BEREA, Ky. — Most people think of an animal shelter strictly as a place to adopt a pet. That is part of the story, but in Madison County, the shelter is also tied closely to public safety and animal welfare enforcement.
The Madison County Animal Shelter is operated through the county’s Animal Care and Control Department. According to the county, that department is tasked with enforcing animal welfare laws, investigating cruelty and neglect complaints, handling quarantines, providing public education, and removing stray animals from roads and public areas when they may be dangerous to the public.
📍 Where the Shelter Is and When You Can Visit
- Address: 1386 Richmond Road N, Berea, KY 40403
- Business Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Viewing Hours: Monday–Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Phone: (859) 624-4744
Even if the building is open earlier for staff, the county’s listed 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. viewing window is when the public is expected to walk through and look at adoptable animals.
🏢 Who Runs It and What the Staff Do
Madison County’s Animal Care and Control page notes the shelter’s mission is to safeguard public health and safety while caring for animals in its custody and protecting them from abuse and neglect. The county also employs full-time Animal Control Officers tasked with enforcing cruelty statutes and canine-related laws.
Staff and officers balance emergency calls, intakes, health checks, legal requirements, and daily animal care.
🐶 How Adoption Works, and What the Fees Include
The county posts adoptable animals online and updates profiles as animals become available. Standard adoption fees:
- Dogs and puppies: $108 (plus tax)
- Cats and kittens: $84 (plus tax)
Fees cover partial vaccinations, a rabies voucher, microchip implantation, and spay/neuter surgeries.
Adoptable animals and the adoption application are posted here.
🐾 What Happens When Someone Needs to Surrender a Pet
Owner surrenders are handled by appointment only, as space allows. The county does not intake community or stray cats; cat surrenders must be owner-surrendered, friendly, indoor, and litterbox trained.
- Unaltered Female: $125
- Unaltered Male: $85
- Spayed or Neutered: $40
More surrender information is posted here.
🏷️ Licensing and Microchipping Requirements
All pets in Madison County must be microchipped or licensed annually for $25 (Ordinance 2025-005). The $25 microchip satisfies the legal requirement permanently.
💸 How the Shelter is Funded and Supported
While the shelter is a county operation, community support is vital. The county accepts monetary donations and regularly needs cleaning supplies, pet food, blankets, towels, leashes, bowls, and grooming tools.
Donation information is available here.
The shelter recently received a $12,000 grant from Petco Love to support its lifesaving work.
📝 The Practical Takeaway
- Adopting: Browse the county’s adoptable list online, complete the application, and visit during viewing hours.
- Helping the shelter: Donated supplies and monetary donations are always useful. Sharing their Facebook posts helps expand their reach.
- Surrendering a pet: Call first, as space and appointment availability can change week to week.
📅 Upcoming Events in Berea & Beyond
Theater & Performance at The Spotlight Playhouse
(Tickets and info for all shows: thespotlightplayhouse.com)
- Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced (The Bluegrass Players) — March 6–14
- The Taming of the Shrew (Teen Production, Ages 14–18) — March 6–15
- Murder on the 518 (The Bluegrass Players) — March 20–29
- Disney’s Frozen JR. (Teen Production, Ages 14–18) — March 20–29
- “Finally” A Broadway Revue (The Spotlight Players) — April 3–12
- The Booking Committee (The Bluegrass Players) — April 17–25
- Disney’s Finding Nemo KIDS (Ages 4–11) — April 24–26
Music & Concerts
- Al Scorch | Casey Campbell (Rebel Rebel Studio & Lounge) — Fri., March 6 at 7:00 p.m.
- Guest Piano Recital: Gregory Sioles (Berea College) — Tues., March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
- Black Music Ensemble Spring Concert (Berea College) — Fri., March 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Community, Arts & Outdoors
- Jammin’ on the Porch (Russel Acton Folk Center) — Thurs., March 5 at 7:00 p.m.
- FreeSkool: DIY Energy Efficiency Workshop (HomeGrown HideAways) — Sun., March 8 at 2:00 p.m.
- Creative Camera Club Opening Reception (Berea Arts Council) — Fri., March 13 at 5:30 p.m.
- Red Oaks Art Club (Forestry Outreach Center) — Sat., March 14 at 10:00 a.m.
- Photography Workshop with John Snell (Berea Arts Council) — Sat., March 28 at 10:00 a.m.