What are the opening hours?

Monday 2pm - 8pm Tuesday 2pm - 8pm Wednesday 2pm - 8pm Thursday 2pm - 8pm Friday 2pm - 8pm Saturday 11am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 5pm

Furry Friends Refuge

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United States
West Des Moines, IA
Furry Friends Refuge

Furry Friends, a no-kill shelter, is a nonprofit serving central Iowa’s animals in need.
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Furry Friends Refuge has moved all adoptions to our 3505 Mills Civic Parkway location in West Des Moines.

05/29/2026

Look at this BIG handsome tomcat! 🐈Meet Big Tex!
This chunky-cheeked charmer has absolutely stunned both his finders and shelter staff by being one of the sweetest tomcats around. Seriously... just LOOK at those cheeks! 🥰
Tex wears a few battle scars from his days out on the streets but now that he's been fully vetted, he's settling in wonderfully with his feline roommates. Despite his tough-guy appearance, this boy is all love!
Big Tex is FIV+, which means he is more vulnerable to infections and needs a family who is prepared for additional medical costs in his future. The good news? FIV is primarily spread through deep bite wounds, and since Tex has proven himself to be friendly and respectful with other cats, he can safely live with feline companions.
His favorite activities include pressing his giant head into your hand for pets, soaking up every ounce of affection available, and napping belly-up with his front paws tucked in the cutest little pose imaginable. ❤️
If you're looking for a big cat with an even bigger heart, Big Tex is ready to meet you! Stop by our Mills Civic location between 2–8 PM and see why everyone is falling in love with this sweet-faced bruiser. 🐾

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day! We are open today 2-8pm—come out and meet all of the animals looking for homes (pictured: Ernie: a sweet 1 year old Husky mix in need of a family to love)

05/24/2026

Looking for a dog, but emotionally attached to cows? Perfect. 🐄
This bulldog mix has been waiting at the shelter for nearly a year, which is honestly shocking considering he’s basically a walking cartoon character. Poor Papa Smurf was finally adopted a month ago, but was recently returned because of housing restrictions.
He loves carrying toys around in his mouth like precious treasures, hands out kisses for free, and is powered almost entirely by snacks and cuddles.
He would prefer to be your one and only dog (main character energy). He is a favorite for volunteers to walk on a leash.
He’s goofy, affectionate, food-motivated, and fully convinced he belongs on someone’s couch immediately. Let’s make his dreams come true! 🖤
We are open Sat/Sun 11-5pm and M-F 2-8pm at 3505 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. We will be open on Memorial Day as well for you to find a new best friend

05/22/2026

Turning heads with her unique orange markings and the sweetest little baby face, meet Aphrodite 🧡Picked up as a stray by animal control, we truly can’t believe no one came looking for this gorgeous girl. Now that she has found herself in a cozy new space she spends her days curled up on cat trees and enjoying treats!
When it comes to other kitties, Aphrodite likes her personal space and isn’t afraid to politely say “no thank you” with a tiny hiss if they get too close. But people? Oh, she LOVES people! Pick her up, shower her with pets, scratch that adorable little chin, and she’ll be completely smitten with you in no time. She may even decide your shoulders are the perfect place to hang out!
If you’re looking for a beautiful, affectionate, and delightfully quirky new bestie, Aphrodite is ready to steal your heart! Stop by to meet her and her amazing roomies today between 2–8pm! 🐾

05/21/2026

Our long-stay dog residents have been getting lots of love lately and finding their forever homes, and we couldn’t be happier! Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on some fresh new faces who are ready to find their forever homes! 🐾✨
We currently have a mix of rambunctious puppies and wonderful adult dogs just waiting to meet their perfect match!
First up is Winterson — a playful, rowdy goofball who spends his days zooming around, demanding attention, and convincing both puppies and adult dogs to join in on the fun! If you’re looking for a buddy who will keep life exciting, Winterson is your guy! 🎾🐶
Next is Agatha — a total sweetheart who has been absolutely flourishing! She’s loving meeting new people and dog friends, is fully housebroken, knows her manners, and is an absolute dream on walks. In her free time, she enjoys soaking up pets, practicing her commands, supervising the puppies like a tiny manager, and of course… snacking on grass whenever possible. 🌱💕
Interested in meeting these adorable pups or any of our other furry friends? Stop by our Mills Civic shelter during open hours!
📍 Monday–Friday: 2pm–8pm�📍 Saturday–Sunday: 11am–5pm

05/19/2026

We warned you… kitten season has officially arrived! 🐾☀️
Just this week alone, we’ve taken in about twenty stray kittens who are now safe, cozy, and thriving with our incredible foster families! And now, our first big wave of tiny babies has grown up enough to start searching for their forever homes!
Looking for the perfect sidekick for your summer adventures, movie marathons, and lazy sunny afternoons? We currently have EIGHT adorable kittens available at the shelter right now — with dozens more waiting in the wings for their big debut after surgery!
These little cuties won’t stick around for long, so hurry over to our Mills Civic location between 2–8pm today to meet your new best friend! 🐱💕
Didn’t find “the one” from this fluffy lineup? Don’t worry — kitten season is just getting started! Keep a close eye on our website for even more upcoming babies at furryfriendsrefuge.org

05/17/2026

Double the bunnies, double the fun! 🐰🎀 Meet Hank (brown) and Willie (white), an adorable bonded pair searching for their forever home together! These sweet little gentlemen are full of charm and personality. They’re super handleable, total angels for nail trims, and will happily beg for breakfast like tiny fluffy dogs! When they aren’t asking for snacks, you’ll usually find them cuddled up together being impossibly cute.
Hank and Willie are currently working on their litterbox skills and are ready to be groomed to perfection to match their very dapper bow tie attire! These boys wore their outfits with pride and absolutely loved striking a pose for the camera.
Looking to add some soft bunny snuggles, goofy antics, and double the love to your home? Come meet Hank and Willie today! 🐇🤍🤎

05/16/2026

🐾 Meet Axis! 🐾
Big Head. Bigger Heart. Professional Playtime Expert.
Axis is the kind of dog who wakes up every morning ready to make new friends, chase toys, and remind you that life is supposed to be fun! This handsome goofball has a giant blocky head filled with exactly two thoughts:
💭 “Can I play with that?”
💭 “Can I love you forever?”
Axis is an incredibly sweet and social boy who thrives around people and other tolerant and patient dogs. He’s playful, affectionate, and always excited to join whatever adventure you have planned!
This amazing boy has done well with kids as young as four, previously lived with a similar size dog, and has began the introduction process to cats and so far is doing well!
Axis is highly trainable and eager to please- already learning sit, shake, down, and with me! He’s the perfect candidate for continued training, fun activities, or even learning some impressive party tricks. He loves having a job to do and would thrive with a family ready to include him in daily life☀️
Meet him this weekend at our Mills Civic shelter!
⏰ Mon- Friday 2pm-8pm
⏰Sat-Sun 11am-5pm

05/15/2026

Miss Molley is STILL waiting for her foster or forever family! 💕🐾
This gorgeous, goofy, three-legged girl is believed to be a Dutch Shepherd mix, and trust us… she is FULL of love, personality, and bounce! Her missing leg absolutely does not slow her down — Molley is all about adventures, kisses, and sticking right by your side at all times! ✨
Molley is urgently looking for placement so she can begin her heartworm treatment, which will be fully covered by the shelter. During treatment she will need lots of rest and restricted activity to keep her heart safe, so she is hoping to be the one and only pet in the home while she recovers. 🩺❤️
This smart girl already knows her basic commands, is eager to learn more, and lives to make her people happy! She gives world-class kisses, has the sweetest personality, and is guaranteed to brighten every single day. ☀️
Interested in meeting Miss Molley? Reach out to us at [email protected]!
Not able to foster or adopt right now? Sharing this post helps SO much and could help our amazing tripod baby find the perfect home! 🐶💛

05/14/2026

Meet Skye! ✨🐾
This quirky queen is guaranteed to keep you laughing! Skye absolutely adores people, but she has a hilariously dramatic way of saying hello — she often greets you with a little hiss before immediately asking for attention and kisses! Don’t let her fool you… she’s all sass and sweetness wrapped into one fluffy package! 💕
Skye is obsessed with feather toys and string toys and will gladly flop over to show you her tummy the second she’s ready for playtime! One thing we discovered very quickly? This girl prefers to be the star of the show and is not a fan of other kitties. Skye is looking for a home where she can rule the castle as the one and only feline queen 👑🐱
If you’re searching for a playful, hilarious, sassy best friend who will keep life entertaining, Skye may just be your perfect match! Come meet her today at our Mills Civic shelter! 🏡

Address

3505 Mills Civic
West Des Moines, IA
50265

Opening Hours

Monday	2pm - 8pm
Tuesday	2pm - 8pm
Wednesday	2pm - 8pm
Thursday	2pm - 8pm
Friday	2pm - 8pm
Saturday	11am - 5pm
Sunday	11am - 5pm

Website

http://www.furryfriendsrefuge.org/

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