BARC is the City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Facility. BARC is the only city shelter in Houston required by law to accept every animal that comes through our doors regardless of breed, temperament, health conditions, and circumstance (from owner surrender, stray pickup, rescued or confiscated animals). We have built a best-in-class team that stewards our mission of professionalism, responsibility, compassion, commitment, integrity, and accountability. BARC is dedicated to pet adoption and a live release initiative. In addition to sheltering and providing veterinary care to all animals brought to the shelter, we work diligently to place these animals in new homes. We collaborate and coordinate with our Houston Pet Rescue groups and through social media networks to cast the widest possible adoption net. We also provide intensive neo-natal and adult pet fostering programs, along with hands-on volunteer training classes and continuous workshops. Our mission is to promote and protect public health and animal care through sheltering, pet placement programs, pet ownership education and animal law enforcement. We are dedicated to the humane, efficient, high quality care of animals in our shelter. We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership through spaying/neutering, microchipping, vaccinations, and training class services. Campaigns and programs to educate and raise community awareness about these services are ongoing. Houston has the largest urban land area in the U.S. Its size and unique characteristics create challenging circumstances in regards to animal population and control. In addition to a year-long breeding season that steadily increases the area’s animal population, our semi-tropical climate serves as an incubator for fleas, ticks and other parasites harmful to animals. Houston is an urban metropolis, but it is also home to various species of wild animals and reptiles including coyotes, bobcats, bats, raccoons, opossums, skunks, foxes, snakes and even alligators. Because of this, rabies outbreaks are a special concern. A rabies vaccination is required to license your pet, and a pet license is mandatory in Houston. BARC serves as the licensing facility. We work hard to educate the public about rabies prevention and about co-existing with our extensive wildlife population.
1. Start the process by planning your visit to BARC! 2. Once you arrive to BARC you will be handed a map with additional information. If you already have a pet in mind that you would like to meet, please see staff to direct you to where the pet is housed. 3. When you find an animal you’d like to meet, please ask a team member for assistance so you can interact with the pet. Please do not open kennels without supervision. 4. Spend some time with the pet you may be adopting. BARC team members are happy to answer questions you may have or provide you with details (if available) on the pet you are considering. 5. Once you have made a decision on a pet you would like to join your family, please alert a team member to assist you. 6. Return to the Adoption Lobby to complete the adoption process. Please scan the QR code on the table to fill out the adoption application. Have a seat and our Customer Service team will notify you if you must speak to our Medical team or Adoption Coordinators prior to completing the adoption. 7. Your adoption application will be reviewed and our team will let you know if the pet is able to leave the same day.
Houston TX | 2.1 miles away
The mission of ABARS is to find homes for unwanted Bullmastiffs that come from shelters or are owner surrenders from people whose lifestyle or financial situation has changed. Occasionally ABARS will get Bullmastiffs that have been abandoned at a local veterinarian’s office or from a good citizen that has found the dog and exhausted all means to locate the dog’s owner. ABARS is not a placement
Houston TX | 2.5 miles away
The Houston Area Doberman Rescue, Inc. (HADR) is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation and has no paid employees; donations made to HADR may therefore be tax deductible - please consult your tax advisor. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and place Doberman Pinschers in responsible and caring homes in addition to providing a resource for public education on the breed and responsible dog ownership. We
Houston TX 77094 | 2.7 miles away
Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue is a non-profit organization founded in 1999, staffed solely by volunteers, devoted to providing rescue and necessary veterinary medical care for unwanted, neglected, abused, homeless and displaced Golden Retrievers in Houston, Texas and the surrounding area. We strive to place our Goldens in adoptive homes. In our first fifteen years, GBGRR has rescued mo
Houston TX | 2.7 miles away
Brave Bully Rescue is a 501(3) non-profit, foster-based Pit Bull Rescue in Houston, Texas. We are a rescue group comprised of members who love bully breeds and have made the choice to educate and advocate for this misunderstood breed. We will fight for their lives and show the world this magnificent breed that has been tarnished by dog fighters, criminals and negative media. Brave Bully Rescue beg
Houston TX | 2.7 miles away
Texas Alaskan Malamute Rescue Association is a 501(c)3 charity and nonprofit breed assistance, rescue, rehabilitation, adoption, and education organization. We provide state and local welfare assistance for Alaskan Malamutes and their owners. TAMR receives no government funding and relies solely on private donations, public support, and our special events proceeds to help rescued Malamutes, compan
Houston TX 77242 | 2.7 miles away
We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) rescue organization specializing in the rescue of Cocker Spaniels. We are not a shelter. Our rescue process involves finding loving foster homes for all the dogs in our program until their forever home can be found. As you can imagine, we are in constant need of volunteers, foster homes and funding. Any help given in any of these vital areas is greatly appreciated and
Houston TX | 3.1 miles away
Houston Homeless Pet Project ("HHPP") is a core group of dedicated dog rescue volunteers who, between us, have over 50 years of experience in rescue in the Houston metro area. We are the rescue of last resort for those good Samaritans who find homeless dogs and are just trying to help. We are also the rescue of last resort for those hopeless animals that find themselves out of time at lo
Houston TX 77002 | 3.1 miles away
REDCOLLAR RESCUE is an all-volunteer, 501 (c) (3), non-profit animal welfare organization located in Houston, TX. We are dedicated to rescuing and providing medical care, foster care, training and adoptive placement to animals who have been abandoned to die in high-kill shelters or on the streets. REDCOLLAR RESCUE does not discriminate based upon breed, age or health of the animal. We assume full
Houston TX 77008 | 3.4 miles away
At Friends For Life, every animal matters. Founded in 2002, Friends For Life introduced the no-kill shelter model to Houston - saving animals regardless of their breed, age or condition. Houston-grown, we’re here to help our neighbors care for the pets they love. We’re not finished until every animal has a safe home. Until then, we’ll be innovating, improving and tracking results to find the
Houston TX 77208 | 3.6 miles away
Greater Houston German Shepherd Dog Rescue (GHGSDR) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are a breed-specific group dedicated to the rescue of German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs); and do not knowingly accept mixed-breed dogs into our program. Our GSDs are obtained from public shelters where they are scheduled to be euthanized or they are given to us directly by their owners. All dogs receive the neces
Houston TX | 3.7 miles away
Pup Squad was founded in 2008 by four former volunteers from BARC, the City of Houston Animal Control facility. One of the most distressing things about volunteering at BARC was seeing the plight of the puppies and mother dogs. Boxes of puppies would be brought to the shelter because their owners didn’t have the time or resources to care for them or find them homes. Moms with litters would be pi
Houston TX 77277 | 4 miles away
Homeless & Orphaned Pets Endeavor (HOPE) is a coalition of animal advocates dedicated to ending the homelessness of cats and dogs in the greater Houston area through foster to adoption, feral cat Trap-Neuter-Return, and education.
Houston TX 77019 | 4.1 miles away
Scout's Honor rescues animals from city pounds, including animals from Houston's local animal shelters. Scout's Honor also takes in animals living on the streets. We do not limit our program to healthy animals or particular breeds, and we often save animals from abusive situations. Scout's Honor provides these beautiful creatures with a second chance to be placed in loving, per
Houston TX | 4.3 miles away
Kathy Wetmore, founder of Shaggy Dog Rescue, is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit animal welfare organization dedicated to providing rescue services, vet care, foster care, and adoptive placement to stray and abandoned shaggy dogs. All of our animals are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, and on heart-worm preventative. All animals in our program are fostered by individuals who keep the dog in th
Houston TX 77007 | 4.3 miles away
ADORE’s Mission: Provide emotional and physical care to animals whenever possible. Spay or neuter all rescued dogs and cats unless precluded for health reasons. Educate the public about the natures, needs and natural tendencies of rescues. Place rescues in appropriate homes after screening. Raise funds to meet our rescue’s needs. Respectfully come to the aid of other rescuers whenever possible
Connect, Seek Advice, Share Knowledge