The ultimate goal of the Community and Pet Support program (CAPS) is to provide counseling and resources to pet owners so they can make informed decisions that will ensure the best option for their pets and themselves. The best thing for any pet is to stay in a home and never have to come to the shelter. 

Having a pet is a life-long commitment, but we do understand that situations can arise. Surrendering your animal should always be a last-resort! Animal Services has options to help you through a difficult time. Contact our CAPS office to discuss the available resources to help you keep your animal.  

There are several low-cost veterinarians in the El Paso area, to include:

• Mobile Pet Vet
• Dr. C’s Animal Clinic
• Paws ‘N Hooves
• West Texas Vet

To find a full list of local veterinarians, visit www.EPVMA.org. El Paso Animal Services also partners with local veterinary clinics to offer occasional Pet Wellness Clinics. To see upcoming events, visit our calendar:

El Paso Animal Services offers free supplemental pet food to families in need. We offer free dog and cat food, as well as other supplies based on availability.

If you need assistance with free pet food, please apply online. Once your application is approved, we can schedule an appointment to receive your first food supply and onboard your pets in the Pet Pantry program. If you’re unable to fill out an online application, visit our main campus to fill out a paper application. If you have any questions about the Pet Pantry program, please email us at PetHelpline@elpasotexas.gov. 

This program is funded and made possible thanks to donations from our community, so supplies may be limited. El Pasoans Fighting Hunger also offers limited pet food pantry distribution as well. Visit their Facebook for upcoming events. 

Below is a list of local certified* animal trainers or offering virtual services:

• Comfort the Dog Training – IAABC-ADT, PPG
• Cloud K9 Dog Training – CCPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
• Good Pup – Virtual

Find a list of other certified dog trainers offering virtual services by visiting www.IAABC.org. 

*El Paso Animal Services recommends vetting your animal trainer and ensuring they are accredited or certified by a national training organization such as IAABC, PPG or CCPDT.

We understand making the decision to surrender your pet is difficult. If you are considering surrendering your pet, we are here to offer guidance and support. Our goal is to help you resolve the problems you’re experiencing so you and your pet can stay together. Please utilize our resources below, or reach out to us at pethelpline@elpasotexas.gov and we can discuss various programs and services that we offer that may assist you in keeping your pet.

As an alternative to surrendering your pet to El Paso Animal Services, we encourage you to rehome them privately. By rehoming your pet privately, you prevent them from ever having to enter a stressful shelter. As their owner, you are the best person equipped to match them to their new home as you know them best.

El Paso Animal Services partners with Home-to-Home to offer your pet a chance of finding a new home. Home-to-Home is an online platform that allows residents to proactively rehome their pets when keeping them is no longer an option. 

If you have explored all other options and still are unable to keep your pet, then surrendering your pet might be the next option to explore. If this is the case, please submit an appointment request form online. Please be aware that surrender appointments at El Paso Animal Services are 6 to 8 weeks out. You can also attempt contacting another local rescue or shelter to see if they have capacity to take the pet. El Paso Animal Services is typically unable to accept same-day surrenders. Appointments are scheduled based on availability and available space within the shelter. 

Our goal is to help keep families together, humans and animals alike. If you find yourself in need of other kinds of resources for you, your family or your home, visit the resources provided here for more information.