This is a non profit feline free roam shelter. They do have separate spaces for cats that are not socialized or are on the shy side. You can volunteer in different ways to help this fun and fabulous group of folks who are caring for these rescue animals. Follow animal aid on social media to learn about fun yoga classes, bingo or ways to assist in raising funds for this small local shelter that has been in business since 1969. Dogs are all fostered so they are not on these premises. Give them a call to see how you can volunteer today, foster or adopt. read more

See all

Had an amazing time here doing the cat yoga! This was my first time ever doing yoga too. It was such a fun, welcoming, warm and peaceful place to do yoga. I had one of the cats come by me once or twice. Would love to come back and do this again. Thank you! read more

Animal Aid - Cute cats here, this one didn't have time for the yoga session - Animal Shelters Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I never got past the application that I spent an hour online filling out only to learn that I was not acceptable to them because I let my cats out to sit in the sun on my two third story decks. They're a tad high minded and as a result I'd guess many cats linger far too long awaiting a new home. I'd also be willing to wager that far more pets perished in the Los Angeles wildfires because they could not escape their confinement in a burning dwelling than perished from jumping off a three story deck in 2025. read more

This presumably non profit organization is devoted to the fostering and adoption of dogs and cats. My partner and I are ideally suited for both fostering young kittens for a few weeks, and adopting older cats on a permanent basis. We have no children or grandchildren but due to our ages, (I'm 69, my partner is 72) we don't want to adopt kittens or cats who will outlive us. We no longer have any pets---our 19.5 year old last cat (of the original seven we ended up with--see below). We are ideally suited to adopt older cats whom no one wants because, well, who wouldn't want an adorable kitten or two instead? We wanted the last few years of an old cat whose person had died, been disabled or homeless, to have the love, comfort and joy we could give them. A little bit about us, so you can understand why we are so perplexed by the way Animal Aid has treated us. I spoke to someone there named Joe at some length. I explained to him, that in 2006, an emaciated feral cat would cross our yard with her four kittens in tow. We left out food in our backyard on a green space in the Vermont Hills for her and her kittens. The mom was killed by a neighbors dog and the kittens were too young to survive on their own. I called Cat Adoption Team and was told no, we don't take ferals, so I got a cat door, really a cat window on the first floor of our house, trained them to come inside to a spare bedroom where there was food, water and a dry, warm, safe place for them to sleep, away from the predators. Over three months, we domesticated these kittens, through play, cuddling, and a great deal of love and attention; they became very attached to us and vice versa. But we already had three rescue cats so add these four kittens--SEVEN cats??? So we called Cat Adoption Team, and told them the good news, they're domesticated and C.A.T.'s response was, sorry, no room at the inn. So, much to the chagrin of our friends and families, we kept these cats. We loved them. Our friends were concerned we'd became cat ladies, even though my partner is not a lady, but someone who TRULY loves animals. (cf Joe at Animal Aid). When the last of these kittens died at 19.5 in August, the grief was overwhelming. I filled out an application for Animal Aid, and one of the questions was, if the animal is difficult------ very aggressive, spraying, litter problems, clawing furniture, how would you handle thi? I answered honestly. If the problem was severe, I would take advantage of their 100% guarantee they'd take back the cat if it didn't work out. But here, I think they're misrepresenting the truth----they want to get rid of problem cats and unless you're willing to have your home ruined and you and your friends and family bitten, scratched and attacked, then they're not interested in you. That's the ONLY thing I can think of why they don't return my phone calls or respond. Sad, they could've been the recipient of a decent sized estate had they treated us--potential foster or adoptive families--with a modicum of respect. AVOID. These are NOT good people who have the best interest of the cats and dogs they're harboring. I'll be looking into them with resources I have so other people will not go through what we did. read more

On the one hand, Animal Aid clearly takes good care of the dogs and cats under their care. On the other, they are ridiculously authoritarian and frankly prejudicial about who they adopt pets to. I was refused a cat adoption because I had recently moved to Portland. I was completely capable of taking care of the cat and there were no financial concerns, but because "some people find it hard to make a living in Portland," my application was denied. I don't know what to say exactly, but I found this experience deeply disheartening. I was and have been well able to take care of this animal that needed a home, but the organization that claimed to want to safely house animals refused to let me take her under my wing, where she would have been loved and taken care of. I came away from the application process feeling frustrated and insulted. The reality is this review doesn't matter much, because they have animals for adoption and you want to adopt them, but be prepared for some pretentious nonsense and some condescension if you aren't a perfect native Oregonian. read more

Princess' dad and I divorced this last spring and I moved Princess from a house with cats to a petless home. Her dad is keeping the furry kids with him, for reasons that make sense.I didnt mind the lack of vomit, pee, or poop. But. This left my beast loving Princess pining for furry or scaly companionship. We explored the idea of a reptile...I'm just not a reptile person. I tried to get over it, no, just no. So while Princess complained, pined,demanded, cried, attempted emotional blackmail, wheedled and begged, I scoured the local shelter listings for our new cat friend. Ive never really gotten to choose my own feline before. They chose me or were foisted upon me. Just this time I wanted one that called to me. Found him.His picture spoke to me. No. It really did!! He was living here at Animal Aid for the last five months after being moved from Multnomah County Animal Services . Ive had past connections ( a friend adopted two cats here) with Animal Aid and I actually appreciate their somewhat stringent adoption practices. Our kitty was described as misunderstood with a lot of character...Im really good at animals with big personality. Really. I showed Princess his picture and profile on the website. Awwwwww!! Can we go tomorrow??he needs us!! So we did. And we fell hard. We filled out our application and they called our two references, our property manager, and our vet and this weekend he moved in. They very helpfully hung onto him for a few days while we went out of town for a previously planned vacation. The volunteer adoption counselor brought him here with accessories and paperwork and it was clear both she and the staff wanted him to have a great home. He does. We LOVE him already. My daughter was blissful that he slept on the foot of her bed last night. Its a great match. Do check them out if youre looking for a rescue animal. Dont let their rules daunt you. Theyre not snooty or weird, really, they just want their animals to have a permanent loving family and do what they can to make that happen. There isnt anything bad about that. P.s. All the animals are spayed/neutered, up to date on their vaccinations, have had vet care, and are microchipped. read more

Animal Aid - Our new family member. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Excellent shelter and adoption center. I got my cat here years ago and she's my best friend :) Animal Aid made sure to take great care of her before I took her home, like making sure she was spayed and up to date on shots, as well as personally dropping her off. They had loads of helpful information on taking care of cats, like recommending food and veterinary clinics. They even gave me a run down on what her favorite activities are! The application process was incredibly easy and stress-free too, which was appreciated as a first time pet owner. Thank you everyone, and Maisie says hi! read more

Animal Aid - Maisie lounging in her home - Animal Shelters Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Animal Aid is unlike any shelter I've been to because all the dogs and some of the cats are in foster care. The cats that are on site live in community rooms. There are no rows of depressing steel cages. Instead the cats get to run around, play with toys or nap in the sunshine. The Animal Aid staff members care deeply about the cats' welfare and are always seeking ways to improve the shelter. As a new volunteer, I've witnessed several extremely shy cats come out of their shells and become more adoptable. Please take a look at the cats (and dogs!) online at http://www.animalaidpdx.org/ or visit the shelter if you're interested in adopting a pet from a worthy organization. read more

Animal Aid - Animal Shelters Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Animal Aid is near and dear to my heart. I started volunteering here 6.5 years ago and was happy to resume my weekly shift recently after 'stay at home' orders were lifted. Over the years, I have seen the love and dedication of the people who work and volunteer for Animal Aid. My experience here has restored my faith in humanity as the people at this shelter really go above and beyond. These folx care deeply for their animals. And the care doesn't end when an animal is adopted. I always tell kitties they hit the jackpot when they arrive at the shelter. They have lots of room to roam, all the medical care they require, the shelter is always clean and the animals have everything they need. They work hard to find foster homes for all the dogs and for some cats with special attention needs. They also apply this level of care when it comes to the adoption process, making sure the animals here go to the best available homes. They have taken in many hard to place animals over their 50 years of service. My kitty, Olive, is one of them. Olive was a stray living in a cat colony for many years before her arrival at Animal Aid. She was very shy and would sometimes swat people who dared to pet her. She spent 2 years adjusting and coming out of her shell through the patience and empathic care of the people at Animal Aid. Now she is one of the most loving cats I've known. Animal Aid helped transform her life and mine as well-I am so grateful for this shelter taking a chance on a 'difficult' kitty. That 'difficult' kitty is now the head of my household and I can't imagine my world without her. I am lucky to be involved with this nonprofit and would recommend checking them out. This place is special. read more

See all

We just adopted the cutest pair of sister from AnimalAid POutland and we cannot say how much the agency cares for the well-being of the animals they represent. It is truly remarkable the care and compassion they have for finding forever homes for the animals in need. Nutmeg and Sesame June are by far the shining example of love they received under the care of Animal Aid in Portland Oregon. We are so lucky to have them in our family. DJ Wendeborn and Sonya McBryde, Ridgefield Washington. read more

We have adopted a number of cats over the years, including four (at different times) from Animal Aid. We deeply respect their detailed adoption form because it asks the important (and hard) questions. We believe any animal adopted from them is going to excellent guardians. Their facility is clean and welcoming, and all the cats seem happy and healthy. Visitors are asked to use hand sanitizer between each animal interaction, which seems like a smart precaution. I can't recommend them highly enough! read more

Great animal rescue group with a dedicated staff and group of volunteers, of which I have been one for 19 years.

I plan on finding a new rescue at Animal Aid as I appreciate and endorse their care, concern, and philosophy of their mission. All of the animals look incredibly healthy and well tended for. They have committed volunteers and again, I have the full sense that they put the animal's need in priority to wishful potential owners. As far as the few disgruntled listed here, I tend to err on this rescue's requirements and standards. Won't even address any personality issues between the folks who wrote less than stellar reviews as I don't care what the personality of someone is as long as their care and concern for the animal is paramount. Folks needing certain personality types should go elsewhere as it is such a non issue for an organization who rescues and cares for the animal... For the woman with 30 years experience and not a happy person, you should especially understand any person or organization who puts the animal as priority and who represents that animal's concern and welfare...even if it does not jive with your experience or the like. Trust me, lengthy experience in the vet pet world means nothing as some of the worst vets, breeders, and tecnnicans may have high odometers but it is meaningless as a qualification. Bottom line, these folks are on the front line of defense to ensure the care and well being on the animals they care for and this does include the potential owner and household for placement. Total paws up and thanks to Animal Aid. read more

Probably should come to expect this from a group of people who spend so much time with cats, but the staff comes off as pretentious and arrogant. On a couple of occasions, they've been outright rude, even though I live nearby and came in to see what kind of cats they have with my daughter. I half expect to return to my car after a visit to find one of the staff on top of my hood, sleeping next to the turd they just left for me. Cat Adoption Team or the OHS will be getting my business (and donations) from here on out. read more

This place is a bit odd and off the beaten path. My friend went to adopt a cat so we checked it out. They exclusively adopt out "indoor only" cats. And you must commit to this as well as not letting outdoor animals near your indoor only cat. They should probably make that clearer on the website. I found at least 2 staff members who were loving and knew the pets well, and one woman didnt seem to know much of anything about the animals. Most of the cats are in one big playroom. It has an odd feel to it - kind of sad - but you definitely get a better idea of personalities and are able to interact with them more in their comfort zone than at OHS. I fell madly in love with at least 2 cats while I was there. Many of their cats have special needs - Captain - the big one-eyed cat was such a love! It does seem as though they make the adoption process far more difficult than it need be. You will not go home with an animal that day. But on the flip side, the lovely woman at OHS said she wished their process was more stringent than it is. read more

They really 'vet' the potential adopter! Unlike many other places that do an intake and try and figure you out with an interview and guess at the honesty of your answers, Animal Aid will follow up on the referrals, including your vet and home. We've adopted from them, really appreciate their care and concern. It wasn't that big of a deal to go through their process. For some people this might seem like too much for your vet or landlord to get called, but if you've ever worked in animal adoption or read up on it, you know it's too easy to have terrible results with even well-meaning but clueless owners or extended family. AA's extra work really can mean the difference in an animal's life. read more

Animal Aid is a clean, big house with many options for cat adoption. The cats are healthy and happy, and it's an excellent environment to meet cats as most are free-ranging. They have an excellent selection of all ages and types of cats with varying temperaments and personalities. Their application process can be slow, and your personal references will be closely questioned about all their habits will their animals. Be prepared to be flexible with your choice of pet--they are very interested in making sure it will be a good fit with you and any other animals you currently live with. It is almost pet psychology exam, and you may not agree with the adoption committee's decision. The cat will be dropped off at your house and the adoption counselor will decide if it is a healthy environment. read more

I have been a volunteer caregiver for Animal Aid for the past 2 years. It is an incredible non profit organization that is committed to finding forever homes for their animals. The facility houses cats only. There are adoptable dogs in foster homes, but they are not present on site. At any time there are a number of cats or kittens available for adoption. You can see all of the animals online. Great care is taken to ensure that each animal is healthy, socialized, and happy. They come from a variety of backgrounds, but all are sweet, lovable and so cute. They each have their own unique personalities. Some are feisty and energetic, others are mellow and love to snuggle. You can stop in and meet them Monday - Friday 11am-4pm or Saturday Noon-4pm during Show and Tell. You may find a perfect furry companion! Animal Aid may be "off the beaten path" but it is worth visiting. You will fall in love with one of their special kitties, I have no doubt. Don't shop, adopt! These babies have so much love to give. read more

This is non-profit shelter for dogs and cats, but mostly cats, located in SW Portland near Beaverton-Hillsdale Hiway. Pets are examined by a vets who provide pro-bono services and are up to date on shots, chipped and neutered. They also do serious background checks on adoptive parents. You can stop in a visit pets before deciding if you have a match. Once you are approved to adopt, they deliver the pet to your home. They take lost animals and those slated for euthanaisia from shelters and commit to the pet for life. Even if the adoptive parent cannot keep them for some reason (i.e. due to illness or old age) - they will take them back. read more

I absolutely love Animal Aid! I have been volunteering once a week for about 3 years now and have been a foster mom twice. And most recently, finally gave in and adopted my little Honey. I am so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful organization and admire the staff who is so dedicated to keeping these animals happy and healthy during their stay at Animal Aid. read more

After completing a lengthy application and waiting several months, during which Animal Aid made and cancelled several appointments with us, a woman finally showed up an hour and a half late for our meeting to see if the foster dog would get along with our dog. The woman was (as previously listed here on Yelp) arrogant and rude. Somehow she made us feel bad for trying to help out and foster a dog!? Beyond that, she apparently knew nothing about normal dog behavior, as she scoffed at our dogs completely normal attempts to play with the foster dog. Perhaps a trip to the dog park would be a good idea for these folks. We will find another animal rescue to work with as this has been a complete waste of our time and not in any way a positive experience. read more

This is where I'd want to be if I was a cat looking for a new home! The staff is awesome--caring and kind--and dedicated to helping place the right pet into the right home. The shelter is a homeless kitty's dream. There are lots of toys to play with and cat trees to climb in spotless free-roam rooms. Lots of big windows to watch birds and squirrels at the feeders outside. Sunny spots to take comfy naps, and make new friends (or not ;-) --what a great place to meet their potential new adopter! read more

I have adopted 2 cats from Animal Aid. You can tell they really care for the cats by talking to the volunteers about good matches for you and your household. It's clean and everyone is very knowledgeable about the organization. I also chose this adoption center because it is no-kill and because they also help people in need of veterinary care. They also partner with other organizations. read more

I've been involved in rescue shelters for the past ten years, both in Florida and Oregon, both as an employee and a volunteer. I can truthfully tell you this is one of the very best. The most dedicated and caring staff and a wonderful group of volunteers ensure the happiness of the cats until they find their forever home. The adoption process is extremely thorough, designed to find the best fit for the pet to ensure that it is not returned. These cats and dogs also have a loving, forever home at Animal Aid for life if they are not adopted, and are provided with the best veterinary care. Dogs are kept in foster homes for their own happiness, as well as to cause less stress for the cats in the shelter. I adopted my cat from Animal Aid, as have some friends, and we highly recommend them. read more

The shelter houses cats and is VERY clean. Even though it is a shelter, the kitties seem content waiting for their permanent homes. The volunteers are very helpful, kind and knowledgeable about the cats. It's obvious they are caring and compassionate towards all their animals. I have adopted 2 cats and a dog from Animal Aid. One of the cats came from a high kill shelter that Animal Aid rescued. All their animals get any necessary veterinary care (even dentals) before adoption. They work with other organizations to save animals from euthanasia. This is a great no-kill organization that's been around Portland for over 40 years. read more

I did some volunteering here a few years back for PCC. I cant imagine a better group of cats that deserve homes! If you want a wonderful cat come here. There are soo many to choose from. Each of them have a little write up of their personalities,so you can choose the right one for you and your family!! I will agree though that the people that run the place are a bit snooty wish they wouldn't be that way.. but don't blame the animals still come here and check it out they deserve homes and donations even if the people running the place act like they are better than everyone. read more

While I am glad there are people in this world who care deeply for animals but there is a such thing as "overdoing it". I have been in the animal care industry for over 30 years and have been a licensed Vet-Tech specializing in feline medicine. All my clients will tell you how well I care for my 4 legged kids. They ALL have great Pet Insurance and are given the best care needed. Animal Aid denied my application for adopting an older cat with medical needs because I dont take my pets to the vet every year. I dont NEED to take them every year as I give them there own vaccines and ALL the care they need. I believe it is unnecessary torture to drag them kicking and stressing to the place they hate the most when they are perfectly healthy. These people are Pet Care Control Freaks and would rather an older sick cat be stuck in a boarding facility than with people that love them and can take better care of them. Bottom line, If you are willing to deal with their MEGA strict guidelines, they at least seem to care about their well being. read more

Animal Aid is a wonderful no kill shelter. The cats are cared for very well by a tiny staff and a large group of dedicated volunteers and board members. The cats live in a house, where quiet cats are free to roam in smaller rooms and social cats are out playing in a large main space. There are ample toys and grooming tools, and lots of people coming in to play with the cats. Each cat has a specialized feeding schedule and the shelter's litter boxes and surfaces are cleaned thoroughly twice a day. I have seen cats come in who hiss and hide, and by the time they leave for a "furrever home" they trust and play with their visitors. The dogs are all in foster care, as are some of the cats. Animal Aid has a strict screening process for potential adoptions, which means that the cats usually stay with their new homes, and stay indoor cats. It is wonderful to watch cats you love go home to loving families. read more