Laredo Animal Care Services receives stray or lost animals as well as animals from individuals who are no longer able to care for their pets.

Shelter staff evaluate each animal to see if they are healthy, safe, and behaviorally suitable to be adopted into a home. As is any prospective adopter: People who want to adopt are also evaluated to make sure they can provide a safe, responsible, and suitable home for the pet.

Before adopting, careful consideration must be given to the responsibilities for pet ownership. The prospective adopter must consider the time, money, and effort needed to own and care for a pet as owning a pet is a long-term commitment.

Adopting an animal from our shelter is one of the most effective ways in helping give a chance at a new life to an animal in need.

Qualifications and Process

The Prospective Adopter Must:

1. Be 18 years of age or older with a valid I.D.
2. Demonstrate the ability to provide a stable home, a safe environment, necessary veterinary care and nutrition, basic behavior training, and companionship for the animal.
3. Must be willing to comply with all applicable State and local laws and ordinances.
4. Complete the adoption application.
5. Pay any necessary fees.

All adoptions are subject to approval by the LACS Director or designee.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐍𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝. 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬.

Laredo Animal Care Services works closely with rescue organizations and other animal groups to help ensure more lives are saved. If you are a rescue group interested in helping create a partnership with us, we ask that the Rescue Partnership Application be completed which can be found below or in the forms tab. Additionally, we require a valid copy of your organization’s 501c3. Once a Rescue Partnership Representative has received the application and documents, the group will be notified for approval. LACS is most grateful for every attempt and effort made to help save lives from the shelter. If there are any questions regarding rescue operations or you are looking to submit your documents, please email Jessica Flores at jflores8@ci.laredo.tx.us or Jaime Gurrola at jegurrola@ci.laredo.tx.us.  

Rescue Partner Application

Foster

Fostering is a vital part of saving animals’ lives. By opening your home, you provide a safe, loving environment for pets who are not yet ready for adoption. Foster commitments can vary depending on the animal’s needs, but consistency and reliability are essential.                                                                                                

Typical Foster Commitments May Include:

• Timeframe:

  • Bottle babies: 2–6 weeks until they are weaned and healthy.

  • Mom with babies: 6–8 weeks until the litter is old enough for adoption.

  • Weaned puppies/kittens: 1–4 weeks until adoption age/weight.

  • Medical cases: Duration depends on treatment and recovery plan.

• Daily Care: Feeding, cleaning, socialization, and monitoring health.

• Appointments: Bringing pets to scheduled veterinary checkups, vaccination clinics, or adoption events.

• Communication: Providing updates to shelter staff on the animal’s progress, behavior, and health.

• Consistency: Committing to care for the animal until adoption or until the shelter can provide another placement, unless an emergency arises.

Why Commitment Matters:
Moving animals between homes can cause stress, interrupt medical treatment, and slow down socialization. A strong commitment ensures stability, growth, and the best chance for a successful adoption.

Ready To Sign Up? Register Here!

Laredo Animal Care Services is always in search of animal lovers who can volunteer their time at our shelter. LACS currently accepts anyone who meets the requirements below and is looking to donate their time or has been referred by the Municipal Court. There are many ways that volunteers can help positively impact our shelter, but more than anything they enable us to give the animals the extra care and attention they need.

Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age or older with a valid I.D - Anyone 16 or 17 years of age, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
• Must attend a brief orientation and safety training once you have applied to volunteer.
• Wear appropriate clothing: Pants, closed toe shoes. No shorts nor open toe shoes or sandals allowed.
• Service hours are from Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
  Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Ready To Sign Up? Register Here !

Laredo Animal Care Services appreciates every donation made to the shelter. There is a Donation Policy in place that seeks to support the development of partnerships with individuals, groups, and businesses willing to assist the City with the enhancement of projects, facilities, and programs for the benefit of the public at large.

Moreover, there are other ways to help our city shelter, please refer to the “Foster” and "Volunteer" tab for ways to help us with day-to-day functions and fostering.

Donation Form