The Denver Animal Shelter is moving its vaccine clinics to weekdays in order to create more pet adoption time on the weekends.

Starting July 1, the vaccine clinics at the shelter will move to Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The shift will allow the shelter to focus only on pet adoptions from 9-11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, providing four additional hours of adoption time each weekend, the agency said. 

All other services provided at the shelter — including surrendering pets, picking up lost animals, owner euthanasia requests, permitting and licensing — will operate from 11 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. on the weekend, according to the shelter.

The change comes amidst a record increase in surrendered and lost animals arriving at the agency in the last few years.

So far in 2025, DAS has taken in 4,392 animals as strays, owner surrenders and transfers, compared to 4,107 at the same time last year. Intakes have been on the rise since 2019, the agency added.

“The number of lost, unwanted, injured and mistreated animals arriving at DAS continues to grow each year, and we are finding there just aren’t enough hours in the day to adopt out these wonderful pets to people who want them,” said DAS Director Melanie Sobel. “Clients would come to the shelter later in the day, register, and then find that there wasn’t enough time for them to visit with an adoptable pet because of the large number of people we serve day in and day out.”

Sobel added: “These additional adoption hours each weekend will give our staff extra precious time to find even more forever homes for our deserving furry friends.”

Individuals looking to adopt a pet can view available animals on the shelter’s website, as well as lost and found animals that may soon become available to adopt.

In July, the shelter is running an adoption special for dogs over 1 year old and over 50 pounds, with only a $50 adoption fee. Cats over 1 year old are $40. All adoption fees include spay or neuter surgery, vaccines, a microchip and a one-year pet license.

Here’s Denver Animal Shelter’s new business hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday:

11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. All services.

Tuesday, Thursday:

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Vaccine clinic only.

12:30 – 6:30 p.m. All services

Saturday, Sunday:

9-11 a.m.: Adoptions only

11 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.: All services