ARL Animal Services

01/18/2025

WE’RE HIRING: The ARL is seeking a full-time Animal Services Officer to join our team. This role will include working with the public by responding to animal-related calls where services such as control rescue, relocation, and animal care are needed. This team works collaboratively to create change in the community and have a meaningful impact every day for animals and our community.

Qualified candidates should have a high school diploma or GED and the ability to navigate streets and county roads to locate addresses or described locations with little to no difficulty. Background in law enforcement and animal handling are preferred.

See the full job description and apply at https://ow.ly/QRW150UIRCo.

01/16/2025

GET A PHOTO WITH YOUR VALENTINE! Need a new pic with your pet? Join us on Feb. 1 at ARL Animal Services for a Valentine-themed photoshoot!

For just $15 you can get a photo of your pet (or you and your pet) in front of a backdrop cute enough to make you fall in love. When you book a photo session in advance, you won’t have to wait in line to have your photo taken!

Learn more and reserve your photo session at https://ow.ly/rQos50UHiJq.

01/14/2025

IMPORTANT: With temperatures becoming bitterly cold, be sure to take precautions to keep your pets safe.

The ARL strongly recommends that outdoor dogs be brought indoors during cold snaps. If your dog HAS to stay outside, they must have access to adequate shelter and fresh (not frozen) water at all times. The shelter must be insulated, with dry bedding such as straw to keep them warm and give them protection from the wind. Do NOT use blankets outdoors, as they will collect water and freeze. Aging dogs, undernourished dogs, and dogs with medical conditions should not be out in the cold even with a doghouse – it’s just too dangerous.

If you see a pet in distress in the city of Des Moines, call (515) 283-4811. During extreme temps, these calls will be considered priority calls. Outside of Des Moines, call the non-emergency police dispatch number for that area.

Please keep your pets safe, and if a pet’s situation worries you, don’t hesitate – just call.

Find more tips on keeping pets safe in cold weather at https://ow.ly/cGuG50QqbrJ.

01/11/2025

MORE WAYS TO ADOPT THIS WEEKEND: Today is our one-year anniversary event at ARL Animal Services! We’re celebrating one year in the Des Moines Animal Services building, and adoption fees for dogs and cats 6+ months at ARL Animal Services will be 50% off! When you come meet pets at this location, you can also enjoy coffee, light snacks, raffle prizes and more! Pets at this event will have a location of “ARL Animal Services.”

We will also be at PetSmart in Ankeny today and tomorrow for a Friends for Life adoption event with adoptable dogs and cats! Adoption fees for dogs and cats 6+ months at this event will also be 50% off thanks in part to a grant from PetSmart Charities. Pets at this event will have a location of “Adoption Event.”

See all our adoptable pets, plus hours for these locations, at ARL-Iowa.org!

(Pictured: Nook, available for adoption at ARL Animal Services!)

01/10/2025

CHECK THIS OUT: Cherry, a sweet dog who arrived at the ARL with no eyes, was adopted from ARL Animal Services this week! Her new family came just to meet her and loved her sweet personality, so they ran home to pick up their resident dog and brought him back to meet Cherry with them.

When Cherry and her new brother met, they were instant best friends. They loved playing together, and the family thought their dog would be the perfect helper to show Cherry the ropes in her new home. When they tried to take their dog to the car while they finalized Cherry’s adoption, he didn’t want to leave his new sister behind and insisted on watching her through the window until it was time for her to join them in the car.

After chatting with our staff about how to help Cherry navigate her new home without eyes, the family made things official and took her home!

Congrats, Cherry!

01/10/2025

THIS WEEKEND: Join us at ARL Animal Services on Saturday (1/11) for an adoption event celebrating one year at the Des Moines Animal Services building! Adoption fees for dogs and cats 6 months and up will be 50% up at ARL Animal Services ONLY!

This event will also feature coffee, light snacks, fun raffle prizes and activities for the whole family!

Check out all our adoptable pets at https://ow.ly/gUt450UCZYx and look for “ARL Animal Services” under their names to find pets at this location!

(Pictured: Just a few pets looking for homes at ARL Animal Services!)

01/02/2025

AWESOME DOG ALERT: Meena is the sweetest, snuggliest girl in the world! She’s totally a people dog and will say hi and get love from everyone she can.

As you can see, stuffed toys are her favorite. She loves them so much she’ll carry them around whenever possible and has even taken them on walks with her here at the shelter! It's so cute to see!

Interested in adopting Meena? Come meet her at ARL Animal Services!

Learn more about Meena at https://ow.ly/Uwhz50UyV5H.

12/24/2024

INTERESTED IN ADOPTING TODAY? Our pets would love to meet you! Just a reminder that we'll be closing early, so we'd encourage you to visit earlier rather than later. Here are our holiday hours:

🎄TUESDAY 12/24
- ARL Animal Services, ARL Main & ARL Club WDM closing at 4 p.m.
- ARL West closing at 3 p.m.

🎄WEDNESDAY 12/25
- All ARL locations closed

Pictured: Sweet, friendly 2-year-old Sketch, who is available for adoption at ARL Animal Services! She'd be a great addition to the family!

12/17/2024

12/15/2024

❤️💚 LAST DAY OF $25 ADOPTIONS ❤️💚 Don't miss out! $25 adoptions for cats and dogs ages 6 months and older continue at all ARL locations – including ARL Animal Services – but only through the end of the day! We’re open until 6 p.m., and you can see all our available pets at ARL-Iowa.org. There's nothing better than giving a pet a Home for the Holidays!

Pictured: Thaleah the dog and Cruz the cat are just two of the amazing pets who have been adopted from ARL Animal Services during this adoption event, which is sponsored by Petco Love.

12/13/2024

$25 ADOPTIONS CONTINUE! It’s chilly outside! Looking for a pet to snuggle up with? Our Home for the Holidays adoption event continues today with $25 adoptions for dogs and cats 6 months and up! Come find your new snuggle buddy!

This event includes pets at ALL ARL adoption locations and pets spending time in foster homes! To meet those pets, just contact use using the info in their website bios and we’ll honor the discounted adoption fee when you visit – event if it’s after the promo ends! You can see all available pets, plus locations and hours, at ARL-Iowa.org.

Please spread the word to help as many pets as possible find homes for the holidays!

Pictured: Prada, available for adoption at ARL Animal Services!

Adoption event sponsored by Petco Love

12/13/2024

Please spread the word!

12/12/2024

STARTING TODAY: $25 ADOPTIONS! Our Home for the Holidays adoption event starts TODAY and runs through Sunday (12/15)! Come to any ARL adoption location for $25 adoption fees for dogs and cats 6 months and older. They’ll be so excited to have a family in time for the holidays!

Pro tips:
❄️ See all our adoptable pets, as well as our locations/hours at ARL-Iowa.org! We recommend coming as early as possible to ensure you’ll be able to adopt that day.
❄️ If you’d like to introduce your dog to another dog or your child to any pet, please bring them with you when you visit!
❄️ This event also includes pets in foster homes and ones available by appointment. To meet those pets, contact us using the info in their website bios. If we receive your request by 6 p.m. Sunday, we’ll honor the discounted adoption fee when you visit – even if the visit happens after the promo is over!
❄️ Use the money you save on your adoption fee to spoil your new family member! We make it easy to load up on supplies, treats and toys at our Animal House store at ARL Main!
Please spread the word about this event to help as many pets as possible find homes!

Adoption event sponsored by Petco Love

Pictured: Just a few pets look for homes this holiday season!

12/11/2024

HEAR IT HERE FIRST: Thursday (12/12) through Sunday (12/15), we’re having a Home for the Holidays adoption event at ALL ARL adoption locations! Adoption fees for dogs and cats 6 months and older will be just $25! Now is your chance to give a pet in need a home just in time for the holiday season!

There’s never been a better time to bring home a new family member! All adoptable dogs and cats are already spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and you can use the money you save on adoption fees to spoil your pet even more! We make it easy to stock up on treats and toys at our Animal House store at ARL Main.

Don’t forget, this event takes place at ALL ARL adoption locations, including ARL Main, ARL Animal Services ARL West (located inside Iowa Pet Foods & Seascapes), ARL Club WDM (located inside Canine Country Club), and other partner locations!

You can see all our adoptable pets, plus locations and hours, at ARL-Iowa.org. Please spread the word to help as many pets as possible find homes this holiday season!

Adoption event sponsored by Petco Love

11/27/2024

LAST DAY FOR $45 ADOPTIONS! Don’t miss out – come find your cutie pie today! It’s the last day of our Cutie Pies adoption event with $45 adoptions for dogs and cats 6+ months at ALL ARL adoption locations!

Don’t forget, this event includes pets in foster homes and ones available by appointment! To meet those pets, just contact us using the info in their website bios by 7 p.m. this evening and we’ll honor the discount adoption fee when you come meet the pet – even if you visit after the promo ends!

Check out all our adoptable pets, plus locations and hours, at ARL-Iowa.org. Please spread the word to help even more pets find homes before this event ends!

Pictured: Zumi, available for adoption at ARL Animal Services!

Adoption event sponsored by ZarleyConley

11/26/2024

WOW! Over 170 pets have found homes so far during our Cutie Pies adoption event, and there’s still time to adopt! The promo continues today and tomorrow with $45 adoption fees for dogs and cats 6 months and up! Come to any ARL adoption location to find a cutie pie of your own – they’ll be so thankful to have a home for Thanksgiving!

Check out all our adoptable pets, plus locations and hours, at ARL-Iowa.org. Please spread the word to help even more pets find homes during this event!

Pictured: Lance, adopted during this event, and his new mom!

Adoption event sponsored by ZarleyConley

11/20/2024

HEAR IT HERE FIRST: Friday (11/22) through Wednesday (11/27), we’re having a 🥧Cutie Pies🥧 adoption event at ALL ARL adoption locations! Adoption fees for dogs and cats 6 months and older will be just $45! No matter what type of pie is your favorite, you can come find your perfect match!

If you’re looking for a new family member, now is the time! You can use the money you save on adoption fees to spoil your cutie pie even more. We make it easy to stock up on treats and toys at our Animal House store at ARL Main!

Don’t forget, this event takes place at ALL ARL adoption locations, including ARL Main, ARL Animal Services, ARL West (located inside Iowa Pet Foods & Seascapes), ARL Club WDM (located inside Canine Country Club), and other partner locations!

You can see all our adoptable pets, plus locations and hours, at ARL-Iowa.org. Please spread the word to help as many pets as possible find homes during this event!

Adoption event sponsored by ZarleyConley

11/07/2024

MICROCHIP SUCCESS: An ARL Animal Services officer responded to a call yesterday about a dog who had been found all alone in Des Moines. Thankfully the dog had a microchip, so our A*O was able to call the microchip company, get her owners’ contact info and reach out to them right away. The family was SO excited their pup had been found. It turns out Annabell had slipped out of her collar when she was out with them the day before. Her worried family had searched for her for hours, and when they couldn’t find her, they feared the worst. Thanks to Annabell’s microchip and the fact that her owners had kept their contact info up to date, we were able to quickly reunite the family without Annabell ever having to enter the shelter – a win-win for everyone!

A microchip is the best way to ensure you are reunited with your pet if they ever go missing. Already have a microchip? Check to make sure your contact info is up-to-date! Need a microchip? The ARL offers low-cost microchipping to help as many pets as possible be reunited with their families. To learn more, head to https://ow.ly/Wh8H50SrbtS.