot positively confirm your pet.
- Bring ID, photos, vet records, microchip number and proof of ownership.
- Update microchip contact information immediately.
- Search close to home: porches, garages, sheds, alleys, under vehicles and nearby yards.
- Post clear photos with cross streets on local lost/found groups.
- Watch for scams: never send money or verification codes to strangers claiming to have your pet.
If you found a pet
- Check the Found Pets guide before bringing a healthy pet to the shelter.
- FCAS says the shelter has limited housing space and prioritizes emergency or critical-need animals.
- Make a found-pet flyer and post within about a 1-mile radius of where the pet was found.
- Report the found pet using Petco Love Lost and upload a clear photo.
- Search local lost/found sites to see if the owner already posted.
- Call field services if the pet is sick, injured, unsafe, or the owner cannot be located.
- Do not abandon a pet or privately rehome before the owner has a fair reclaim chance.
Found Cats and Kittens
Fulton County’s guidance is different for adult community cats, sick cats and underage kittens.
Healthy adult cat outdoors
FCAS says a healthy adult cat outside may be an owned outdoor cat or community cat. Post photos locally and alert neighbors before assuming shelter intake is best.
Injured, sick or malnourished cat
If the adult cat is injured, sick or malnourished, FCAS says to take them to a vet or bring them into the county shelter.
Found kittens
If the mother cat has not returned after 6+ hours and you can temporarily care for kittens found in Fulton County, contact pethelp@fultonanimalservices.com.
Fulton County Field Services
Use field services for animal-control issues, not for routine adoption questions.
| Field service detail | Verified information | Best user action |
|---|---|---|
| Request service | 404-613-0358, option 2 | Give exact location, photos if safe, animal description and safety risk. |
| Regular weekday service hours | Monday-Friday 6am-8pm | Call during these hours for non-emergency field response. |
| Weekend service hours | Saturday-Sunday 8am-6pm | Call during these hours for non-emergency field response. |
| After hours / federal holidays | Emergency-only service | Use 911 for life-threatening emergencies. |
| Handled issues | Cruelty, injured animals, dog attacks/bites, dog/cockfighting, welfare checks, license/rabies violations and loose animals. | Be specific and do not put yourself in danger. |
Fulton County Pet Registration
Fulton County requires pet licensing/registration for dogs and cats, and the license helps Animal Services contact owners if a pet is lost.
| Pet status | 1-year fee | 3-year fee | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spayed/neutered pet | $10 | $25 | Rabies certificate required; 3-year license requires 3-year rabies vaccination. |
| Not spayed/neutered pet | $25 | $60 | Rabies certificate required. |
| Late license | $10 late fee | $10 late fee | Applies if license is more than 60 days overdue. |
| How to register | Mail / online / in person | PetData or shelter route | Use correct fee and rabies vaccination certificate. |
Rabies Vaccines and Pet Health Resources
This helps owners who need rabies vaccination, registration, spay/neuter or low-cost support.
$30 rabies vaccine
Fulton County Animal Services offers public rabies vaccinations for Fulton County residents with identification.
Walk-in vaccine window
The current Fulton Animal Services service page lists public rabies vaccines Monday-Friday, 11am-2pm, on a walk-in basis.
Older county page conflict
An older Fulton County page lists Tuesday 2pm-4pm. Because pages differ, call 404-613-0358 before relying on vaccine hours.
Deceased Animal Pickup
FCAS says it does not provide deceased-animal removal. Use the correct public-space contact by area.
| Area | Listed contact | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| City of Atlanta | 404-546-0311 | Deceased animal in public space within Atlanta. |
| City of Alpharetta | 678-297-6000 | Public-space pickup route. |
| City of Sandy Springs | 770-730-5600 | Public-space pickup route. |
| City of South Fulton | 470-552-4311 | Public-space pickup route. |
| Unincorporated Fulton County | 404-613-3113 | Unincorporated-area public-space route. |
Surrender, Rehome and Pet Help
FCAS asks owners to use Community Support and rehoming resources before surrender when possible.
Community Support
Email pethelp@fultonanimalservices.com for Fulton County pet resources and owner-surrender inquiries.
Rehome first
The Rehome page gives steps to find a pet a new home without surrendering to the shelter, including photos, profile writing, marketing and rescue-group outreach.
Owner surrender fee
The services page lists an $35 owner surrender fee. Call before planning any surrender visit.
Foster, Volunteer and Rescue Partner Routes
Foster homes and rescue partners are especially important when the shelter is full.
Foster
Fostering is for animals in the Fulton County Animal Services system. Email foster@fultonanimalservices.com.
Foster supplies
County page says LifeLine provides veterinary care, starter food, crates for dogs and other supplies for foster residents.
Volunteer
Volunteer route: 404-613-9195 or volunteer@fultonanimalservices.com.
Rescue groups
Rescue groups can contact 404-613-9157 or rescue@fultonanimalservices.com.
Weekend Warrior
County foster info describes Weekend Warrior as a short-term option for eligible medium-to-large dogs who have been at the shelter for months.
Response timing
County page asks Weekend Warrior applicants to allow at least 72 hours for a response.
Before You Leave Home
Pet screenshot, ID, payment method, carrier/leash, landlord approval if renting.
Photo, microchip number, proof of ownership, license/rabies info, cross streets.
Photos, found location/time, safe containment, Petco Love Lost post, field-service call if needed.
Rabies certificate, correct fee, pet details, owner address and PetData/mail/in-person route.
Copy/Paste Call Scripts
Adoption
Hi, I am interested in [pet name/ID]. Is this animal still available, and what is the current adoption fee and process today?Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing near [cross streets]. Description: [color/size/collar/microchip]. I understand I may need to visit in person. What should I bring?Found animal
Hi, I found a [dog/cat/other] near [exact location]. The animal is [healthy/sick/injured/aggressive]. I can/cannot safely hold it. What should I do next?Field service concern
Hi, I need to report [stray/dog bite/injured animal/cruelty/welfare check/loose animal] at [exact address]. I have photos and time observed.Map: Fulton County Animal Services
Use this map for shelter visits and adoption planning. Call first for found pets, public intake, reclaims, or field-service situations.
Official Fulton Animal Links
The key details are summarized above. Use these pages for live pets, current promotions, forms and final verification.
Fulton Animal Shelter FAQ
Which Fulton animal shelter does this page cover?
This page covers Fulton County Animal Services in Atlanta, Georgia, located at 1251 Fulton Industrial Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30336.
What is the Fulton County Animal Services phone number?
The general information phone number is 404-613-0358. For adoptions, Fulton Animal Services lists 404-613-0357.
What are Fulton County Animal Services adoption hours?
Shelter visitor hours are Monday through Friday from 11am to 7pm and Saturday through Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from Fulton County Animal Services?
The Fulton County Government adoption page lists dog adoptions at $85. Current promotions may change the final fee, so verify the live adoption page or call before visiting.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat from Fulton County Animal Services?
The Fulton County Government adoption page lists cat adoptions at $65. Current promotions may change the final fee, so verify before visiting.
What is included with Fulton County Animal Services adoptions?
Fulton County says adoptions include the animal’s spay or neuter, vaccinations and microchip.
Who do I call for stray animals, dog bites or injured animals?
Call Fulton County Field Services at 404-613-0358, option 2, for stray animals, dog bites, injured animals, animal cruelty, welfare checks, loose animals and related field-service issues.
How long are lost pets held at Fulton County Animal Services?
FCAS says pets without identification are held for three business days from intake, while pets with identification are held for seven business days from intake.
Do Fulton County pet owners need to register pets?
Yes. Fulton County requires pet owners to license/register dogs and cats. Spayed or neutered pets are listed at $10 for one year or $25 for three years; unaltered pets are listed at $25 for one year or $60 for three years.
Does Fulton County Animal Services remove deceased animals?
No. FCAS says it does not provide deceased-animal removal. Use the listed public-space contact for your city or unincorporated Fulton County.
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.