Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter

About

This municipal animal shelter operates as an open admission facility, accepting dogs and cats around the clock while providing comprehensive adoption services to Long Island residents. The facility handles animal control responses for stray and loose dogs as well as injured or sick cats throughout the community. All animals receive complete medical care including spaying or neutering, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, and behavioral evaluations before becoming available for adoption. The adoption process requires completed applications with personal and veterinary references, along with meet-and-greet sessions for all household members. Current pet owners must demonstrate proper veterinary care history and participate in supervised introductions between their existing pets and potential adoptees. The shelter maintains daily operating hours from 9 AM to 5 PM and offers significantly reduced adoption fees of $25, with fee waivers available for seniors, veterans, and other qualifying community members. Beyond basic adoption services, the facility provides foster programs, volunteer opportunities, and trap-neuter-return initiatives for community cats. Additional resources include microchipping services, humane education programs, and disaster preparedness guidance for pet owners. The shelter partners with online platforms to showcase available animals and maintains active lost-and-found assistance for reuniting pets with their families.