Kenton County Animal Services Adoption Hours, Lost Pets, Fees, Licensing & Animal Control Help
Use official Kenton County Animal Services resources to check adoption hours, view adoptable pets, understand dog and cat adoption fees, submit an adoption application, search lost and found pets, reclaim an impounded animal, license dogs and cats, ask about surrender appointments, contact animal control, and avoid confusing the county shelter with private rescues or older online listings.
If you are searching for kenton county animal shelter, choose the task closest to what you need. This finder points users to the correct official Kenton County route for adoption, shelter hours, lost pets, found pets, animal control, fees, reclaim, pet licensing and surrender help.
Choose one option. The official action card below updates for Kenton County adoption, hours, lost pets, found pets, animal control, fees, reclaim, licensing and surrender help.
🐶 Adopt a pet — start with official Kenton County adoptable pets
Use this for: dogs, puppies, cats and kittens currently listed for adoption through Kenton County Animal Services.
Best official path: open the Adopt a Pet page, view current animals online, submit the adoption application, then call 859-356-7400 or visit during business hours.
Before you go: the online application does not place a hold on the pet, so call after submitting if you want one specific animal.
Kenton County Animal Shelter Quick Facts Before You Visit
Kenton County Animal Services is the primary law enforcement and animal sheltering agency for domestic animals in Kenton County, Kentucky. The shelter is located at 1020 Mary Laidley Drive in Covington and handles adoption, animal sheltering, animal control, lost and found pet search, reclaim, surrender appointments, pet licensing, microchipping for adopted animals, community cat support and responsible pet ownership information.
The largest user mistake is trusting older hours from outdated websites. Kenton County adjusted public hours in 2025 and is no longer open to the public on Mondays. Current shelter public hours are Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What This Kenton County Animal Shelter Guide Covers
Kenton County Animal Services Hours, Address and Phone Number
Kenton County Animal Services is located at 1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, KY 41017. The main shelter and animal control phone number is 859-356-7400. Current public shelter hours are Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kenton County announced that the shelter would no longer be open to the public on Mondays effective August 1, 2025. Animal control officers continue responding to emergencies seven days a week, including Mondays, but public shelter access and emergency field response are not the same service.
1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, KY 41017
Use this location for adoption visits, shelter services, lost/found help and reclaim questions.
859-356-7400
Use this for adoption, shelter, animal control, reclaim and surrender appointment questions.
Tuesday–Friday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday: not open to the public.
859-356-3191
Use the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center for animal-related emergencies or to contact an Animal Control Officer during non-work hours.
How to Adopt a Pet From Kenton County Animal Services
Kenton County Animal Services keeps its adoptable pet list updated online. The official adoption process starts with viewing available animals, submitting the animal adoption application, then calling the Adoption Center or visiting the shelter during business hours.
Search official adoptable pets first
Open the Kenton County Adopt a Pet page and the current ShelterBuddy adoption search. Save the animal name or ID before filling out an application.
Submit the official adoption application
The county application is designed to help place each animal in the best possible home. Complete it carefully and honestly.
Call after applying if you want one specific pet
The official adoption application states that submitting it does not place a hold of any kind on the animal. Call 859-356-7400 after submission or visit during business hours.
Review fit, care and long-term responsibility
Ask about temperament, activity level, medical notes, vaccines, spay/neuter status, other animals, children, housing rules and first-week care before finalizing adoption.
Take home complete records
Every adoption includes spay/neuter, and each new pet owner signs a legal adoption contract. Ask for vaccine, testing, treatment and microchip records before leaving.
Kenton County Animal Shelter Adoption Fees and What Is Included
The official Kenton County adoption page lists a $125 adoption fee for dogs and puppies and a $125 adoption fee for cats and kittens. Dogs receive listed immunizations including rDAPP-LCGIP and kennel cough vaccination, and dogs over six months are heartworm tested. Cats and kittens receive RCCP vaccination and are tested for FIV and FeLV.
All animals are given dewormer and flea/tick preventative. Every adoption includes mandatory spay or neuter surgery, and the new pet owner signs a legal adoption contract. Temporary adoption specials may happen, but the regular official page is the safer baseline for article copy.
Adoption fee: $125.
Listed care includes rDAPP-LCGIP, kennel cough vaccine and heartworm testing for dogs over six months.
Adoption fee: $125.
Listed care includes RCCP vaccination and FIV/FeLV testing.
Given dewormer and flea/tick preventative.
Spay/neuter is included and mandatory.
Special adoption events may temporarily change pricing.
Verify current promotions before publishing a temporary fee.
Before paying any Kenton County adoption fee
- Confirm the animal is still available online or by phone.
- Ask whether a temporary adoption special is active.
- Ask for the exact vaccine, testing, deworming, flea/tick and surgery record for that animal.
- Ask whether the animal has behavior, medical or home-placement notes.
- Budget for food, routine veterinary care, licensing, supplies and emergency expenses after adoption.
How to View Kenton County Adoptable Pets Online
Kenton County Animal Services links directly to an online ShelterBuddy search for animals available for adoption. The online site is updated regularly and is the best first stop when looking for a dog, puppy, cat or kitten currently available through the county shelter.
Online availability is not a hold. A pet may be adopted, moved, medically updated or become unavailable after you last checked. If you are serious about one animal, submit the application and call the shelter instead of assuming the web listing reserves it for you.
Official Adoption Search
Use Kenton County’s own ShelterBuddy pet search before relying on copied listings elsewhere.
Official inventory firstApplication Is Not a Hold
After submitting, call the Adoption Center if you want a specific animal.
Act quicklyKenton County Lost Pets, Found Pet Search and Holding Time Rules
If your pet is missing, use the official Kenton County found-pet search, call the shelter, update your microchip and search repeatedly. Kenton County’s online lost/found tools are separate from general social media posts and should be checked first when your dog or cat may have reached the shelter.
Holding time matters. Stray dogs with no visible identification are held for at least five business days before being rehomed unless reclaimed by the owner. If a dog or cat arrives with identification such as a microchip or license, Animal Services attempts to contact the registered owner, and the owner has 72 hours after receiving notice of impoundment to reclaim the animal before it may be placed for adoption.
859-356-7400
Use for lost pet, found pet, reclaim and shelter questions.
Use the official found-pet search when your own animal is missing.
Stray dogs with no visible identification are held at least five business days before rehoming.
Owners have 72 hours after notice of impoundment to reclaim identified animals before adoption placement may begin.
Lost pet steps that actually help
- Call Kenton County Animal Services at 859-356-7400.
- Search the official found-pet portal daily.
- Update microchip and license contact information immediately.
- Check local neighborhood groups and nearby shelters.
- Prepare proof of ownership before visiting.
- Do not wait, especially if your dog has no visible identification.
Found a Pet in Kenton County? Use the Official Lost Pet Search Route
If you found a dog or cat, do not assume the animal has no owner. Check for tags if safe, ask about a microchip scan, report the animal, and use the official lost-pet search route to see whether an owner has already posted a missing animal report.
Kenton County’s online lost and found tools are designed to help match lost and found animals. A pet with a collar, license, microchip or other sign of ownership may have an owner actively searching. The fastest reunion often comes from using the official tools and calling the shelter, not only posting on social media.
Use the official lost-pet search when you have found an animal and want to check owner reports.
Look for a collar, tag, license or other identification if the animal can be handled safely.
859-356-7400
Use for official guidance when you find a pet in Kenton County.
Do not handle aggressive, injured, trapped or frightened animals yourself. Use Animal Control or emergency routing.
Kenton County Animal Control and After-Hours Emergency Contact
Kenton County Animal Services has two main divisions: animal sheltering and animal control. For regular animal control contact, call Kenton County Animal Services directly at 859-356-7400.
For an animal-related emergency or to contact an Animal Control Officer during non-work hours, call the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center at 859-356-3191. This difference matters because a shelter adoption question and an after-hours animal emergency do not belong on the same response path.
859-356-7400
Use for animal control questions during normal service routing.
859-356-3191
Use for animal-related emergencies or non-work-hour contact with an Animal Control Officer.
Sheltering, animal control, public safety, abuse/neglect concerns and responsible ownership resources.
Use emergency routing for immediate danger, serious injury, aggressive animal events or urgent animal-related threats.
How to Reclaim an Impounded Pet From Kenton County Animal Services
Kenton County publishes a clear reclaim fee schedule. The first impound is $30, the second impound within 12 months is $55, the third impound within 12 months is $85, and four or more impounds within 12 months are $85 plus a citation. Board begins on day two at $10 per day. Emergency medical is listed at $45, after-hours call at $50, and a rabies vaccination voucher at $10.
All animals owned by Kenton County residents must leave the shelter with a current county license. That means reclaim is not only about paying the impound amount; owners should also be ready to satisfy licensing and rabies requirements.
$30
$55 within 12 months.
$85 within 12 months.
$85 plus citation within 12 months.
$10 per day starting on day two.
Emergency medical $45, after-hours call $50, rabies vaccination voucher $10.
Kenton County Dog and Cat Licensing Rules, Renewal Date and Fees
All dogs and cats in Kenton County are required by ordinance to be licensed each year. Pet license renewals are due before March 1, and proof of current rabies vaccination is required to obtain a license. License tags are mailed to the pet owner.
Licensing is not just bureaucracy. It confirms rabies compliance, helps support shelter and animal control services, and gives owners a way to list contact information if a pet is found loose in the community.
$20 for a dog or cat.
$10 for a dog or cat.
$10 for a dog or cat.
$10 new license and $5 yearly renewal.
$50 annual license.
$5 after March 31.
Kenton County Pet Surrender Appointments and Required Questionnaires
To surrender a pet, Kenton County requires an appointment. Owners must call the shelter during business hours at 859-356-7400 and speak with a staff member. A dog or cat behavior questionnaire must be completed before the appointment.
The official page also states that the owner must be a Kenton County resident for the shelter to schedule a surrender appointment. Animals legally surrendered by their owners have no set holding time and become property of Kenton County as soon as they are signed over.
Call 859-356-7400 during business hours before bringing a pet.
Complete the official dog or cat behavior questionnaire before the appointment.
You must be a Kenton County resident for a surrender appointment to be scheduled.
Owner-surrendered animals become county property when signed over and do not have a fixed holding period.
Kenton County Microchipping and Why It Matters for Lost Pets
Kenton County uses Home Again microchip technology. The official microchipping page states that, at this time, KCAS can only provide microchipping for animals adopted from Kenton County Animal Services.
For adopted pets, microchipping provides permanent identification and entry into the Home Again national database. The first year includes additional Home Again services, while ongoing additional services may require a membership after that first year.
Animals adopted from KCAS.
Home Again microchips with permanent identification.
The pet remains in the Home Again national database through its life.
Keep phone, email and address details current after adoption.
Kenton County Animal Services vs Private Rescues, Old Listings and Community Cat Help
The search phrase “kenton county animal shelter” can lead to the official county shelter, outdated adoption directories, private rescues, Facebook groups, lost-pet platforms, Best Friends partner pages and older hours from before the 2025 schedule change. These are not interchangeable.
Kenton County Animal Services at 1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, KY 41017.
Private rescues, third-party adoption directories, social posts or outdated older listings.
Kenton County also operates a Community Cat Program and does not treat all outdoor cats as ordinary shelter intake cases.
Confirm official domain, current hours, phone number and animal listing before visiting, reporting, reclaiming or paying fees.
Official Kenton County Animal Shelter, Adoption and Pet Service Links
Use these official resources first. This protects users from old hours, copied pet listings, expired fee specials, wrong reclaim assumptions and third-party pages that do not control Kenton County Animal Services operations.
🏠 Animal Services
Main Kenton County Animal Services page for shelter, mission, contact, hours and animal control routing.
Open Animal Services🐾 Adopt a Pet
Official adoption fees, included care and adoption application guidance.
Open Adopt a Pet🔎 Adoptable Pets
Official ShelterBuddy search for animals currently available for adoption.
View Adoptable Pets📍 Found Pets Search
Official search route for owners looking for pets that have been found.
Open Found Pets🔎 Lost Pets Search
Official search route for people who found a pet and want to check lost reports.
Open Lost Pets🚨 Animal Control
Official animal control page with regular phone and after-hours emergency routing.
Open Animal Control🏷️ Reclaim or Surrender
Official holding times, reclaim fees, board charges and surrender appointment rules.
Open Reclaim Page📄 Pet Licensing
Official annual license requirements, fees, rabies proof and renewal deadline.
Open Licensing Page🏷️ Microchipping
Official Home Again microchip information for animals adopted from KCAS.
Open MicrochippingPhone, address and contact details
1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, KY 41017
859-356-7400
Use for shelter, adoption, animal control, reclaim and surrender help.
859-356-3191
Use the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center for urgent non-work-hour animal-control needs.
Tue–Fri: Noon to 6 p.m.
Sat–Sun: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kenton County Animal Shelter Map and Visit Location
Kenton County Animal Services is located at 1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, KY 41017. Use this location for adoption visits, lost/found support, pet reclaim, licensing questions, surrender appointments and official county animal shelter services.
Kenton County Animal Services
Address: 1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, KY 41017
Kenton County Animal Shelter FAQs
What are Kenton County Animal Shelter adoption hours in 2026?
Kenton County Animal Services is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shelter is no longer open to the public on Mondays.
Where is Kenton County Animal Services located?
Kenton County Animal Services is located at 1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, KY 41017.
What is the Kenton County Animal Shelter phone number?
The main Kenton County Animal Services phone number is 859-356-7400.
How much are Kenton County Animal Shelter adoption fees?
The official adoption page lists $125 for dogs and puppies and $125 for cats and kittens. Temporary adoption specials may happen, so verify current promotions before visiting.
What is included with a Kenton County pet adoption?
Every adoption includes mandatory spay or neuter. Dogs receive listed immunizations and dogs over six months are heartworm tested. Cats receive listed immunizations and are tested for FIV and FeLV. All animals receive dewormer and flea/tick preventative.
Does the adoption application place a hold on a Kenton County pet?
No. The official adoption application says submitting it does not place any hold on the pet. After applying, call the Adoption Center at 859-356-7400 or visit during business hours.
What should I do if my pet is lost in Kenton County?
Call 859-356-7400, search the official found-pet portal, update microchip and license records, and act quickly. Stray dogs without visible ID are held at least five business days before rehoming unless reclaimed.
How long are stray dogs held at Kenton County Animal Services?
Stray dogs with no visible form of identification are held for at least five business days before being rehomed, unless reclaimed by their owner.
How do I reclaim an impounded pet from Kenton County Animal Services?
Call the shelter, prepare proof of ownership, and review the official fee schedule. The first impound fee is $30, board begins on day two at $10 per day, and all animals owned by Kenton County residents must leave with a current county license.
Do dogs and cats need licenses in Kenton County?
Yes. All dogs and cats in Kenton County must be licensed each year. Renewals are due before March 1, and proof of current rabies vaccination is required.
Can I surrender a pet to Kenton County Animal Services?
Yes, but surrender is by appointment only. Call 859-356-7400 during business hours, complete the required dog or cat behavior questionnaire, and note that you must be a Kenton County resident to schedule a surrender appointment.
Who do I call for an animal emergency after hours in Kenton County?
For animal-related emergencies or to contact an Animal Control Officer during non-work hours, call the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center at 859-356-3191.
Best Way to Use Kenton County Animal Services in 2026
The best path is simple: use the official Kenton County Animal Services website first, check the current public hours, view adoptable pets through the official online search, call 859-356-7400 after submitting an adoption application, and use the correct official route for lost pets, found pets, reclaim, licensing, surrender appointments and animal control emergencies.
For the focus keyword kenton county animal shelter, this guide covers the full user intent: adoption hours, address, phone number, adoptable pets, adoption application, fees, included care, lost pets, found pets, holding times, reclaim fees, pet licensing, surrender rules, microchipping, animal control, map and official links. That is the difference between a useful county shelter page and a thin article that only repeats an address.
Important Notice: This article is an independent informational guide and is not Kenton County Government, Kenton County Animal Services, an animal control agency, a veterinarian, law enforcement, or a legal authority. Adoption availability, adoption fees, shelter hours, found/lost listings, holding times, reclaim fees, licensing fees, surrender appointments, animal control response, emergency routing and shelter operations can change. Always verify urgent or official matters directly with Kenton County Animal Services, emergency communications, or the appropriate official agency before acting.