The Animal Rescue League of Iowa, founded in 1926, is the state's largest nonprofit animal shelter, adopting out more than 9,000 animals in 2025. It runs several Des Moines locations, including a ranch for horses and barn animals, provides contracted animal services for the city, and offers a free behavior helpline. Here is how adoption, surrender, and its programs work.
The ARL is Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter and cares for many thousands of pets a year, including dogs, cats, small animals, and barn and farm animals such as horses and goats. In 2025 it adopted out a record 9,244 animals and rescued 931 more from cruelty situations.
It also provides contracted animal services for the City of Des Moines through its ARL Animal Services division, which is the city's designated stray drop-off. With more than 1,400 animals in care at times, owner-surrender intake is managed by appointment, so it functions as a limited-admission organization for surrenders even as it serves a broad public role.
Adoption fees are published and tiered by species, age, and size, and every dog and cat goes home with an exam, spay or neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccines, deworming, a microchip, and dental care; dogs add a heartworm test and cats add an FeLV test.
| Animal | Adoption fee |
|---|---|
| Puppy, under 6 months | $350 |
| Dog, 6 months to 5 years, under 25 lbs | $200 |
| Dog, 6 months to 5 years, over 25 lbs | $125 |
| Dog, 6 years and older | $60 |
| Kitten, under 6 months | $125 (or $200 with a second kitten or mom) |
| Cat, 6 months to 7 years | $100 |
| Cat, 8 years and older | $50 |
| Working cats | $25 each, two minimum |
Adoption is walk-in and first-come, first-served; pets cannot be held for a visit, so you meet the animal in person and complete the adoption that day. ARL periodically waives fees during promotions.
The low-cost spay and neuter program charges $100 for a cat and $200 for a dog, with the surgery, core vaccines, and a microchip included, on a limited first-come basis. ARL also runs affordable veterinary clinics and a pet food fund for owners in need.
A free behavior helpline is one of the things that sets ARL apart. Cat, dog, and other-species lines all run through (515) 262-9503, with callbacks and in-person dog consultations available, so owners can get help before a problem leads to surrender.
Owner surrender is by appointment, with a species-specific intake form, a 30 to 45 minute appointment, and a health and behavior evaluation. The fee is pay-what-you-can; ARL notes it costs an average of $20 a day to care for one animal.
Volunteers can start at age 10 with a parent or guardian, and the commitment is two shifts a month for at least six months after a background check and online orientation. Fostering is matched to the home, the ARL provides crates and all veterinary care, and assignments range from a few days to a few months.
The Fetch List wish list names specific items, from Churu cat treats and xylitol-free peanut butter to Timothy hay and senior horse feed. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a BBB Accredited Charity. Its EIN is 42-0680427.
Dogs, cats, small animals, and barn animals across several Des Moines locations.
Contracted animal services and stray drop-off for the City of Des Moines.
$100 for a cat and $200 for a dog, with vaccines and a microchip included.
Cat, dog, and other-species help at (515) 262-9503 to prevent surrenders.
Adoption of horses and barn animals, plus working cats.
Homes supported with crates and all veterinary care.
Sources: Animal Rescue League of Iowa (arl-iowa.org) adoption, spay/neuter, behavior, surrender, and impact pages; Charity Navigator (EIN 42-0680427). The Des Moines animal-services contract is described from ARL's own pages. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Animal Rescue League of Iowa and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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