Ames Animal Services

Directions Website

Ames Animal Services This is the official page of the City of Ames Animal Shelter and Animal Services Division.

This is an official page of the City of Ames Animal Shelter and Animal Control Division of the Ames Police Department. For more information about the City of Ames, please visit www.cityofames.org. This site is intended to serve as a mechanism for communication between the public and the Ames Animal Shelter on the listed topics, and as a forum to further the mission of the Division. Questions or comments can be addressed to Ron Edwards, Animal Control Supervisor at [email protected]. Terms of Use Guidelines
Comments posted to this page will be monitored and inappropriate content will be removed as soon as possible and without prior notice. We reserve the right to remove inappropriate content, including, but not limited to:
•obscene language or sexual content
•content that threatens or defames any person or organization
•content that incites violence or references killing anyone or anything
•content that violates the legal ownership interest of another party
•content that promotes illegal activity
•content that is repetitive or duplicative
•content that promotes commercial services or products or SPAM.
•content that promotes, foster, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, genetics, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or intellectual disability, or sexual orientation.
•content that is off-topic
•content that identifies personally identifying information including, but not limited to: email address, phone numbers, addresses, medical information, etc.
•content that is considered organized political activity

The City disclaims any and all responsibility and liability for any materials that the City deems inappropriate for posting, which cannot be removed in an expeditious and otherwise timely manner. Before posting on our page, please review the following:
•For issues regarding the safety of an animal or if you feel the safety of a human is at risk due to an animal, please contact the Animal Control Officer at 515-231-1080 M-F 8am-8pm, Sat and Sunday 8am-5pm. For animal emergencies outside these hours, please contact the Ames Police Department at 515-239-5133
•For all other animal related concerns or questions, you can contact the Ames Animal Shelter at 515-239-5530.
•Do not use this page to make an animal control report. Please contact the animal shelter or animal control officer directly by phone at the numbers listed above
•This page is not continually monitored by employees of the Ames Animal Shelter.
•Posting information related to an animal investigation on this page is not deemed anonymous. You may be contacted by an Ames Animal Control Officer if you are a witness to an event under investigation.
•Any use of the "like" feature between the Ames Animal Shelter and a private person does not indicate endorsement of that person’s actions or comments.
•A posting on this page constitutes acceptance of these Terms of Use.

Paloma - Zero responsibilities. Have a  Caterday Saturday!Update: Paloma has been adopted!
10/24/2026

Paloma - Zero responsibilities. Have a Caterday Saturday!

Update: Paloma has been adopted!

October is Black Cat Awareness Month. The hope is to dispel superstitions linking black cats to bad luck or the occult. ...
10/23/2026

October is Black Cat Awareness Month.

The hope is to dispel superstitions linking black cats to bad luck or the occult. These are wrong and unfair, leading some people to think black cats are scary. This causes real-world consequences leading to low adoption rates and abuse.

Black cats can also be harder to photograph well contributing to the perception that they are less pretty, when in fact they’re sleek, velvety, and elegant. Please help us turn around the negative stereotypes. If you’d like your own house panther, visit www.amesanimalshelter.org.

Miso in deep contemplation on this Thinking Thursday wondering when his forever person will come.Miso has a bonded buddy...
10/22/2026

Miso in deep contemplation on this Thinking Thursday wondering when his forever person will come.

Miso has a bonded buddy, Screech. They must be adopted together. See their profiles at www.amesanimalshelter.org.

10/21/2026

Meet Juke and Gojo!

In this episode of Animals in Ames, we're introducing two adorable animals looking for their forever homes!

Juke is a six-month-old puppy with plenty of energy and personality! She loves to play, gets along well with other dogs and children, and is always ready for some cuddles.

Gojo is a two-year-old cat who loves chin scratches, curling up on laps, and relaxing with his feline friends. He's also comfortable around other cats and dogs!

Plus, meet Holly, the newest member of the Ames Animal Shelter and Animal Control team!

Could Juke or Gojo be your new best friend? Watch the latest episode of Animals in Ames to find out!

Learn more about adopting at www.AmesAnimalServices.org

Where Are They Wednesday?These two beauties are Millie and Pearl (formerly Karma and Dottie)! Their adopter found their ...
10/21/2026

Where Are They Wednesday?

These two beauties are Millie and Pearl (formerly Karma and Dottie)! Their adopter found their mom, Taylor in her parking garage. Taylor was partially feral so she couldn’t take her, but she adopted these two as kittens.

“They love to play together, cuddle, and look out the window. I am so thankful to Ames Animal Shelter for saving Taylor, Millie, Pearl, and their siblings!”

They’ve grown into gorgeous girls! We love getting these updates! Keep them coming!

Reno is celebrating International Sloth Day, it seems. He’d much prefer to be in your arms, though. This sleek and shiny...
10/20/2026

Reno is celebrating International Sloth Day, it seems. He’d much prefer to be in your arms, though. This sleek and shiny tuxedo boy likes being carried. Hmm, maybe he’s a bit sloth-like afterall! Nah, he’s still very much in his playful mode at 8 months. He’d love to meet someone who’d carry him into a forever home to play! Apply to meet him at www.amesanimalshelter.org.

Do you recognize this pet? They are currently at our shelter as a stray animal missing their family.𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧: Etta𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜...
10/19/2026

Do you recognize this pet? They are currently at our shelter as a stray animal missing their family.

𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧: Etta
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬: Cat
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Brown Tabby
𝐒𝐞𝐱: Female
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: 10/19/26 12:00pm
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: 1006 S Dayton Pl.
𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: no collar or microchip

If you know this animal or have any information to help us to find their family, please call us at 515-239-5530. If you call us outside of our hours, please leave us a message so we can return your call.
For more information please visit our website at www.AmesAnimalShelter.org

Meet Me Monday - Bonded Buddies Butterfinger and Freddy!Butterfinger is a white, 6-month old male who has been at the sh...
10/19/2026

Meet Me Monday - Bonded Buddies Butterfinger and Freddy!

Butterfinger is a white, 6-month old male who has been at the shelter since June. Guinea pigs do better in pairs, but Butterfinger lost his previous friend during a surgery, so we found him a friend at another shelter. Enter Freddy!

Freddy is a black, 2-year old male. He came to us at the end of September. He and Butterfinger hit it off immediately, which doesn’t always happen.

Guinea pigs are small, gentle, social creatures and can be great pets. Before adopting a guinea pig, make sure you and your family are up for the commitment. Guinea pigs live for about 5 to 7 years and need daily attention and time out of their cage. They need companionship and do best living in pairs. You'll need startup supplies like a large cage and food and water bowls, plus there will be ongoing expenses for high-quality food, bedding material and vet care. If you're ready to get a guinea pig (or two), give us a call at 515.239.5530 to determine if a guinea pig might be the right pet for you!

Butterfinger and Freddy would be great additions to your family!

We thought we’d share this free resource for cat parents experiencing difficult behavior situations with their feline co...
10/18/2026

We thought we’d share this free resource for cat parents experiencing difficult behavior situations with their feline companions.

The Community Cats Podcast: Keeping Cats in Their Homes, with Matt Wildman, Founder and Director of National Cat Behavior, offers a free helpline. The Helpline addresses, among many other topics, such things as:
••Why so many behavior problems come from cats who aren’t getting enough play.
••Three 10- to 15-minute play sessions a day, and how to fit them in.
••Follow-up as the key to resolving behavior cases.
••Being the cat owner’s ally, especially when someone in the house wants the cat gone.
••Spay/neuter as part of fixing behavior problems.
••The “small desert” approach: open boxes, unscented clumping litter, scooping twice a day, and where to put the box.
••Whether you really need one more litter box than you have cats.

Free for cat owners, it runs entirely by phone, and it’s built on follow-up. Volunteers keep calling to see how it’s going until a case is resolved, and they offer practical, judgment-free advice.

Call or text at 978-239-2090.

For content, podcast, or support inquiries about Community Cat Central—or cats in general—email [email protected]. For resources, educational programs, or technical issues, email [email protected].

Do you recognize this pet? They are currently at our shelter as a stray animal missing their family.𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧: Gloria𝐒𝐩...
10/17/2026

Do you recognize this pet? They are currently at our shelter as a stray animal missing their family.
𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧: Gloria
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬: Dog
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Black and white
𝐒𝐞𝐱: Female
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: 10/17/26 2:00pm
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: S Grand Ave near Stonehaven Dr & S 5th St
𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Pink collar,no tag or microchip.
If you know this animal or have any information to help us to find their family, please call us at 515-239-5530. If you call us outside of our hours, please leave us a message so we can return your call.
For more information please visit our website at www.AmesAnimalShelter.org

Address

325 Billy Sunday Road
Ames, IA
50010

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 4pm
Tuesday 12pm - 5:30pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5:30pm
Thursday 12pm - 5:30pm
Friday 12pm - 5:30pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm

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