The Nebraska Humane Society, founded in 1875, is both the Omaha area's open-door shelter and its contracted animal-control authority. It takes in strays, runs adoptions, handles pet licensing for much of the metro, and sends officers on cruelty and field calls. Here is how adoption, licensing, surrender, and lost-pet recovery work.
It is both an open-door safety-net shelter and, since 2024, a no-kill one. The organization describes itself as the place that houses all animals with nowhere else to go, and local reporting noted it reached a 90 percent save rate in 2024, the threshold widely used to define no-kill. Owner surrenders are limited to a last resort, but stray intake is not turned away.
What sets it apart is the animal-control contract. The Nebraska Humane Society is contracted by the City of Omaha and Sarpy County municipalities, so the same nonprofit that adopts out pets also runs field officers, enforces cruelty laws, declares dangerous dogs, and handles stray intake. Its relationship with the City of Omaha dates back to its founding in 1875.
There is no flat adoption fee. Each animal's price is listed on its individual online bio, and licensing is charged separately. Dog adoptions include vaccinations given at intake, age-appropriate boosters, flea and tick prevention, spay or neuter, and a microchip; cat adoptions include the same, with rabies for cats six months and older.
Adoption is walk-in only, first-come, first-served, with same-day take-home. Adopters must be at least 19, Nebraska's age to sign a contract, and bring a photo ID. Adoption hours are noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Pet licensing is the law in most metro communities, and the Nebraska Humane Society administers it for around nine jurisdictions. An Omaha license costs $54.50 for an intact pet and $29.50 for an altered one, plus a $5 processing fee; other suburbs are cheaper.
Owner surrender is by appointment as a last resort for Omaha and Sarpy residents who have exhausted rehoming, and staff follow up within 72 hours. An animal-control emergency pickup costs $50. The temporarily closed clinic normally prices cat surgery at $80 to $70 and dog surgery from $90 to $175 by weight, with a $50 feral-cat package.
To reclaim a lost pet, go to the shelter in person with a photo ID and proof of ownership. The stray hold is three days in Omaha and Douglas County and five days in Sarpy County cities, and reclaim fees are set by each city. To report cruelty or a stray, call animal control at 402-444-7800, extension 1; officers work 8 a.m. to midnight every day.
The minimum age to volunteer is 19, with a youth day for ages 14 to 18 on the last Saturday of each month. Volunteers commit to at least six hours a month for at least six months. Fostering involves an application and a home visit, and the shelter supplies food, bedding, crates, litter, and medical care.
The wish list is detailed and current, with high-priority items such as canned chicken, Churu cat treats, hard dog toys, scoopable litter, puppy and kitten formula, and Kuranda beds. The Nebraska Humane Society holds four stars from Charity Navigator with a score near 97 percent; its EIN is 47-0378997.
Dogs, cats, and other animals, with each fee listed on the animal's online bio.
Contracted field officers, stray intake, and cruelty enforcement for the metro.
Administers licensing for the City of Omaha and Sarpy County communities.
Public clinic (temporarily closed) with no income requirement.
In-person stray reclaim with set hold periods by jurisdiction.
Trap, neuter, and return for community cats.
Sources: Nebraska Humane Society (nehumanesociety.org) adoption, animal-control, licensing, surrender, and wish-list pages; WOWT reporting on its 2024 no-kill status; Charity Navigator (EIN 47-0378997). Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Nebraska Humane Society and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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