The Bureau of Animal Regulation
and Care (BARC) encourages the adoption of shelter animals by
responsible and qualified persons. All persons wishing to adopt
an animal must complete an application for adoption and be interviewed
by BARC staff.
The adoption fee for a dog or
cat is $55.00 and includes the cost of
the surgical sterilization of the animal, vaccinations,
and other necessary medical services while the animal has
been in the care of BARC. An animal may not be adopted from
BARC without surgical sterilization and a rabies vaccination.
The adoption fee also includes the first year’s city
license if the animal will reside in the City of Houston.
The annual renewal-processing fee for the adopted animal
is $2.00 each subsequent year.
Persons wishing to consider a
shelter animal for adoption should visit the BARC shelter at
3200 Carr Street, Houston, Texas 77026. Adoption hours are 11:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 12:00 noon to
4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Selected animals will be examined
by BARC’s veterinary staff for health status, temperament,
and other criteria that indicate whether the animal is suitable
for adoption. BARC only allows adoption of companion animals
and the decision regarding whether an animal is suitable for
adoption as a companion animal is solely in the discretion of
BARC. BARC’s decision in this matter is final in all cases.
An impounded animal may not be adopted until it has been in
the shelter for sufficient time to make it eligible for adoption.
Also, adoption of an animal shall be on a first-come, first-serve
basis. Click here for Animal
Holding and Redemption.
BARC
desires to reunite as many pets and owners as possible. BARC
posts pictures of impounded animals on its website to help facilitate
the search for lost pets. The posted pictures do not guarantee
that these animals are suitable for adoption. Due to retrieval
of animals by their owners or because of health reasons, some
animals may not be in the possession of BARC when a person visits
the shelter. Since many animals look alike, the only way a person
will know whether a pictured animal is the person’s pet
is through a personal visit to the shelter. BARC endeavors to
have a photograph of each animal in the shelter posted on its
website; however, BARC cannot guarantee that a picture of each
animal at the shelter will be posted.
