• Mission
• Leadership
• Programs
• The Facility
• Humane Issues

The Facility: In 2000, the Columbia Animal Shelter opened a new facility, doubling its square footage and tripling its adoption areas. Built with support of the City of Columbia, the Animal Mission, and generous private donors, the new shelter greatly increases adoption capacity, updates amenities for the animals, and accommodates expanded humane education efforts. New adoption areas include a puppy nursery, kitten nursery, and the aptly-named Fat Cat Lounge and Buddy Room, where people come just to watch the cats play.

In 2007, the City of Columbia and Richland County decided to join forces to open expanded shelter accommodations. The new building, completed in March 2009, ads housing for an additional 66 dogs and 40 cats. All pets picked up by Richland County Animal Control are now housed at the City of Columbia Animal Shelter. Previously, pets picked up by Richland County were housed at various locations across the Midlands.

The shelter is open from 8:30 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday and from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturdays for pet adoptions, or those looking for a lost pet.

Location: The Columbia Animal Shelter is located at 127 Humane Lane, which intersects Shop Road a quarter of a mile west from I-77. Look for the larger-than-life kitten and puppy sculpture that marks Humane Lane. Adjacent to the shelter is the Doggie Park and the Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which houses a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.