Volunteer and donate

You can work in our shelter, provide foster care and give money and supplies.

Give your time

Man playing with dog

We rely on adult volunteers to help feed, exercise, play with, train and clean up after the animals in our shelter. Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 can volunteer with parent or guardian approval.

Volunteers must agree to

  • Commit to a minimum of four hours a month for six months or longer. 
  • Work at the shelter during these hours:
    • 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday - Friday
    • 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday - Sunday
  • Work a shift. Most shifts are two hours. 

Screen process for volunteers

  • Submit an online application.
  • Attend a volunteer orientation session (about two hours).
  • Pay a $20 application fee during orientation.
  • Attend one or more classes for your specific volunteer position (one to two hours per class).
  • Attend hands-on training with a current volunteer (one to four hours).
  • Get a volunteer ID badge.

Submit an online application

Give money or supplies

Dog with tennis ball

Gifts of money

More than 4,000 animals come through our doors each year. Your tax deductible gift helps us:

  • Maintain our operations
  • Expand our programs
  • Improve the lives of more local animals

No gift is too small. 

Make a donation

Gifts of toys and supplies 

We always need:

  • Unopened and unexpired food and treats
  • Nylabones
  • Durable plastic toys that can be sanitized, such as Kongs and plastic balls
  • Unopened and unexpired topical flea treatment
  • Elizabethan collars
  • Tennis balls
  • Bleach and towels

You can drop donations off during our public shelter hours.

View our Amazon Wish List

Dog with toy in mouth

Become an animal foster

Complete an application if you can provide a temporary home with the time and space to care for animals. By fostering a pet, you help increase the number of animals the City is able to serve.

Contact us

Minneapolis Animal Care & Control

Phone

612-673-6222

Fax

612-673-6255

Address

Animal Care & Control
212 17th Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Get directions

Shelter hours

Call to make an appointment for vaccines, foster pick-up/drop off, or another reason not listed here. Note that starting March 13, vaccine and microchip appointments will be temporarily suspended. 


Walk-in visits for adoption
Monday through Friday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. and second Saturday of each month 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Closed on the following Mondays: March 6, April 3, May 8, and June 5. 

Closed on City holidays

See list of City holidays

Field service hours

For non-emergency requests, please call 311 and an officer will respond in the order in which the call was received.

For emergency situations, please call 911.

Minneapolis 311

Hours

7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Monday – Friday

See list of City holidays