My name is Panini!

All potential adopters will complete an application with us, including references and information about your history with sharing your home with companion animals.

We review applications with the best interest of our adopables' long-term care in mind - adding a companion animal to your home is a life-long commitment!

Special Pals dogs and cats going to their forever homes will be up to date on vaccines, tested for heartworms or FIV/FeLv, spayed or neutered, dewormed, and microchipped.

You will take home a copy of their vaccine record, medical notes, and any known medical history.

When you adopt, you are saving more than one life! Revenue from adoptions and all other Special Pals services is used to support the homeless animals in our shelter and to continue our mission as described in our mission statement.

Shelter Hours:

We are open every day from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Special Pals is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 1979 and is the oldest continuously running “no-kill” animal shelter in the Houston metro area.

Our mission is to save as many animal lives in Houston as possible in cooperation with local rescue organizations.

We empower our community to support animal health and safety, and we envision the day when Houston is the Gold Standard for animal welfare.

Special Pals is a local, private, nonprofit organization. We rely completely on donations, not funds from government contracts or from national animal welfare groups with big advertising budgets and even bigger salaries. We are a limited intake facility, never taking on more than we know we can handle, ensuring all animals in our care receive the attention and space they need to be happy, healthy, and find homes.