What are your hours?
Animal Protectors is open to the public, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sat.: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Please note that Animal Protectors is closed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Easter, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas day.
Where are you located?
We are located at 533 Linden Avenue, New Kensington, PA 15068. Please note that you are now only able to turn onto Linden Avenue from 366 Southbound. Please see our contact us page for directions.
How is Animal Protectors different from other shelters?
Animal Protectors is a non-profit shelter, this means that we run completely off of donations and fundraising events. We are also no-kill meaning that we never euthanize for space. Animal Protectors serves as animal control for the City of New Kensington and a majority of our animals are found as strays or neglect cases and turned in by local authorities and community members.
Where does Animal Protectors get funding, and how can I help?
The majority of Animal Protector’s funding comes from donations and fundraising events. The shelter does occasionally receive grants to assist with the cost of running the shelter, but it is the generosity of the community that allow for the day-to-day operations. If you are interested in helping us raise money, consider becoming a volunteer and joining the fundraising team.
What can I do to locate my lost pet?
If your pet is lost, the best thing to do is to call the local animal shelters and animal control in your area. Ask if anyone has brought in or found a lost animal and give them the description of your pet and your contact information. They will contact you immediately if your pet is brought into their shelter. In addition to this, post flyers with a photo and description of your pet and spread the word amongst all of your neighbors and friends so they may help you keep an eye out for your pet.
Do you offer spay and neuter services?
While Animal Protectors does spay and neuter all of the animals before they are adopted, we do not have the accommodations to offer spay and neuter services to the public. There are many low cost spay and neuter services in the Pittsburgh area though. Please see our Spay and Neuter education page or our resource page for more information.
What should I do if I suspect or see someone abusing an animal?
There are many different forms of abuse and neglect. Please read about what you should do if you witness this in the Abuse/Neglect section of our website.
What types of animals do you care for?
Animal Protectors cares for dogs and cats who are awaiting their forever homes. We care for all breeds of dogs and cats.
How many animals do you have at your facility?
Our maximum capacity is 23 dogs and about 30 cats, but the number of animals changes daily. We are constantly adopting animals out into loving homes while other animals are found wandering or abandoned and brought to the shelter. These numbers do not include the animals that are in foster care. Foster care allows us to help and save even more animals. If you are interested in opening your heart and home to an animal in need, please see our information on becoming a foster parent.
Do you accept unwanted animals on a walk-in basis?
We always ask that a person reconsider giving up their animal. If it is not a possibility to keep them then we suggest they try to find a good home for them, possibly with friends or family members who are looking for an addition to their family. Because Animal Protectors is animal control for New Kensington, we are not able to accept unwanted or owned animals. There is often only enough space for the stray and abandoned animals in the area.
What is the process for adopting a pet from Animal Protectors?
Whether you have just seen a picture of a pet on our website or if you stopped down and saw the animal at the shelter, we always suggest that you spend a little bit of time with the animal to get to know them a little bit. Once you have decided you would like to adopt a particular animal, you will fill out an application and turn it in to our office. We will then complete the necessary veterinarian and property checks. If everything clears, we will call you to set up a time for you to pick up your new pet.
How much does it cost to adopt and what's included in the adoption fee?
Please see our adoption information page for additional details.
How do I become a volunteer?
Our shelter is always in need of dedicated and caring animal lovers who are willing to sacrifice their time to help care for our many dogs and cats that reside at the shelter. If you have the time to help an animal in need, please fill out a volunteer application and attend an orientation. Volunteer orientations are held on the second Saturday and third Sunday of every month at 12:00 p.m.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
All volunteers must be 16 years old to volunteer. If you are under 16 years of age and wish to volunteer, we encourage you to explore fundraising projects that you can do for the shelter. We have had many individuals and groups organize donation drives at schools or began projects to raise money for the shelter within the community.
My group wants to volunteer, who do I contact?
Animal Protectors is a very small shelter so at this time we are not able to have large groups of people volunteer together due to space constraints. We do offer tours of the shelter if your group is interested, and we have worked with groups on special projects such as fundraising, maintenance or educational sessions. Please contact us if you are interested in more information.