Homeward Animal Shelter Visitor Guide: Adoption Hours, Fees, Lost Pets, Surrender Help, Video & Map
Homeward Animal Shelter in Fargo, North Dakota helps people adopt pets, find lost-pet resources, apply for dogs and cats, support shelter programs, and understand local stray-pet routing. Use this guide for official contact details, open house hours, adoption fees, lost/found steps, surrender guidance, map, and a helpful video overview.
Phone 701-239-0077
Open house hours Tue–Fri 4–7 PM; Sat 2–6 PM
Quick Answer: What should you know before visiting Homeward Animal Shelter?
Homeward Animal Shelter is located at 1201 28th Avenue North in Fargo, ND. The official site lists open house hours as Tuesday through Friday from 4–7 PM and Saturday from 2–6 PM. Appointment-only times may be available outside open house hours, so call or use the official website if you need a specific adoption meeting, lost-pet question, or owner-surrender request.
Choose what you need today
Most people searching for Homeward Animal Shelter have one urgent task. Use the quick action grid below to jump to the right section.
Verified Homeward Animal Shelter facts
Video Guide: Watch before donating, visiting or supporting Homeward Animal Shelter
An official Homeward Animal Shelter YouTube video was not clearly available in search results. Instead, this guide uses a relevant Valley News Live interview about Homeward Animal Shelter and Giving Hearts Day. It helps users understand the shelter’s local community role, support needs, and why donations and public participation matter.
Homeward Animal Shelter adoption process: how it works in 2026
Homeward Animal Shelter’s adoption process is application-based. The official adoption page says adoption counselors review applications to learn about you, your family, and any pets in the home. The review may take 24–72 hours depending on application volume.
Homeward has separate pages for available dogs, cats, small animals, and barn buddies. If up to 80% of animals are in foster care, an application may be needed before meeting a foster animal.
For a dog or cat you like, open the animal profile and use the “Apply for Adoption” route. Do not rely only on screenshots, social posts, or third-party listings.
Homeward says counselors review applications and contact applicants to discuss the animal and important medical, behavior, or household information.
Once approved, Homeward may set a time for you to meet the animal if you have not already done so. Ask whether all household decision-makers or current dogs should attend.
Ask about behavior notes, medical disclosures, food, microchip registration, adjustment time, training needs, and any known compatibility details.
The official process includes signing an adoption contract, reviewing disclosures, registering the microchip, and paying the adoption fee.
Homeward Animal Shelter adoption fees
The official Homeward adoption page lists adoption fees plus tax. Use the table below for planning, but confirm current amounts before adoption day because adoption specials, animal-specific notes, or policy updates can change the final amount.
| Animal type | Official fee listed | Question to ask before adopting |
|---|---|---|
| Adult dog | $225 plus tax | Ask about energy level, leash behavior, medical notes, crate comfort, and whether your current dog should meet the dog first. |
| Puppy | $225 plus $100 refundable spay/neuter deposit | Ask when spay/neuter is due, how the refundable deposit works, and what vaccines are still needed. |
| Adult cat | $120 plus tax | Ask about litter habits, hiding behavior, comfort with kids, and whether the cat has lived with dogs or other cats. |
| Kitten | $110 plus $40 refundable spay/neuter deposit | Ask whether the kitten is ready to leave now, what medical care is completed, and when follow-up is needed. |
| Rabbit | $50 | Ask about housing, litter habits, diet, handling comfort, and spay/neuter timing if not already done. |
| Ferret | $50 | Ask about cage needs, diet, behavior, and whether previous handling history is known. |
| Guinea pig | $25 | Ask whether the animal should be adopted with a companion and what cage size is appropriate. |
| Rat | $20 | Ask whether same-sex pairs or groups are recommended. |
| Hamster, gerbil or mouse | $10 | Ask about handling, enclosure, bedding, wheel size, and diet. |
Before you visit Homeward Animal Shelter for adoption
Lost dog or cat in Fargo: what Homeward tells pet owners to do
Homeward’s lost and found pet page tells anyone who lost a pet to contact the local pound or law enforcement as soon as possible. This is important because a lost pet may not be at Homeward Animal Shelter; it may be at the correct municipal pound or reported through police or sheriff routing.
Use the city or county where the pet was lost. Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Cass County, and Clay County may use different reporting paths.
Use AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup and contact your chip registry. Update your phone number and email immediately.
Use front, side, full-body, and unique-marking photos. Include the pet’s name, sex, collar, chip status, and last-known location.
Cats may hide close to home. Dogs may travel farther. Check garages, sheds, under decks, alleys, and nearby yards with permission.
Lost pets may appear days later. Do not assume one call or one online post is enough.
Found a pet in Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo or nearby county
If you found a dog or cat, do not assume the animal is abandoned. Homeward’s lost/found page gives separate routes depending on the location where the animal is found. Some pounds do not accept stray drop-offs and may require law enforcement pickup.
Owner surrender requests: can Homeward take your pet?
Homeward’s owner surrender page uses a compassionate but clear message: rehoming a pet is difficult, and the shelter may not have space due to the number of homeless pets in local pounds. Homeward says it will try to help as much as possible by providing information on ways to rehome your pet.
Animal control, cruelty, bites and emergency routing
Homeward Animal Shelter is not the same thing as an emergency dispatcher or animal-control enforcement office. For adoption, shelter programs, owner surrender requests, volunteer help, and Homeward resources, use the official Homeward website. For active danger or cruelty in progress, use emergency or law-enforcement routes.
Pet services, microchip clinics, fostering, volunteering and donations
Homeward’s website includes resources beyond adoption, including microchip clinics, community pet resources, owner surrender requests, pet-friendly housing information, fostering, volunteering, wish list donations, financial donations, and special medical care funds.
Call scripts for Homeward Animal Shelter users
Use a clear script so the shelter, pound, police department, or sheriff’s office can understand your situation faster.
Adoption script: “Hi, I’m interested in adopting [pet name/type]. I saw the animal on the Homeward website and want to confirm whether I should apply now or visit during open house hours.”
Lost pet script: “Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing near [street/intersection] in [city]. The pet is [description], may have [collar/microchip], and I can send photos. Has a matching pet been reported or brought in?”
Found pet script: “Hi, I found a [dog/cat] near [street/intersection]. I need to know the correct pound or law-enforcement route for this location. What should I do next?”
Surrender script: “Hi, I need help with a possible owner surrender or rehoming options. My pet is [age/species], has [medical/behavior notes], and the reason is [brief reason]. What request form or resources should I use?”
Homeward Animal Shelter map and visit planning
Homeward Animal Shelter is listed at 1201 28th Avenue North, Fargo, ND 58102. Before leaving, check current open house hours, verify whether you need an appointment, and confirm the pet you want is still available or in foster care.
Official Homeward Animal Shelter links
Common mistakes that slow people down
Homeward Animal Shelter FAQs
The official phone number listed for Homeward Animal Shelter is 701-239-0077.
Homeward Animal Shelter is listed at 1201 28th Avenue North, Fargo, ND 58102.
The official site lists open house hours as Tuesday through Friday from 4–7 PM and Saturday from 2–6 PM. Appointment-only times may be available outside those hours.
Homeward says the review process may take 24–72 hours depending on the number of applications received.
The official fee page lists adult dog adoption at $225 plus tax and puppy adoption at $225 plus a $100 refundable spay/neuter deposit. Confirm current fees before adopting.
The official fee page lists adult cat adoption at $120 plus tax and kitten adoption at $110 plus a $40 refundable spay/neuter deposit. Confirm current fees before adopting.
Homeward lists open house hours, but many animals may be in foster care and some meetings may require an application or appointment. Check the official pet page first.
Homeward says lost-pet owners should contact the local pound or law enforcement as soon as possible. For Fargo/Cass County, the listed Fargo pound number is 701-232-7312.
Homeward has an owner surrender request page, but it says space may not always be available. Contact the shelter first and do not drop off a pet without approval.
Homeward’s website includes microchip clinic resources. Check the official site for current dates, costs, and scheduling requirements.
Yes. Homeward’s website includes volunteer, financial donation, wish list, and special care donation options. Use official pages for current needs.
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent directory guide. The official Homeward Animal Shelter website is homewardonline.org.
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.