animal shelter

American  

[an-uh-muhl shel-ter] / ˈæn ə məl ˌʃɛl tər /

noun

• animal shelters
  plural

1. an establishment, maintained by local government or supported by charitable contributions, that provides a temporary home for dogs, cats, and other animals that are offered for adoption, and puts to sleep homeless animals that have been deemed unsuitable for adoption.

   The animal shelter is requesting donations of old towels, blankets, and other linens.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• animal shelters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of animal shelter

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

animal shelter

The dog was transported to an animal shelter in nearby Bonita.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Animal Friends of the Valleys, a nonprofit animal shelter, assisted police at the scene.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

Multiple buildings stand on the property, including three separate guesthouses, a 5,500-square-foot movie theater with a stage, several barns, animal shelter facilities, corrals, and a maintenance shop.

From MarketWatch ● May 5, 2026

He was adopted from the renowned London animal shelter, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, when he was believed to be about four years old.

From Barron's ● Feb. 15, 2026

The cat from the animal shelter, Clarence, would be in the first day’s scenes too.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein