The Mobile County Animal Shelter is asking residents to open their homes to a pet, saying the facility on Howells Ferry Road is currently full based on available staffing. Office manager Kathy Belcher said the shelter’s kennels and cat areas are packed with animals waiting for adoption, and the timing couldn’t be better for anyone considering a new family member.
Adoption fees at the shelter are structured to encourage spaying and neutering. Dogs and puppies that have not yet been fixed cost $80 to adopt, while cats and kittens in the same condition run $70. For animals that are already spayed or neutered, the fee drops significantly to $40 for dogs and $30 for cats. Every adoption includes a rabies vaccination, the standard 5-in-1 combination shot, and deworming treatment, giving new pet owners a head start on basic veterinary care.
The shelter, located at 7665 Howells Ferry Road in Mobile, keeps regular weekday hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend hours had briefly been limited to just the fourth Saturday of each month, but Mobile County spokeswoman Nancy Johnson confirmed the shelter has since returned to being open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving working families more flexibility to visit and meet available animals in person.
Residents who can’t make it to the shelter in person can still browse many of the available dogs and cats online through Petfinder’s listings, which the shelter uses to showcase adoptable animals to a wider audience. Anyone with questions about a specific animal, the adoption process, or shelter hours can call the facility directly at (251) 574-3647.
Local shelters across South Alabama regularly see spikes in intake during the summer months, when strays and surrendered pets can overwhelm available kennel space. Community adoptions and fosters play a critical role in relieving that pressure, and Mobile County officials say every animal adopted opens space for another in need. For families weighing whether now is the right time to add a pet, shelter staff say a Saturday visit is a low-pressure way to meet some of the animals currently waiting for a home.
With back-to-school season approaching and many families settling into their routines, shelter officials note that a well-matched pet can bring companionship to a household while also helping the shelter manage its population responsibly. Anyone interested in fostering, rather than adopting outright, is also encouraged to call the shelter to ask about short-term options for animals that need extra time before finding a permanent home.