This is Where You Can Adopt Animals in the NYC Area

Thinking about adopting an animal this year? Once you've decided on what pet your family should get, head to one of these animal shelters in the New York metro area. Many of them are still open, though adoption processes may have changed and many locations are only open by appointment. These shelters in and near New York City offer dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, bunnies, guinea pigs, and more. So make an appointment, meet the animals, and welcome a new member of the family! As with all things during the coronavirus pandemic, please contact the location to ensure animal adoptions are available.

• Animal Shelters in Manhattan
• Animal Shelters in Brooklyn
• Animal Shelters in Queens
• Animal Shelters on Long Island
• Animal Shelters in Westchester County
• Animal Shelters in Rockland County
• Animal Shelters in Bergen County, NJ 

RELATED: Pet Stores in and Around NYC 

Animal Shelters in Manhattan 

Animal Care Centers of NYC
11 Park Place, Suite 805, Downtown Manhattan
212-788-4000
The Animal Care Centers of NYC strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations. Their field services division responds to calls from the public to help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, and they have facilities in all five boroughs.
What you need to know: ACC is open to the public by appointment; face masks and social distancing required 

Animal Haven Shelter
200 Centre St., Lower Manhattan
212-274-8511
Operating hours currently by appointment only; closed Mondays.
Animal Haven is a nonprofit organization that finds homes for abandoned cats and dogs throughout the tri-state area and provides behavior intervention when needed to improve chances of adoption. Founded in 1967, it also provides programs that enhance the bond between animals and people.
What you need to know: Animal Haven Shelter is currently processing applications remotely and cannot accommodate walk-in appointments; by appointment only.

ASPCA Adoption Center (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
424 E. 92nd St., Upper East Side
212-876-7700 x4120
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. The ASPCA’s mission is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”
What you need to know: Out of an abundance of caution related to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis across NYC, the ASPCA Adoption Center and Kitten Nursery are temporarily closed to the public. However, it is offering remote adoptions in the New York City area

Bideawee
410 E. 38th St., Murray Hill
844-568-3738
Located in Murray Hill, Bideawee has found loving homes for rescued animals since 1903. Bideawee’s mission is to be Greater New York’s leader in rescuing, caring for, and placing homeless cats and dogs with people who love them.
What you need to know: The adoption center is temporarily closed; once Bideawee’s matchmakers have helped you find the perfect pet, adoption requirements can be found here.

Bunnies and Beyond
1107 Broadway, #101, Flatiron
Monday-Friday, 6-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 2-5pm
Located at PetSmart in Flatiron, Bunnies and Beyond is an adoption and educational nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, proper care, and ultimately, the adoption of rabbits and guinea pigs commonly kept as pets. Its goal is to find permanent indoor homes for these animals that have been abandoned or surrendered to the NYC Animal Care Center, providing medical care and a foster home as needed prior to adoption.
What you need to know: All PetSmart rabbits have been temporarily relocated to foster homes until the outbreaks are over; adoptions are still available. 

City Critter
Located at Petco, 911 Second Ave., Turtle Bay
212-593-7213
Located at PetSmart, 632 Broadway, Noho
212-475-0893
City Critters has continuously served NYC's animals in need—through weather events, blackouts, the coronavirus pandemic, and more. It has created a contactless interview and application process, and it brings the cats to their new homes via curbside service, all the while adhering to thorough application review standards.
What you need to know: Due to the pandemic, City Critters representatives and volunteers are currently not showing animals for adoption at the usual locations and will not do so until public showings can be made truly safe for our volunteers and cats. The organization is successfully placing cats into loving homes and is always seeking to build its foster home network.

The Humane Society of New York
306 E. 59th St., Midtown East
212-752-4842
For over 100 years, the Humane Society of New York has cared for animals in need when illness, injury, or homelessness strikes. Today its hospital and Vladimir Horowitz and Wanda Toscanini Horowitz Adoption Center help more than 38,000 dogs and cats annually, and the numbers continue to grow.
What you need to know: The adoption department is currently closed to public; adoptions are by appointment only. 

Muddy Paws Rescue
You can visit animals at adoption events
646-598-7297
Muddy Paws Rescue is a New York City-based nonprofit organization working to save the lives of thousands of dogs in need through foster-based care, advocacy, and community outreach. 

Social Tees Animal Rescue
443 E. 9th St., East Village
212-614-9653
Social Tees Animal Rescue is a foster based nonprofit organization in the East Village that takes abandoned animals from shelters where they are at risk of euthanasia and provides them with safe haven and veterinary care before placing them in proper forever homes.
What you need to know: It does not have regular hours; adoptions are by appointment. Dogs and cats are not kept onsite; they all are in foster homes. Those interested can see who’s up for adoption here. More COVID-19 protocol can be found here.

2000 Spays and Neuters
Petco, at 92nd Street and Broadway, Upper West Side
2,000 Spays and Neuters is a nonprofit organization that was established to neuter, spay, vaccinate, provide emergency care and find homes for 2,000 stray dogs and cats.
What you need to know: It shows cats that are up for adoption on Sundays and Wednesdays, 3-6pm.

Animal Shelters in Brooklyn

A Tail at a Time
238 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn Heights
A Tail at a Time is a no-kill pet rescue organization committed to finding permanent loving homes for abandoned domestic animals in New York City.
What you need to know: Contact [email protected] to meet cats in foster homes.

AMA Animal Rescue
2815 Cropsey Ave., Bath Beach
347-448-5944
Angels for Mistreated Animals (AMA) is a foster-based animal rescue organization. The organization’s mission has always been to safeguard animals who have experienced the most severe cases of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. The organization’s long-term goal is to open a true no-kill animal sanctuary with high quality, in-house veterinary services as well as clean, spacious enclosures and outdoor space. 

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC)
2336 Linden Blvd., East New York
212-788-4000
Individuals from all over New York City come to Animal Care Centers each and every day for reasons as diverse as reclaiming lost pets, adopting new furry family members, or getting resources to help them keep their pets in homes.
What do you need to know: ACC is open to the public by appointment.

Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue
Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue is a nonprofit, all-breed dog rescue composed of a network of fosters and volunteers who work together to rescue sweet, loving, adoptable dogs from high kill, rural shelters in the southern U.S. and get them adopted into wonderful forever homes.
What you need to know: Email [email protected] for adoption inquiries.

Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC) Shelter
697 Grand St., #921, Williamsburg
718-486-7940
Adoption Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 12-4pm
BARC’s mission is to provide a safe haven for abandoned animals and to find permanent loving homes for them. The organization provides animals with quality food, shelter, medical attention, and the love they deserve.
What you need to know: Adoptions are by appointment only; no walk-ins or drop-ins.

Hearts & Bones Animal Rescue
Heart & Bones’ mission is to build a nationwide network of fosters, volunteers, rescue partners, and adopters in an effort to save the lives of shelter dogs in need and unite them with loving forever families. As a foster-based rescue, the organization is focused on providing all of its dogs with secure and loving foster homes while they wait for their forever families.
What you need to know: The rescue holds virtual adoption meetings. Contact [email protected] for adoption inquiries.

Animal Shelters in Queens

Bobbi and the Strays
80-36 Cooper Ave., Glendale
718-326-6070
Bobbi and the Strays, a nonprofit, no-kill organization, rescues and provides essential care for orphaned, stray, abused, and special needs cats and dogs. Through rehabilitation, socialization, and adoption, the organization provides a humane service to all animals that come into its care.
What you need to know: It’s temporarily closed to the general public until further notice. The adoption process has changed; to request an Adoption Application by emailing [email protected].

Loving Touch
Flushing
917-285-2126
Loving Touch is a nonprofit, all-volunteer rescue group based in Flushing. The organization’s mission is to help homeless animals find a better way of life and to help find new homes for pets that owner's can no longer keep.

Second Chance Rescue NYC
Whitestone
Second Chance Rescue NYC’s mission is to reduce animal overpopulation in shelters, rescue and rehabilitate critically injured and neglected animals, and connect the community to services that enable animals to remain in their homes.

Animal Shelters on Long Island

All About Pets Rescue
600 Middle Country Road, Selden
631-576-9178
All About Pets Rescue, Inc. began in 2017 with one ambition: to help rescue animals. This nonprofit volunteer organization rescues unwanted and abandoned animals, and prepares them for adoption.

Almost Home Animal Rescue and Adoption
646 Medford Ave., Patchogue
631-627-3665
Almost Home is comprised of many dedicated and compassionate volunteers with the common goal of rescuing and rehoming unwanted and abandoned animals from private homes and municipal shelters and placing them into loving and responsible homes.
What you need to know: Masks must be worn in the facility.

Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons
124 Daniels Hole Road, East Hampton
631-537-0400
The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons actively rescues cats and dogs, provides quality care, and offers sanctuary until loving homes can be found.
What you need to know: The ARF Adoption Center is open by appointment and is conducting adoptions by appointment only.

Bideawee Westhampton
118 Old Country Road, Westhampton
631-684-0079
The matchmakers at the Adoption Centers at Bideawee have been matching pets with people for more than 117 years! Every matchmaker knows the personalities and needs of each animal in its care. 

Brookhaven Animal Shelter
300 Horseblock Road, Brookhaven
631-451-6950
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm; Saturday, 10am-3:30pm; Sunday, 11am- 3:30pm
The Brookhaven Animal Shelter & Adoption Center staff is dedicated to helping the homeless pets in their township. The Animal Shelter and Adoption Center rely heavily on their community to help get their animals adopted.
What you need to know: Public access to the shelter is limited. 

Bobbi and the Strays
2 Rider Place, Freeport
516-378-4340
Bobbi and the Strays, a nonprofit, no-kill organization, rescues and provides essential care for orphaned, stray, abused, and special needs cats and dogs. Through rehabilitation, socialization, and adoption, the organization provides a humane service to all animals that come into our care.
What you need to know: It’s temporarily closed to general public until further notice. The adoption process has changed, so email [email protected] to request an Adoption Application if interested.