Q. How much do I have to pay to reclaim my animal?
A. An impound fee ($20 one-time fee, per animal) and kennel fee ($5 per day, per animal) apply for any animal reclaimed by its owner. Animal Care & Control accepts cash and major credit cards. Personal checks are not accepted as payment.
Q. Why do I have to have my animal microchipped?
A. All animals in Marion County must have permanent identification at all times (Section 531-202) and serves as proof of ownership when you attempt to claim your animal.
Identification includes the following items:
- An identification tag with the owner's name address and phone number(s). NOTE: Vet tags and pet name tags do not satisfy this requirement.
- A microchip implanted under its skin
Q. What do I need to bring to the Animal Care and Control Division to reclaim my pet?
A. Your identification, proof of pet ownership, proof of current rabies vaccination for your pet, and cash to pay all fees.
Q. Where is Indianapolis Animal Care & Control located?
A. Indianapolis Animal Care & Control is located at 2600 S. Harding St. just 5 minutes from downtown Indianapolis, midway between downtown and Interstate 465 on the south. Animal Care & Control provides lost and found information, pet adoptions, animal safety presentations and volunteer opportunities. Click here for directions.
Q. How can I help Indianapolis Animal Care & Control?
A. Consider A Donation
Become A Volunteer
Q. Where can I get my pet spayed or neutered at a lower cost?
A. According to the Humane Society of Indianapolis, in six years, one female dog and her offspring can be the source of 67,000 puppies and in just seven years, one female cat and her young can produce 420,000 kittens. Be a responsible pet owner and have your pet spayed or neutered.
Indianapolis Animal Care & Control can provide the names and phone numbers of low-cost spay/neuter throughout Marion County. To obtain this information please contact us at 317.327.1397.
Q. My pet is missing, what should I do?
A. The first thing to do, after thoroughly searching your own neighborhood, is to stop by Animal Care & Control to report the lost pet, view the strays and check through found reports. You can visit us as often as you wish but you should stop in at least every couple of days to make sure the animal has not been brought in. Descriptions of the same animal can vary from one person to the next; so don't rely on a phone call to identify your pet. And, remember, the more effort you make, the greater the chance of finding your pet.
Q. I found a dog or cat that no identification tags. Can you help me find its owner?
A. First take the animal to any veterinarian or shelter to determine if the pet has a microchip. If the pet does have a chip, the vet or shelter will call the owner(s) on your behalf and let them know how to retrieve their pet.
If the pet does not have a chip, we suggest you make found flyers and post them in and around your neighborhood as well as at your local animal shelter(s). If you are unable to house the pet, you can bring it to your local animal shelter.
Q. Can I adopt a pet from Animal Care & Control?
A. Absolutely! The Indianapolis Animal Care & Control Division has a wide selection of healthy pets available and ready to be placed in a loving home. Please visit Indianapolis Animal Care & Control or visit Pets Available for Adoption to view available animals.
The fee to adopt your new pet is $60, which includes spay/neuter procedure, first round of booster vaccinations and a microchip. All pets are spayed or neutered at local veterinary clinics and new owners can pick up their new pet following the surgery from the veterinarian's office.
Q. What if I can no longer take care of my pet, can I surrender my pet to Animal Care & Control?
A. Yes you can, but it is important to note that not all animals surrendered can be held for adoption due to the number of animals brought to the shelter and space limitations. Animals that display or have displayed aggression, destruction, or fear-biting may be euthanized. The shelter can and may euthanize the animal on the day it is surrendered depending on the circumstances.
For these reasons, it is important for the owner to make every attempt on finding the pet a new home and to seriously consider alternatives other than surrendering an animal to Indianapolis Animal Care & Control.
Q. How do I report animals that are stray or abandoned, sick or injured, not receiving proper care, aggressive or dangerous, attacking or biting, or barking?
A. If you live within Marion County, please call the Mayor's Action Center at 317.327.4622, 7:30am-5:30pm, Monday through Friday for service requests or information.
For after hour emergencies including sick/injured animals, dangerous and aggressive animals and animal attacks in progress, please call 317.327.3811.
To report nuisance wildlife please call the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at 317.232.4010.
Q. What are the hours of operation for Indianapolis Animal Care & Control?
A. The shelter is open Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm with extended hours on Wednesday until 7pm and Saturday from 10am-4pm. The shelter is closed on Sundays and holidays.
