Operation of the Animal Shelter 
The animal shelter temporarily houses and cares for stray, disowned, and aggressive animals. We also provide temporary sheltering for pets whose owners are in crisis due to domestic violence or disasters such as house fires. Such care involves proper feeding and nutrition, cleaning, and disease control. The shelter is a community resource for locating lost pets and for adopting new family members.
Hours of Operation
Animal Shelter
Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Animal Control Officers (ACO)
Monday - Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
11:30 p.m. - 7:30 a.m. ACOs are called in for emergencies
All calls are dispatched via 911.
ACOs respond to non-emergencies in order of priority (call 311 for non-emergency and nuisance complaints).
Contact Information
- Telephone: (585) 428-7274
- Call 911 for animal emergencies or 311 for non-emergencies
- Facsimile: (585) 428-6130
- Address: 184 Verona St., Rochester, NY 14608
- Email us
Programs and Services
Click on one of the links below for detailed information.
Enforcement
Animal Control Officers enforce NYS laws and City of Rochester ordinances related to animal control. The City of Rochester's Code Chapter 31 contains ordinances pertaining to dogs. Chapter 30 addresses animal regulations for all other animals. Animal Control Officers have authority to issue citations for any relevant violations. Citizens may document complaints on supporting depositions to aid in enforcement when Animal Control Officers are not present to observe such violations. The deposition instructions must be followed carefully to ensure appropriate and timely enforcement. These third party depositions are particularly helpful in addressing barking complaints.
Pet Adoption Services
We adopt out a variety of dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, and other animals such as gerbils, hamsters, Guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits, and various exotic birds. You never know what you might find on your next visit to the shelter. Learn more about our pet adoption program or come see for yourself!
1-877-NEW PET Line
Hill's Science Diet will launch the first-ever live toll free help line to guide potential, new and current pet owners in making the right behavioral and nutritional decisions to help manage their pets' special needs during lifestage transitions.
Low-Income Spay Neuter (LISN) Program
We offer low-cost spay and neuter surgeries to cat and dog owners meeting the income and residency guidelines. This program was established as a result of the increasing numbers of stray, feral and surrendered cats entering Rochester's shelters each year. The program was expanded to include dogs as a result of our desire to assist low-income dog owners too.
The services include administration of anesthetics and pain control medication, surgical sterilization, preventative rabies vaccination, and suture removal 7-10 days post surgery.
The program is limited to City of Rochester residents. Fees are $25 for male cats, $40 for female cats, and $75 for dog surgeries. Applications are available online and at the shelter at 184 Verona Street. Both pages (i.e., application and release) must be completed and payment must be made before the surgeries can be scheduled. Contact Animal Services at (585) 428-SPAY (7729) for more information.
At this time we are not scheduling any canine surgeries due to veterinary staffing challenges. Instead we are focusing on feline sterilizations because we recognize that cat populations represent a greater area of need. Cats are less regulated than dogs and there is more uncontrolled breeding among stray and feral cat populations. However, we do plan to reinstitute this program for dogs in the near future. In the meantime, if you have a dog that needs to be sterilized, we recommend that you contact your local veterinarian to schedule an appointment. Thank you for your understanding.
P.A.W. (Pets Are Welcome) Resource
A listing of "pet-friendly" apartments within the Rochester community.
Community Events
Animal Services participates in various events within the Rochester area including an annual open house, The Fast & The Furriest™ 10K Race & 1-Mile Dog Walk, The Frosty Paws Winter Carnival, parades, summer festivals and other activities to promote shelter adoptions and volunteering.
"Anti-Animal Fighting" Task Force member
RAS has joined forces with the Humane Society at Lollypop Farm, the Rochester Police Department, Monroe County Sheriffs Office, the District Attorney's Office, the City of Rochester Law Department, NET, and the Housing Authority in an effort to eliminate illegal animal fighting through enforcement, education and public awareness.
Dog Bite Prevention and Responsible Pet Guardian Programs
These programs are provided to a variety of different community groups, schools and public servants as requested. The purpose is to provide guidance to assist people throughout the community in avoiding dog bites and also tips for providing appropriate care and socialization for household pets.
Volunteer Program
Animal Services has an active volunteer program that enables citizens to get involved with various aspects of the programs and services. Volunteer duties include dog walking, pet bathing, socializing and training animals, cleaning cages, assisting with spay neuter clinic and promoting the organization at special events.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Placement
Animal Control Officers are licensed in Nuisance Wildlife Control by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. This license empowers ACOs to legally transport some wild animals either for relocation or rehabilitation. Citizens should not tranport and relocate nuisance wildlife.
Quarterly Newsletter
Find out more about programs, activities, and progress involving Animal Services and the Verona Street Animal Society in our quarterly newsletter.