Louisville Metro Animal Shelter, Control & Rescue 2026 Guide
Looking for a shelter dog, trying to bring a missing cat home, or worried about an animal on the street? Louisville Metro Animal Services (LMAS) is the municipal agency responsible for animal sheltering, animal-control requests and related pet services in Louisville Metro.
One detail can save you an unnecessary trip: adoptions and animal intake use separate buildings on Newburg Road. Animal House at 3516 Newburg Road is the adoption destination; the animal-care shelter at 3528 Newburg Road handles intake, lost/found and other shelter services.
Louisville Metro Animal Shelter Hours and Locations
The official pages are not fully synchronized. The dedicated Animal House page lists Tuesday–Sunday with Wednesday evening hours, while other city pages still display daily hours with an extended Friday. For a Monday visit or visit after 6 PM, call first.
Animal House Adoption Center
3516 Newburg Road
Louisville, KY 40218
The dedicated facility page publishes Tuesday–Sunday, noon–6 PM, Wednesday until 7 PM, and closure on Mondays and holidays.
Do not bring owner surrenders or intake animals here.
Read the dedicated Animal House hours page.LMAS Animal Care Complex
3528 Newburg Road
Louisville, KY 40218
Official shelter hours: Monday–Saturday, noon–6 PM. Closed Sundays and some holidays.
This is where the city says pets must be physically registered to start the Kentucky stray holding period.
Check the city shelter information.Adopt a Dog or Cat From Louisville Metro Animal Services
You can generally meet available shelter pets through same-day walk-in adoption. An animal living with a foster family may need a separate meet-and-greet. If you have children, other pets or apartment restrictions, talk about those needs early. Finding a good match matters much more than bringing home the first adorable face you see.
Browse current adoptable pets
Open the official LMAS Adopt a Pet page and select its current dogs or cats listing.
Complete the adoption survey
Use the city’s online pet application or complete the survey in person at Animal House. Submitting online does not itself guarantee adoption approval.
Visit Animal House
Go to 3516 Newburg Road. Enter through the front double doors and speak with a front-desk adoption coordinator. The city says Fridays after 3 PM and weekends can be especially busy.
Meet the pet
An adoption counselor reviews the animal’s background and brings the pet for a meeting. If the pet is in foster, arrange an appointment rather than expecting it to be on-site.
Bring identification and transport supplies
LMAS asks adopters to bring a valid driver’s license. Prepare a leash, collar or secure pet carrier suitable for the animal.
Confirm the adoption and license
Review the pet’s medical information, final payment or donation, applicable Jefferson County license requirements and follow-up care instructions before leaving.
Louisville Metro Animal Services Adoption Fees in 2026
Louisville’s donation-supported Pay It Forward program helps certain pets find homes without a standard adoption charge. The current official pages show a modest inconsistency for puppies and small dogs, so the amounts below distinguish the main pet-adoption page from the program overview.
Adult large dogs
Free*Pay It Forward covers dogs weighing 40 pounds or more. Applicable pet licensing is separate for Jefferson County residents.
Adult cats
Free*Pay It Forward covers cats six months or older, subject to approval and applicable license requirements.
Dogs 39 lb or less
$150Current main adoption page lists a $150 fee; Pay It Forward also describes a $150 minimum donation for small dogs.
Young kittens
$100Main adoption page lists $100; specials or shelter discretion may affect the final charge.
Young puppies
ConfirmThe Pay It Forward overview lists a $100 minimum for puppies, while other adoption information groups puppies with higher-cost small dogs. Confirm the specific animal’s price.
Adoption medical care
IncludedLMAS lists spay/neuter, microchip and age-appropriate vaccinations with every adoption.
Can You Reserve a Louisville Shelter Pet?
LMAS offers a particular reservation process for an animal that is still on stray hold. This is different from reserving any pet online.
$50 in-person stray-hold reservation
The official adoption page says that someone interested in a pet currently under stray hold may place a $50 non-refundable reservation in person, first come, first served.
If the owner reclaims the animal, the deposit can be applied toward another adoption for up to 12 months, according to the city policy. A reservation cannot override the original owner’s right to reclaim a pet during its lawful hold.
Emergency and Important Louisville Animal Contacts
These numbers cover different services. In particular, Metro311 is not an after-hours emergency dispatch line, and 911 should not be used for ordinary adoption questions.
Main LMAS number. Animal Control dispatchers accept requests 7:30 AM–10:30 PM, seven days a week. If a dispatcher does not answer, leave an accurate message.
The city’s official Animal Control service request page directs after-hours emergencies to 911. Use only for genuinely urgent incidents that require emergency response.
Metro311 accepts non-emergency city service requests. Within Louisville, 311 can also be dialed for city service assistance.
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness publishes this contact for dog, cat and ferret bite reporting and rabies-control inquiries.
Lost a Pet in Louisville? Start at 3528 Newburg Road
Searching for a missing dog or cat can be frightening. The city’s instructions emphasize that owners should not rely on online photos alone. Go to the shelter and continue checking while the search is active.
Go to the correct building
For missing pets, go to LMAS Shelter, 3528 Newburg Road, during shelter public hours. Do not begin at the Animal House adoption building.
Search current found-pet records
Open the official Louisville lost-and-found page and select the found-pet listings in intake-date order.
Notify your microchip provider
Mark your pet missing and confirm that your telephone number is up to date. Ask staff about the information they require to establish ownership.
Keep searching
Post flyers around the last-seen location and return to check as necessary. Not every animal arrives at the shelter immediately, and pictures may not make identification certain.
Ask about holding periods and reclaim fees
In most cases, the city’s ordinary stray hold is five days from arrival. Some community cats without signs of ownership are handled differently, so call promptly if the pet is yours.
Found a Stray Animal in Louisville?
If the animal is safely contained
- Check for visible tags without putting yourself at risk.
- Call LMAS at 502-473-7387 or use the city Report a Stray Animal page.
- Describe the animal, its condition and exact location.
- Follow Animal Control instructions for pickup or in-person shelter registration.
If the animal needs urgent help
- Do not handle an aggressive, severely injured or unknown-risk animal.
- Report exact location and any immediate public-safety danger.
- For ordinary field response, contact LMAS dispatch during its published hours.
- For an actual after-hours emergency, follow the official 911 routing.
LMAS says physically registering a pet at 3528 Newburg Road begins the ordinary Kentucky stray hold. Its official service-request guidance also says people may bring strays to the shelter during open hours; avoid taking them to Animal House at 3516 Newburg Road.
Louisville Animal Control: What Officers Respond To
Animal Control service requests are handled based on the location and nature of the incident. LMAS asks for an animal description, exact address, a clear account of the problem and contact information that allows officers to investigate.
Animal cruelty and neglect
Reports involving abandonment, inhumane treatment, inadequate food, water, shelter or veterinary attention.
Stray or confined animals
Loose animals and animals contained in a home or yard. Pickup timing depends on other higher-priority calls.
Bites and quarantine
Animal bite incidents and appropriate rabies observation or investigation processes.
Chaining and nuisance complaints
Reports of potential violations of Louisville’s animal care and control ordinance.
Possible dangerous animal
Provide accurate behavior details. Immediate threats to people may require emergency response.
Community support
LMAS also provides animal licensing, reuniting lost pets with owners and public animal-welfare information.
To file a report, open the city’s Animal Control request instructions, or call 502-473-7387. The city notes that anonymous complaints are possible, but an investigation may be harder if the reporting person cannot provide detailed evidence or speak to an officer.
Animal Bites and Rabies Reporting in Jefferson County
After a bite or possible rabies exposure, personal medical care comes first. The health department also needs an accurate report so it can determine the animal’s vaccination status, observation requirements and any public-health follow-up.
- Seek appropriate medical care. Tell the clinician the type of animal, location of the injury and circumstances of exposure.
- Document the animal. Note its description, owner details if known, location and whether it was a stray or wild animal.
- Contact Louisville public health. The current official rabies-control guidance directs dog, cat and ferret bite reports to 502-574-6650.
- Follow quarantine or observation instructions. The health department may direct how a pet is observed and where quarantine takes place.
- Do not guess that vaccination status removes all risk. Let the clinician and health department assess the exposure.
Need to Surrender Your Pet? Appointment Required
Having to give up an animal can be a deeply difficult choice, especially after a change in housing, finances or health. Louisville Metro says it does not accept owner surrenders without an appointment and that available space determines whether intake can be scheduled.
Check owner-support and rehoming options
Read the city’s Pet Resources page first. It lists pet-food and alternative rehoming resources.
Complete the Pet History form
Use the appropriate dog, cat or other-pet history form linked on the same city page. Include honest medical and behavior information.
Wait for space and an appointment
LMAS states it will contact the owner if it has room. Submitting a form does not guarantee immediate intake.
Bring records to the scheduled intake
Bring veterinary records and other information staff request, then discuss legal transfer and any special needs.
Owner-surrender dog charge
$45Published dog impoundment charge; additional costs may apply in some circumstances.
Owner-surrender cat charge
$35Published cat impoundment charge; the city warns behavior or medical factors can affect the final total.
Louisville Pet Licensing: Fees and Application Steps
Louisville requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be licensed. Licensing also helps shelter workers locate an owner when a pet is found. LMAS uses DocuPet for its online licensing program.
| License category | Official listed price | Key eligibility note |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime license | $25 | Spay/neuter, microchip and current rabies vaccination required. |
| Senior lifetime license | $12.50 | Senior discount for qualifying altered pets; limits apply. |
| Altered pet — 1 year | $10 | Spayed or neutered pet. |
| Altered pet — 3 years | $27 | Spayed or neutered pet. |
| Unaltered pet — 1 year | $120 | Not spayed or neutered. |
- Open the official License Your Pet page.
- Choose the linked DocuPet online application, or use the in-person/mail method.
- Prepare proof of current rabies vaccination and spay/neuter/microchip status if requesting a discounted or lifetime category.
- Review the exact fee and submit payment using the official process.
- Keep your pet’s identification and contact details current.
Veterinary Team, Shelter Medical Care and Appointment Limits
Louisville Metro Animal Services has a veterinary services team that supports animal welfare and shelter operations. Its official About Us page lists named veterinary professionals; however, those listings do not establish a public emergency hospital, independent veterinary appointments or guaranteed examination fees for privately owned pets.
Dr. Katherine Spaulding
Listed by the city as Assistant Director of Veterinary Services.
Dr. Kimberly Siegwald
Listed on the current city LMAS leadership and staff roster.
Dr. Stephanie Siegwald
Also listed as a staff veterinarian on the official roster.
Foster, Rescue and Volunteer With LMAS
You do not have to adopt permanently to help. A short foster placement may give a frightened dog time to rest or help a litter of kittens grow until they are old enough to be adopted. LMAS says foster commitments can range from a few days to several months.
Become a foster
Start at the official Foster Care page, read its requirements and complete the online form. LMAS says foster applicants must live within an hour of the Newburg Road shelter and have regular email access.
Volunteer at the shelter
Read the LMAS volunteer information and apply using its official process. Tasks may include enrichment, animal support and other projects; age restrictions apply.
Support rescue placements
LMAS foster and rescue work includes special-needs animals, recovery after surgery, and animals awaiting placement. Ask the agency about current needs rather than assuming every animal is available for direct rescue transfer.
Maps and Directions: Two Newburg Road Entrances
Animal House Adoption Center
3516 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218 — regular public pet adoption.
LMAS Animal Care Complex
3528 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218 — lost/found pets, shelter intake and licensing routes.
Official Louisville Metro Animal Services Resources
The core directions are already explained above. These official pages are the next stop for current forms, live pet listings, exact fees and policy changes.
Louisville Metro Animal Shelter FAQ — 2026
1. Where do I adopt a pet from Louisville Metro Animal Services?
Visit Animal House Adoption Center at 3516 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218. The separate shelter at 3528 Newburg Road is used for intake, lost/found pets and other shelter operations.
2. What is the Louisville Metro Animal Services phone number?
The main LMAS contact is 502-473-7387, also known as 502-473-PETS.
3. What are Animal House adoption hours?
The dedicated Animal House page lists Tuesday–Sunday from noon–6 PM with Wednesday until 7 PM and closure on Monday and holidays. Other official city pages list different Monday and Friday hours, so confirm unusual visit times directly.
4. How much does it cost to adopt a dog or cat?
LMAS offers Pay It Forward fee-waived adoption for adult dogs at least 40 pounds and cats six months or older. The current adoption page lists $150 for dogs 39 pounds or less and $100 for kittens. Puppy information varies between official pages, so confirm the final price. Jefferson County licensing charges may apply separately.
5. Can I reserve a dog that is still on stray hold?
The city says a pet on stray hold may be reserved in person for a $50 non-refundable fee, first come, first served. Owner reclaim takes priority. If the pet is reclaimed, the deposit can be used toward another animal for up to 12 months.
6. Where do I look for a lost pet in Louisville?
Go to the LMAS shelter at 3528 Newburg Road, check the official found-pet records and notify your microchip company. In most cases the city’s ordinary stray holding period is five days from the pet’s arrival.
7. How do I contact Animal Control after hours?
Animal Control dispatch accepts service requests from 7:30 AM–10:30 PM daily at 502-473-7387. Its official instructions direct after-hours emergencies to 911.
8. Does LMAS accept owner surrenders without an appointment?
No. LMAS says owner surrenders are appointment-only and space-dependent. Submit the appropriate Pet History form. Published charges include $45 for dog surrender and $35 for cat surrender, with possible additional costs.
9. Does Louisville Metro Animal Services have veterinarians?
Yes. The city’s current staff roster lists Dr. Katherine Spaulding as Assistant Director of Veterinary Services and Dr. Kimberly Siegwald and Dr. Stephanie Siegwald as staff veterinarians. It does not establish general-public clinic appointment availability for those named doctors.
10. How do I apply to foster a shelter animal?
Open Louisville Metro’s official Foster Care page, review the program requirements and submit its online application. The city asks applicants to live within an hour of the Newburg Road shelter and maintain regular email access.
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.