GIHS is dedicated to promoting animal welfare and the protection and prevention of unwanted or homeless animals on Galveston Island. Established in 1999, our shelter is an open admission facility, accepting all homeless pets, even when we are full. We strive to work diligently to reduce the number of homeless pets in our community, assuring that adoptable pets are kept available until they find their forever homes or are transferred to a partner organization Our services go beyond providing shelter; we also provide adoption and medical services to stray domestic animals in Galveston, Texas. We play a crucial role in controlling the feral animal population in Galveston City through the City's Trap, Neuter, and Release program One of our significant initiatives is the Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program, known as Galveston Island Community Cats (GICC). This program was launched after Galveston’s City Council passed a feral cat ordinance in Spring 2015. We saw an opportunity to manage feral cat populations in a humane, positive way, and we've seen solid results since the implementation of this program Our mission, however, is not possible without the support of our community. We have numerous avenues for individuals to contribute to our cause, from adopting a pet and giving it a loving home, to donating funds that go towards the daily care needed for the 2,700+ pets who arrive at the shelter annually. We also welcome volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to our mission, and we offer several job opportunities for those who wish to join our team full-time Ultimately, our goal is to create a community where every pet has a safe, loving home. We believe that every animal deserves a chance at a happy, healthy life, and we work every day to make that vision a reality. We welcome any support, be it in the form of adoption, donation, or volunteering, and we're always ready to help guide pet owners with resources and information for their furry family members. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or if you'd like to get involved in our mission to protect and care for the animals.
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To adopt a pet from GIHS, you must: 1. Be at least 18 years of age. 2. Have a U.S. government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or state ID. 3. Verify that you are allowed to have a pet of the breed and size where you currently live. 4. Be able to spend the time and resources necessary to provide the training, medical treatment, and proper care for your pet. 5. Bring along all family members (including children) to meet your new cat or dog. Be sure to bring any resident dogs if you are adopting a dog. 6. If the pet is ready, be able to take the pet home on the day of adoption. 7. Be available to spend up to an hour with an Adoption Counselor to discuss the responsibility of owning a pet and making a lifetime commitment. 8. Spay or neuter any resident pets before you adopt. This is an important step to help stop pet overpopulation, and it also gives your pet many health and behavioral benefits. If you have responsible reasons why you might choose to not spay or neuter your pet, bring along the related veterinary records and ask to speak to a manager who will help determine whether they can approve your application to adopt. $75 for dogs or cats, 7 months and older $90 for puppies and kittens, 6 months and younger All litter mates may be adopted 2/1. Special higher pricing may apply for specialty dogs. You are not required to live in Galveston to be able to find your Best Friend at our shelter.
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