The Humane Society of the Black Hills, founded in 1968 in Rapid City, is the largest shelter in western South Dakota, caring for around 4,000 animals a year. It is open-admission and provides contracted animal control for Rapid City and Pennington County. Here is how adoption, surrender, and its services work.
Founded in 1968, the Humane Society of the Black Hills is an open-admission shelter, which means no animal is turned away regardless of species, medical status, or behavior. It is independent and locally funded, not affiliated with any national group, and it cares for around 4,000 animals a year.
It also provides contracted animal control and humane law enforcement for both Rapid City and Pennington County, so the same organization that adopts out pets also handles strays, impounds, and lost-and-found for the area. It is often described as the only major shelter west of the Missouri River in South Dakota.
Adoption fees are published and tiered by age, and each adoption includes spay or neuter, vaccinations, preventive deworming, a microchip, and a complimentary wellness exam.
| Animal | Adoption fee |
|---|---|
| Puppy | $375 |
| Dog, 6 months to adult | $90 to $300 |
| Kitten | $150 |
| Cat, 6 months to 7 years | $100 |
| Senior cat, 7 and older | $50 |
| Small animal | from $5 |
Adoption appointments are recommended, with walk-ins accommodated when possible, and the last appointment is 30 minutes before closing. The shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed Wednesday.
Owner surrender has required an appointment since mid-2025, with fees of $53.10 for a dog or cat and $10.62 for a small mammal, reptile, bird, or trapped stray cat; surrendered animals must pass a behavior and medical evaluation before reaching the adoption floor. Because the organization holds the animal-control contract, it also handles stray intake and return-to-owner.
Volunteers 16 and older can work independently, with younger helpers alongside a parent, and the foster program asks for a clean, secure indoor space. The Humane Society of the Black Hills holds a three-star rating from Charity Navigator with an 86 percent score, and its EIN is 46-0396967.
Dogs, cats, and small animals in Rapid City.
Contracted stray intake and enforcement for Rapid City and Pennington County.
Stray intake and return-to-owner services.
By appointment, after a behavior and medical evaluation.
Surgery for animals before adoption.
Homes that can provide a clean, secure indoor space.
Sources: Humane Society of the Black Hills (hsbh.org) about, adoption, and surrender pages; Charity Navigator (EIN 46-0396967). Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Humane Society of the Black Hills and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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