Other Services

Shelter Tours: The Columbia Animal Shelter offers free, pre-arranged tours for school and other groups. Learn about responsible pet ownership while touring the shelter's adoption facility. Tour the shelter's Barnyard where farm animals and more exotic pets live permanently. To schedule a tour, call the Columbia Animal Shelter at 776-PETS (7387) several weeks in advance.

Pet Therapy: The Animal Mission and the Columbia Animal Shelter work together to brighten the lives of children and elderly residents of the Midlands each year. Visits to nursing homes and/or area hospitals and clinics is also a great way to brighten the lives of animals staying at the shelter. So, it's win - win for all. Call the shelter at 776-PETS (7387) for more information, to get involved or to arrange a pet visit.

Dog Park: With leash laws in both Richland County and the City of Columbia, the Dog Park offers a safe place for your dog to roam free and to socialize with other dogs and people. Adjacent to the Columbia Animal Shelter on Humane Lane, the fenced 5-acre park has a wading pool and obstacle equipment. It is open during daylight hours, 365 days per year, and is available to anyone who registers with Columbia Dog Park and follows the rules listed below. The Columbia Dog Park is the non-profit organization that maintains the dog park. Take a look at our shelter location.

Doggy Park Registration and Rules

• All pets must be registered with Columbia Dog Park. To register, contact Tina or Brian Heckman at 803-353-8816. A registration fee of $20 for the first dog and $10 for each additional dog is charged.


• All dogs must be spayed/neutered, fully vaccinated, and friendly toward other dogs and people.


• All owners are responsible for clean up via the "scoopers" located in the park.