Fort Wayne Shelter Waives Fees to Ease Crowding
Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control is discounting adoptions through Saturday as its kennels remain full.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Pets — General
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Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control is waiving and heavily discounting adoption fees to reduce kennel crowding, with approved applications required. The shelter is also participating in Adopt a Hoosier Shelter Pet Month, proclaimed by Governor Braun.
Why it matters
Shelter animals are now waiting three times longer to find permanent homes than they used to, keeping kennels full in Fort Wayne. The promotion aims to move animals into homes and free up space for incoming strays, which make up nearly two-thirds of intakes.
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 adoptions require an approved application.
The players
Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control
The municipal animal shelter serving Fort Wayne, Indiana, which operates its main facility on Hillegas Road and works with off-site partner adoption locations.
Governor Braun
The Governor of Indiana, who proclaimed Adopt a Hoosier Shelter Pet Month, under which the Fort Wayne shelter is participating.
The details
The shelter is waiving fees for small animals, cats, and senior dogs and discounting adoptions for dogs aged 6 months to 6 years to $50, with approved applications required through Saturday. Nearly two-thirds of animals entering the facility are stray pets found on the streets, and the shelter relies on partner locations across the city, including a Petco on Coliseum Boulevard.
Timeline
Through Saturday: reduced and waived adoption fees are available with an approved application.
Culture Shift
The Fort Wayne promotion is one local expression of Indiana's Adopt a Hoosier Shelter Pet Month, a statewide proclamation by Governor Braun that encourages residents to adopt rather than buy pets. It reflects a broader shift in which shelters, rather than breeders, are positioned as the primary source for companion animals.
Residents looking to adopt can take advantage of waived fees for cats, small animals, and senior dogs, or pay $50 for a dog aged 6 months to 6 years, once an application is approved. The offer runs through Saturday, so anyone interested needs to apply before then.
The takeaway
Adopting from a shelter can help free up space for animals currently waiting longer for homes. Checking local shelters for fee waivers or discounts before buying a pet is a practical way to act on this.
Further reading
For more on adoption and shelter care, browse Pets — General coverage across Fort Wayne.
More information
View adoptable animals and submit an application through Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control.
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Would you consider adopting a shelter pet from a local animal shelter?
