Columbia Animal Services

Columbia Animal Services Municipal animal shelter for the City of Columbia and Richland County. 🐾 The only guaranteed vetting is basic vaccines, deworming, preventatives, and HW test.

ABOUT US

Columbia Animal Services is an open-intake municipal shelter servicing the City of Columbia and Richland County, South Carolina. For general inquiries, please contact the shelter directly at (803)-776-7387 and use menu option 1, or email [email protected]. For City of Columbia animal control officer assistance, please call (803)-776-7387 and use menu option 2. For more information p

lease visit our website at: https://animalservices.columbiasc.gov/

Foster questions: [email protected]
Volunteer inquiries: [email protected]
Rescue Requests: [email protected]
Rehoming Resources: [email protected]
Marketing Inquiries: [email protected]

Location: 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209

Hours:
Mondays - Fridays: 12 PM to 5 PM
Saturdays: 9 AM to 4 PM
Sundays: Closed

ADOPTION

Adoption fee: $35
All animals at risk of euthanasia have adoption fee of $0
All animals come spayed/neutered, microchipped and up to date on basic vaccinations. To see all animals at risk of euthanasia due to shelter length of stay, please go to our FB page: COC Animal Services Rescue Needs

All animals available for adoption can be viewed here: https://24petconnect.com/ColumbiaAdoptablePets

Important: We do NOT guarantee health, behavior, or temperament, nor do we have the resources for extensive testing or exams on any animals prior to rescue pulls. CAS does not DNA test shelter pets and is therefore unable to determine the breed of promoted animals. We believe all dogs are individuals and their behaviors should not be predicted based on physical characteristics. LOST A PET? All stray/lost pet intake can be viewed here: https://24petconnect.com/ColumbiaStrayPets

To reclaim a lost pet, please come into the shelter during business hours and provide a valid form of ID. Please note, all animals will be spayed/neutered upon their retrieval unless a note from a veterinarian is provided.

Not every cat is a house cat. 🐈 And that’s okay!Meet Winter, Puma, Crue & Peaches, four cats who aren’t thriving in the ...
08/30/2026

Not every cat is a house cat. 🐈 And that’s okay!

Meet Winter, Puma, Crue & Peaches, four cats who aren’t thriving in the shelter and who we think could make excellent working/barn cats. ⬇️

🐾 Peaches (A309423): An indoor/outdoor cat in her previous life. She’s not feral, but she’s not especially social or people-oriented either.

🐾 Winter (A308950): Reserved and independent. She’s warmed up to our staff, but isn’t particularly interested in people.

🐾 Puma (A308005): This girl has strong working-cat energy. She was previously adopted but struggled with life indoors and may be much happier with a little more freedom.

🐾 Crue (A308651): Reserved but not feral. He’s a great candidate for a home where he can have space and independence.

ℹ️ What exactly is a Barn Cat? 🐱

“Barn cats” are working cats who can live indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both in suitable barns, farms, warehouses, sheds, or other secure environments. They provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional pest control by helping keep rodent populations under control! 🐭

They’re generally low-maintenance, take up minimal space, and can be a great way to give a rescued shelter cat a home. However, they still need daily food and fresh water, safe shelter, and routine veterinary care.

🌟 If you think your family would be a good match for one of these four felines, please visit the shelter to meet them! You can also inquire by emailing [email protected] or sending us a direct message.

📍 Location:
Columbia Animal Services
127 Humane Lane
Columbia, SC 29209

⏰ Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday: noon-5 P.M.
Saturday: 9 A.M.-4 P.M.
Sunday: CLOSED

How on Earth is Charcoal still available?! 🤯 He is definitely one of the most overlooked dogs we have. We can’t believe ...
08/28/2026

How on Earth is Charcoal still available?! 🤯 He is definitely one of the most overlooked dogs we have. We can’t believe that nobody has scooped him up, and neither can his foster family who have nothing but good things to say about him.

Charcoal has been in a foster home with his best friend, Max (the brown dog in these photos), for quite some time now without many inquiries or meet and greets. 💔 They are two peas in a pod so we’d love to see them get adopted together, but they don’t HAVE to be. All either of them asks for is a forever family to call their own.

Charcoal is house trained, great with kids (toddler approved!), and great with other dogs. In fact, Charcoal was both a Playgroup Rockstar and Helper Greeter dog at the shelter, getting along with anyone and everyone he had the chance to play with! 🐾

He loves to cuddle, listens well, and is so trustworthy that he gets free roam of the house when his humans are out. They describe him as the perfect mix of playful and laid back. The total package! 🎁

“He’s incredibly gentle and submissive, very in tune with other dogs, and honestly just wants everyone around him to be happy. He loves treats, loves cuddles, and will absolutely melt into your arms. Stop petting him for even two seconds? Expect the cutest little nudge asking for more!”

Charcoal is adaptable, loving, and deserves the very best. He’d make a wonderful addition to any household. Please consider adding him to yours! 🙏

➡️ If you’re interested in meeting Charcoal (and maybe even his buddy Max!), please submit an inquiry HERE! 🔗 https://forms.columbiasc.gov/250657481340860

ℹ️ Basic info about Charcoal: ⬇️

🪪 Shelter ID: A302329
🕰️ Age: 2 years
💙 S*x: Male
⚖️ Weight: 44 lbs
❤️‍🩹 Medical: Neutered, microchipped, UTD on basic vaccines, HW-
🗓️ With CAS since: December 16, 2025
💩 House trained
👶 Kid friendly (toddler approved)
🐶 Dog social- Playgroup Rockstar & Helper Greeter dog! 🌟

08/27/2026

As we enter the end of Clear the Shelters our amazing community and staff has helped more than 100 animals find their way out of the shelter this month.

However intake remains extremely high, our kennels are still full and there are so many animals waiting for their chance.

Clear the Shelters isn’t over yet. Through the end of August, all adoption fees are still waived.

Help us make room, save lives, and get more animals into loving homes. Come meet your new best friend today! 🐶🐱

Thank you to Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and his team for their continued support and for showcasing one of our adoptable do...
08/27/2026

Thank you to Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and his team for their continued support and for showcasing one of our adoptable dogs each week! 💙

This week's Mayor's Dog is Stella! ✨

This sweet senior girl deserves a happy ending and a family to live out her golden years with. After a change in her previous family’s housing situation, Stella found herself at the shelter, and it was a difficult adjustment. She spent much of her day quietly in her kennel, waiting for someone to pick her. Fortunately, a loving foster did!

Stella is a polite, gentle and beautiful girl who is easy to walk and happy simply to be by your side. According to her previous owner, she’s house and crate trained, knows “sit” and “come,” and is wonderful with children. She enjoys walks but is equally content to keep you company at home. The complete package, and an easy-going girl.

Stella has done well with other dogs at the shelter but she can be selective with certain dogs, so thoughtful, supervised introductions are important. She lived successfully with two other German Shepherds in her previous home, but preferred the company of the male over the other female.

Stella is patiently waiting. 🙏 She is available for adoption or 501(c)(3) rescue pull.

🏡 Stella is currently in a foster home. Click here to submit a Meet and Greet Inquiry! 🔗 https://forms.columbiasc.gov/250657481340860

ℹ️ Basic info about Stella: ⬇️

🪪 Shelter ID: A308250
🩷 S*x: Female
🕰️ Age: 8 years
⚖️ Weight: 50 lbs
❤️‍🩹 Medical: Spayed, microchipped, UTD on basic vaccines, HW-
📆 With CAS since: July 2, 2026
🏠 House and crate trained
👶 Kid friendly
🐶 Dog social/selective

🔦 August Staff Spotlight: Emma and Shelby!Our canine behavior & enrichment team plays an incredibly important role here ...
08/27/2026

🔦 August Staff Spotlight: Emma and Shelby!

Our canine behavior & enrichment team plays an incredibly important role here at the shelter. From assessing each dog’s behavior to helping us make thoughtful placement and safety decisions, their work helps us better understand the dogs in our care and set them up for success.

They’re also behind so much of the enrichment our shelter dogs receive, from playgroups and activities to chews, frozen treats, and other ways to keep their minds engaged while they wait for their forever homes.

Emma has been part of the CAS family since August 2023 when she first came on board as a volunteer! Now an official team member, her favorite part of the job is watching dogs grow in confidence, knowing she’s helping make a difference in their lives, and seeing them find their forever homes. She’s also a member of our marketing team and helps create viral content for social media! ✨

Emma’s love for animal welfare began when she first moved to South Carolina and wanted to find a way to make a difference in her local community. When she’s not at CAS, you’ll find her spending time with friends and her best friend, her dog, Bolt. 🐾

Shelby is a newer team member who joined CAS in May 2026 and loves observing how dogs interact with one another and their environment. She especially enjoys watching dogs gain confidence through playgroups and using what she learns to help others better understand them.

Outside of CAS, Shelby is an artist who enjoys working with different mediums, and even plays airsoft! She’s clever, kind, hard-working, passionate and an awesome addition to our team.

We are so grateful for the dedication and skillset that Shelby and Emma bring to our shelter every day. Our behavior and enrichment team has become an essential part of how we care for the animals at CAS, and we’re so thankful to have them! 💙

Today is National Dog Day! 🐾 What better way to celebrate than by meeting some of our newest arrivals?Please give a warm...
08/26/2026

Today is National Dog Day! 🐾 What better way to celebrate than by meeting some of our newest arrivals?

Please give a warm welcome to the newest members of the CAS family! They are currently seeking forever homes, fosters, or 501(c)(3) rescue pulls. 💙

🌟 Our adoption fees are currently waived in celebration of Clear the Shelters! All pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped, up to date on preventatives, and vaccinated at the time of adoption.

Your next best friend is waiting. Come visit the shelter to meet them! ✨

➡️ Can’t foster or adopt? Please consider donating to our Clear the Shelters fund to support our life-saving programs! GIVING LINK: 🔗 https://donate.clearthesheltersfund.org/page/city-of-columbia-animal

…

🛟 For 501(c)(3) rescue pulls, please email [email protected]

🏡 To learn more about fostering and apply to become a foster parent, click HERE! https://animalservices.columbiasc.gov/foster-program/

📍 Location:
Columbia Animal Services
127 Humane Lane
Columbia, SC 29209

⏰ Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday: noon-5 P.M.
Saturday: 9 A.M.-4 P.M.
Sunday: CLOSED

Shoutout to Army class 006-26 AG Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) for spending time with us yesterday! 🎨They put t...
08/25/2026

Shoutout to Army class 006-26 AG Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) for spending time with us yesterday! 🎨

They put their creativity to work creating portraits of our adoptable dogs to hang on their kennels, and we love how they’re bringing a little extra personality and light to our adoption halls.

They also toured the shelter, learned more about municipal sheltering, and spent some time getting to know our animals. 🐾

We hope your time with us gave you a chance to decompress, too! Thank you for your service and for sharing your talents with our shelter community. 💙

➡️ We welcome volunteer groups! If your group is interested in volunteering with us, email 📧 [email protected] to inquire and get started.

💪 Want to become an official CAS volunteer? Learn more and apply HERE: 🔗 https://animalservices.columbiasc.gov/volunteer/

🚨 Urgent plea for Biggie and Bentley! 🙏Biggie (brown and white) and Bentley (brown) are brothers who were surrendered t...
08/25/2026

🚨 Urgent plea for Biggie and Bentley! 🙏

Biggie (brown and white) and Bentley (brown) are brothers who were surrendered to the shelter together through no fault of their own. Sadly, they’ve now become two of our longest-term residents, and remain at risk.

These two love nothing more than being together, whether they’re playing, exploring, or just snuggling in their kennel at night.

Both boys are house trained, crate trained, know basic commands, and will even go to their crates on command. They’re kid-friendly and are still working on their leash skills. Their previous owners also reported that they were friendly with other dogs.

Biggie is the more confident brother, while Bentley is a little more reserved and still working through his nerves. During their dog assessments, Biggie was more comfortable exploring the yard with another dog, while Bentley was more unsure.

Biggie and Bentley are bonded, and our hope is that they can find a home together. But above all, we want both brothers to find loving homes, even if that ultimately means going their separate ways.

Come meet Biggie & Bentley and help us get these brothers out of the shelter and into the homes they deserve.

Basic info about Biggie ⬇️

🪪 Shelter ID: A308526
💙 S*x: Male
🕰️ Age: 2 years
⚖️ Weight: 65 lbs
❤️‍🩹 Medical: Neutered, microchipped, UTD on vaccines, HW -
📆 With CAS since: July 15, 2026
🐶 Dogs: Tolerant
👶 Kid friendly
🏠 House trained
💩 Crate trained

Basic info about Bentley⬇️

🪪 Shelter ID: A308527
💙 S*x: Male
🕰️ Age: 2 years
⚖️ Weight: 82 lbs
❤️‍🩹 Medical: Neutered, microchipped, UTD on vaccines, HW -
📆 With CAS since: July 15, 2026
🐶 Dogs: Tolerant
👶 Kid friendly
🏠 House trained
💩 Crate trained

📢 WEEK 4 Clear the Shelters Donation Match goes live in less than ONE HOUR! ✨Starting TODAY at 1 p.m. ET, the first $50,...
08/25/2026

📢 WEEK 4 Clear the Shelters Donation Match goes live in less than ONE HOUR! ✨

Starting TODAY at 1 p.m. ET, the first $50,000 raised across all participating shelters will be matched dollar for dollar by The Black Dog. That means your early donations could go TWICE as far in supporting our lifesaving work! 🤩

Please consider supporting us during the last week of Clear the Shelters by making a matched donation to our Clear the Shelters Fund. 100% of proceeds benefit our shelter directly!

💰DONATION LINK: 🔗 https://donate.clearthesheltersfund.org/page/city-of-columbia-animal

⭐️ Please note that this is a collective match, not $50,000 per organization. Donations are matched on a first come, first served basis- once $50,000 has been reached, the match will end- which means the earlier you donate, the better our chances of receiving a donation match! 💙

Thank you so much for your continued generosity and support.

We’re hoping to find loving families and homes for as many of our shelter pets as possible during this year’s Clear the Shelters campaign, and raise a little money for our shelter along the way! 💪

Address

127 Humane Lane
Columbia, SC
29209

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 5pm
Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(803) 776-7387

Website

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