Rachel SmithWelcoming a new pet into your family is a deeply rewarding milestone. There’s nothing quite like the joyful tail wags and gentle purrs that fill your home with unconditional love!
Starting your journey at the right place makes all the difference for a smooth transition. However, navigating the adoption process can feel overwhelming when you want to be sure you’re supporting an ethical and caring organization.
To help you find the best animal shelter in Indianapolis, we explored the most compassionate local rescues that fit your specific lifestyle. Let’s dive into the top choices for finding your new best friend!
How much does adopting from an Indianapolis animal shelter cost?
In Indianapolis animal shelters, adoption fees generally range from $25 to $375, depending heavily on the animal’s age and size.
Most municipal and non-profit shelters include spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and microchipping in this initial investment, which often saves owners over $400 in upfront veterinary costs.
| Pet Type or Service | Average Fee |
| Puppies (6 months & under) | $375 |
| Adult Dogs | $175 – $275 |
| Senior Dogs (7+ years) | $125 |
| Kittens | $125 |
| Adult Cats | $25 – $85 |
| Owner Surrender Fee | $40 |
1. IndyHumane
Website: http://indyhumane.org/
Address: 7929 N Michigan Rd
Contact: (317) 872-5650
Hours: Tue-Fri: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM; Sat-Sun: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Searching for a highly supportive adoption-matching experience often leads locals to IndyHumane, which has served central Indiana since 1905.
This rescue truly shines as a limited-admission facility offering a comprehensive Pet Resource Center and dependable low-cost community vaccine clinics.
I recently accompanied a friend here to look at adoptable dogs, and the staff was incredibly helpful in guiding us through their active foster network profiles to find a calm companion.
Approved adopters can often complete their paperwork and head home with their new pet that same afternoon. It’s reassuring to know they also provide a complimentary Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) certificate for a post-adoption wellness check.
Keep in mind that because they tightly manage their physical capacity to avoid overcrowding, they can’t immediately take in stray animals or owner-surrendered animals without a scheduled appointment.
Customer Reviews:
Adopt don’t stop!
We love coming here to volunteer and always save our animals here. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the vet staff is top notch. They also vaccinate full boosters for no charge after adoption and get food donations if you purchase their branded partner (currently Cuddly.) Adopt don’t stop!
- Jarred Juett | Google Review
I am so thankful for their services.
I recently adopted my kitten on 9/16 and had nothing but a great experience here. The staff and volunteers were so friendly. The adoption counselor was amazing and so helpful. I am so thankful for their services and for allowing me to adopt my perfect baby.
- Michael Alequin | Google Review
2. Southside Animal Shelter
Website: http://www.ssasi.org/
Address: 1614 W Edgewood Ave
Contact: (317) 781-0755 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM; Wednesday – Friday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Knowing that highly vulnerable animals are getting a second chance at life warms my heart every time I think about rescue work.
Southside Animal Shelter focuses heavily on pulling at-risk dogs and cats from high-kill facilities to nurture them back to health.
As a dedicated 501(c)(3) non-profit, no-kill sanctuary, they operate with an inspiring mission to save pets from overcrowded city pounds before it is too late. They also host fun, interactive community events to sustain their ongoing medical rehabilitation efforts.
Moreover, families looking to adopt will appreciate their deeply inclusive fees, which neatly cover spay or neuter surgeries alongside essential microchipping.
However, due to the small size of their facility, their daily inventory of available pets for immediate browsing is notably lower than what you might find at massive county-funded centers.
Customer Reviews:
They truly care about the individual needs of all of their animals.
I got my dog here, and also my cat two years later. They are the sweetest little animals I could ask for. This place is filled with rescue animals, and rescue animals only. They truly care about the individual needs of all of their animals. They are working on volunteer work and donations alone. It is a nonprofit, no kill shelter and they care about the cause, constantly updating the buildings and giving the animals the best environment they can.
- Soap Droap | Google Review
The adoption fee was very reasonable.
I set up an appointment with them to see two dogs I was interested in. They were very helpful. They answered all my questions! The adoption fee was very reasonably considering every animal you adopt from there is fixed and is all up to date on their shots and flea/heartworm. They also provide you a free exam at a some clinics of your choice around the city to bring your pet after you’ve adopted them. I had a really great experience. I love the new addition to my family. 💞
- Tiffany Rose | Google Review
3. Humane Society For Hamilton County
Website: https://www.hamiltonhumane.com/
Address: 10501 Hague Rd, Fishers
Contact: (317) 773-4974 | [email protected]
Hours: Adoption Hours: Sun – Tues & Thurs – Sat: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Office Hours: Mon-Sun: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Operating with an uncompromising no-kill standard, the Humane Society For Hamilton County stands out as an open-admission facility maintaining an astounding 98 percent live placement rate.
It’s incredibly rare to find a community resource that never turns away a local animal in need, regardless of age or medical condition.
Their modern shelter is thoughtfully designed around animal wellness. For instance, they have superior ventilation and acoustic materials to reduce kennel stress for the dogs.
They even fund life-saving care for severely injured animals that might otherwise face euthanasia. With this, adopters spend less time worrying about immediate trips to local animal hospitals.
The only notable downside is their strict geographic intake restriction. Since they function as the exclusive animal control intake for Hamilton County, residents living outside those county lines cannot surrender their pets there.
Customer Reviews:
Very friendly and informative.
We were there to see a dog they had listed for adoption. One of the staff saw us walk in with our dogs for a meet and greet and met us at the entrance. She told us how the adoptions were handled and how to apply. Very friendly and informative.
- Stuart G | Google Review
You can tell the volunteers and workers truly love the animals.
I adopted my sweet pup from this shelter in 2016. They’ve continuously amazed me with how kind they are to their animals and how clean the facility is. You can tell the volunteers and workers truly love the animals. The shelter finds amazing homes for the animals and ensures that it’s a good match for both the dog/cat and the human(s). Job well done, you are by far one of the best shelters I’ve ever come across
- Steph Bonham | Google Review
4. Heaven After Hell Rescue
Website: http://heavenafterhellrescue.org/
Address: 6819 W 21st St
Contact: (317) 455-5758
Hours: By Appointment Only | Adoption Events: Saturdays: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Finding a dog that perfectly matches your family’s daily routine is much easier when the animal has already been tested in a real home setting, such as at Heaven After Hell Rescue.
As a deeply passionate organization focused on foster-based behavioral rehabilitation, they pull stressed animals from overcrowded state facilities and thoroughly evaluate them in calm environments before placement.
When I attended one of their Saturday adoption events last month, I loved how intimately the foster parents knew each dog’s quirks, from their leash manners to their pet grooming sensitivities.
Overall, their setup guarantees a highly compatible matchmaking process for eager adopters.
On the downside, they have a closed browsing facility model, lacking an open-access public kennel. They also operate strictly by appointment during the week, so casual walk-in adoptions are simply not possible.
Customer Reviews:
If you’re looking to adopt a pet I highly recommend them.
I was very happy with my experience. Miranda was courteous and showed extreme passion for the rescues. Although our adoption didn’t work out, through no fault of ours or the sweet dog, hope to use her and the other volunteers in the near future. If you’re looking to adopt a pet I highly recommend Heaven after Hell. Just a reminder it is an all volunteer organization.
- Carl Neiswinger | Google Review
My next fur baby will most likely come from them again.
I adopted Boo from the rescue. Everyone that I spoke to including his foster mom was super nice, helpful and most definitely appreciative. They were more than willing to work with my schedule to meet him and made the adoption process very smooth. My next fur baby will most likely come from them again.
- Sarah Finnerty | Google Review
5. Misty Eyes Animal Center
Website: http://www.mistyeyes.org/
Address: 616 S County Rd 800 E, Avon
Contact: (317) 858-8022
Hours: Sat & Sun: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Tue: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (By Appointment)
As a highly community-oriented, volunteer-driven hub, Misty Eyes Animal Center focuses on ending unnecessary euthanasia. They do this through their expansive, supported foster networks and dedicated youth education programs.
Their efforts show that creating a supportive network for both pets and volunteers is the backbone of any sustainable rescue effort.
Moreover, I deeply appreciate their approach to eliminating kennel stress for dogs by relying entirely on local foster homes. Meanwhile, feline fans can visit Kitty City, a specialized building designed to safely house and showcase adoptable cats.
Their team even covers all food and medical costs for the families generous enough to foster.
Be prepared for a delayed application process, though. Since they prioritize finding the absolute best fit rather than operating on a quick, first-come basis, you might experience notable wait times when applying for highly desirable puppies.
Customer Reviews:
We could not be happier!
These are great people that really care about the animals! We drove 4 hours to adopt a kitten from them. She had some health issues that Misty Eyes made sure we’re all cleared up before we adopted her. We could not be happier!
- Camerons Candles | Google Review
This is an incredible organization!
Misty Eyes has the most amazing and caring volunteers!! They helped me so much when I fostered 12 puppies. This is an incredible organization!! I highly recommend working with them for adoption and fostering🥰 …
- Jennifer Powell | Google Review
