Animal Shelter

Visits to the shelter are by appointment only.

The Bluffton-Wells County Animal Shelter is a joint venture of the City of Bluffton and Wells County, open Monday through Friday and staffed by three full-time employees. The shelter's mission is to ensure public health and safety and prevent overpopulation, animal neglect, and animal cruelty through education, rescue, law enforcement, and pet adoption. The Bluffton-Wells Animal Shelter can only accept pets from Wells County.

The Animal Shelter receives pets from:

  • Animals running at large
  • Stray and unwanted animals
  • Relatives when an owner has passed away
  • Owners who can no longer care for their pets
  • Pick-up of injured or dead animals within the city limits

View available animals online using Pet Finder.

The Animal Shelter offers the following services:

  • Pet adoptions
  • Pick up stray animals in Wells County
  • Quarantining of bite cases
  • Rental of live animal traps
  • Tours
  • Volunteer day

Please call the shelter at 260-824-6063 for information or an appointment.

Adoption Fees

  • Male Cat, unaltered: $75
  • Female Cat, unaltered: $75
  • Male or Female Cat, previously altered: $10
  • Male Dog, unaltered: $85
  • Female Dog, unaltered: $90
  • Male or Female Dog, previously altered: $20

Each adoption fee includes a free physical exam, FDRP vaccine (for cats) and DHLPP and Corona vaccine (for dogs), de-worming, flea treatment, and for unaltered animals a certificate to get them altered at 6 months of age at either the Bluffton Animal Clinic or Honegger Animal Clinic.

The Animal Shelter cannot guarantee the health or temperament of an animal adopted from the Shelter. When animals are taken in, they rarely have a medical history. Available history of medical aid or veterinary care will be passed on to an animal's new owner.

Save an animal's life while brightening your own – adopt a pet from an animal shelter today!

Donations

We are always in need of canned cat and dog food, as well as treats and toys. We are not allowed to receive any dry food for cats or dogs due to a signed contract with our supplier.

We also accept towels, blankets, brushes, collars, leashes, shampoo, and flea treatments such as Advantage or Frontline for both cats and dogs.

All donations are very much appreciated. For monetary donations, please make a check payable to the Bluffton-Wells County Animal Shelter.

"Friends of the Shelter"

Wells County Friends of the Shelter is a volunteer organization under the direction of the Friends of the Shelter Board of Directors.

The mission of the Friends of the Shelter is to maintain an association of persons interested in animal welfare (including the prevention of animal cruelty and promotion of humane treatment), with primary goals to: promote animal adoptions, reduce pet overpopulation, support various animal care needs for pets residing in the Bluffton-Wells Animal Shelter, and, as funding allows, support animal welfare needs throughout the communities of Wells County.

We conduct fundraising activities such as the citywide Garage Sale and maintain a booth in the industrial tent at the Bluffton Street Fair.

Friends of the Shelter helps the animal shelter by encouraging adoptions. They provide pet food for citizens in need and assist in any other ways to address needs and increase public awareness of animal issues. (The Bluffton Animal Shelter does not have food to give away.)