Fort Wayne Adoption Fees Drop to Clear Shelter
Households in Fort Wayne can adopt cats, small animals, and senior dogs for free or at a reduced fee through Saturday with an approved application.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Pets — General
Live Poll
Would you consider adopting a shelter pet from a local animal shelter?
Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control is waiving and heavily discounting adoption fees through Saturday to reduce crowding in its kennels, which currently hold 161 cats and 50 dogs. Adoptions require an approved application, and the promotion joins Adopt a Hoosier Shelter Pet Month, proclaimed by Governor Braun.
Why it matters
Fort Wayne households considering a pet can take advantage of lower costs now, while the shelter works through a backlog that has grown because animals are waiting three times longer than before to find permanent homes. The reduced fees lower the upfront cost of adding a companion animal to a family budget.
Adoption fees are waived for small animals, cats, and senior dogs aged 7 and older, while dogs between 6 months and 6 years old are available for $50. Puppies are not included in the promotion, and the shelter relies on off-site partner locations including a Petco on Coliseum Boulevard.
The players
Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control
The city's municipal animal shelter, located on Hillegas Road, which takes in stray and surrendered pets and places them through adoption and foster programs.
Governor Braun
Indiana's governor, who proclaimed Adopt a Hoosier Shelter Pet Month, the statewide campaign the Fort Wayne shelter has joined.
The details
Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control is waiving adoption fees for cats, small animals, and senior dogs, and charging a reduced $50 fee for dogs between six months and six years old. The promotion runs through Saturday and requires an approved application before adoption. Interested residents can view adoptable animals and submit an application through the shelter's website at www.fwacc.org. Adoptions can also take place at partner sites across the city, including a Petco on Coliseum Boulevard.
Timeline
Through Saturday: reduced and waived adoption fees are available with an approved application.
Nov. 2, 2026: the shelter's current animal counts were reported.
The Home Front
The shelter's fee reduction is one local response to a statewide push under Adopt a Hoosier Shelter Pet Month, proclaimed by Governor Braun. Shelters across the state are competing to move animals into homes as wait times lengthen.
If you are considering adopting, check the shelter's adoptable animals and submit an application before the promotion ends Saturday. Plan for ongoing costs such as food, veterinary care, and supplies before bringing a pet home.
The takeaway
Adoption fees are waived or reduced through Saturday for cats, small animals, senior dogs, and dogs under six years old, but an approved application is required. Households that can commit to a pet's long-term care can use this window to add a companion while the shelter works to move a crowded population into homes.
Further reading
For more on adopting and caring for animals, explore our Pets — General coverage.
More information
View adoptable animals and submit an application through Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 21alivenews.
Live Poll
Would you consider adopting a shelter pet from a local animal shelter?
