We're responsible for animal welfare services in the City. Our Resource Center services include animal adoption, lost and found support, owner resources, and pet education. We serve the public in matters such as picking up stray dogs, investigating cruelty or neglect, responding to animals in distress, dog licensing, animal permitting, and upholding municipal code.
Lost and Found | Pet Licensing | Pet Owner Resources | Donate
Pet Adoption
Visit the Animal Resource Center to meet your new best friend! Dogs and cats are available for adoption at our shelter located at 521 Eclipse Place. ADOPTIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. We are open for adoption counseling and, once your application is approved, to meet our animals Monday-Friday from 11:00 am-4:30pm. Our adoption staff will help you find a pet that is a match for your home, lifestyle, and personality.
You must fill out the SBARC Adoption Application ahead of time or at the shelter or stop in to speak to one of us first. To learn more about adoption and the process please see our Adoption Brochure.
View Adoptable Pets
Lost and Found
The Animal Resource Center is open for lost and found services including lost reports, found/stray animal admission, and in-person reports during our business hours Monday-Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Lost and found reports can be taken by phone by dialing 311 or e-mailed to our staff at sbarc@southbendin.gov.
Reuniting pets with owners is possible when action is taken right away, check out these proven tips for pet recovery.
My Pet is Missing
Pet recovery should always start with a physical search around the home or the last place a pet was seen. Ask your neighbors to search anywhere your pet might be missing on their property. If you cannot locate your pet after a quick search, contact our staff to provide us with a Lost Report. Remember, if your pet has a microchip, contact the company and report your pet as missing to activate their services.
Lost pet tours are conducted during Animal Resource Center business hours and owners should visit us daily to look for their pet. Most Indiana shelters only have a 3-day holding period for owners to claim animals. It is important to keep in mind that pets are often scared when they are lost and scared animals often look different. A physical tour is the only way to verify an animal in our care may be yours.
File a Lost Pet Report
I Found a Pet
Most stray animals are missing pets and at SBARC we want to help pets reunite with their families. Dogs found without owners should be leashed, taken to safety right away, and reported to SBARC. If you choose to hold on to the dog and look for the owners, you can bring the dog into SBARC to be scanned for a microchip and fill out a Found Animal Report in person. If you are unable to hold on to a lost dog and look for their owners, the dog can be brought into the Animal Resource Center during business hours or picked up by one of our officers.
South Bend is home to many community cats that you may see free-roaming. These outside cats do not need to come into the shelter unless they need medical care. Please contact us for more information on free-roaming cats.
File a Found Animal Report
I Saw a Loose/Stray Dog
Please call 311 to report a loose or stray dog that you are unable to approach and safely leash.
Animal Welfare Officers are unable to respond to reports of healthy loose cats or wildlife.
Field Services
Animal Welfare Officers patrol neighborhoods from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday–Friday to assist animals in distress and uphold the Municipal Code. Animal Welfare Officers are available to respond to dogs running loose or at-large, injured animals, animal bites, nuisance/cruelty/neglect complaints, deceased animals, and certain wildlife problems. Contact 311 to make a report or file a complaint.
Pet Licensing
All dogs and cats over 6 months of age must have a current pet license. Licenses must be renewed each year and require proof of rabies vaccines for each pet. Fees are discounted for animals that have been spayed or neutered. Senior owners of spayed/neutered animals and service pets are eligible for fee waivers.
Please see our Licensing Brochure for more information.
Please refer to the Pet License Application to apply for a license. Rabies certificates and proof of spay/neuter for each animal must be provided along with the license application. Licenses will not be issued until all necessary paperwork is provided and the corresponding fee is paid. Payments can be made in person via cash, check or credit card. Payments can also be mailed in via check or money order. Please note that SBARC does not take payments over the phone.
Chicken Permit
Residential properties are able to keep a chicken flock in the City of South Bend with a valid permit. Flocks are limited to 6 or fewer female chickens; no roosters are allowed. Chicken coop and chicken pen requirements must be met to obtain a permit.
For more detailed information please see sections 5-20 “Urban Chicken Regulations” & 21-02.11(a) “Additional Standards for Chickens, Chicken Coops, and Chicken Pens” in the Municipal Code found here: https://library.municode.com/in/south_bend/codes/code_of_ordinances
Ready to start your flock? Send the completed Chicken Permit Application and required pictures to sbarc@southbendin.gov.
Get Involved and Donate
Donate to SBARC 
SBARC has a special fund set up to receive individual gifts, donations, and bequests that has been established by the City of South Bend. Donations to SBARC go directly to the Animal Resource Center to assist in our operations and caring for our animals. All donations are tax-deductible under IRS Code 170(c)(1). You may donate by cash, check, or credit card by visiting the shelter, or you can use PayPal to give now.
We always welcome donated pet supplies during our regular business hours. You can also send items directly through a subscription service or online marketplace to our address.
Because many pets have sensitive stomachs we try to keep their food consistent by feeding Purina Dog or Cat Chow. Please contact us for more information on donating pet supplies and to find out what items we are currently in of and are accepting.
Volunteer
SBARC is always looking for friendly, outgoing, and passionate volunteers. Our volunteers enhance the experience of the animals staying at the Animal Resource Center by walking dogs, playing with cats, and keeping the shelter clean. They assist with adoption events, fundraising efforts, and greeting our visitors. Volunteer applications can be emailed to us by clicking here. Here are just a few of our volunteer opportunities:
Animal Transportation
The animal transport volunteer will be providing local and long-distance transportation of animals to rescues, medical appointments, and adoption and outreach events in their personal vehicle.
Care Attendant
Care attendant volunteers help with daily animal care and animal husbandry responsibilities. These volunteers will assist staff with cleaning and maintaining cages and kennels and play a vital role in providing adoptable animals with a clean cage/kennel, enrichment, and a sanitary environment while they await their forever home.
Cat Socializer
Cat socializers are a vital part in keeping shelter cats happy and healthy during their stay with us. The purpose of the cat socializer volunteer is to give cats daily interaction through play, petting, grooming, and spending time with them.
Dog Walker
Dog walkers provide shelter dogs the opportunity to get outside, stretch their legs, socialize and work on positive behaviors that will aid her/him in finding their forever home. Dog walking volunteers improve the quality of life for dogs in our care during their stay with us.
Enrichment Team
Enrichment team volunteers will play a vital role in preparing and distributing enrichment items to animals in our care. Enrichment provides animals with mental and physical stimulation they need to stay occupied, happy, and healthy. This is great for families with younger children that want to help shelter animals!
Graphic Design
Graphic Design volunteers assist in the creation of marketing and program communications for South Bend Animal Resource Center (SBARC). Adoption promotion flyers, handouts, brochures, event signage, newsletters and graphics are all types of documents these volunteers help us create.
Groundskeeper
The groundskeeper volunteer will be responsible for basic outdoor maintenance such as weeding, landscaping, snow removal, etc. By volunteering as a volunteer groundskeeper, this volunteer may be exposed to inclement weather conditions.
Housekeeping
Housekeeping volunteers assist with laundry, washing dishes, and keeping public areas of the Animal Resource Center clean and presentable. Housekeeping volunteers help ensure animals have soft clean blankets to lay their head on, clean toys to play with, and clean bowls to eat/drink from.
Humane Education
The humane education volunteer will be involved in community building and outreach programs, neighborhood association meetings, and literature (flyers, newsletters, etc.) production. This position is best suited for individuals with a background or special interest in education and human/animal relations.
Facility Care and Maintenance
The facility care and maintenance volunteer will be responsible for basic indoor maintenance such as building upkeep and repairs. This volunteer position may be on an as needed basis.
Medical Team Member
The specialized volunteer role will be providing basic medical care such as rabies vaccinations, triaging of animals, surgeries, vaccinations, check-ups, as well as consultation by phone on medical care for animals at SBARC. Medical registration or licensure is required for this volunteer position.
Office/Administrative Assistant
This volunteer role will act as a customer relations associate. This volunteer role is responsible for making guests feel welcome when calling and visiting SBARC and performing various front office duties. Some duties may include: answering questions, answering phone calls, processing adoption applications, entering information into our computer program, sending faxes etc.
Photographer/Videographer
The volunteer photographer/videographer will be taking pictures and videos for marketing, adoptions, and public relations purposes—therefore, all pictures/videos taken by volunteers of South Bend Animal Resource Center’s animals or facilities, shall not be distributed by any other agency other than SBARC, or approved affiliates. Prior to distributing images on personal social media pages, please seek approval from the Volunteer Coordinator or staff member. At times, volunteers may be asked to update various sites such as Petfinder with pictures of the animals up for adoption. Volunteer photographers are welcome to enhance any and all images to depict SBARC in a positive light to the community. Any misuse of photos taken by the volunteer of SBARC animals, property, or facilities, could result in termination of volunteer partnership.
Special Events
The special event volunteer is the face of the organization out in the community at various events. This volunteer role may require taking animals to adoption events or assisting with fundraisers on a small or large scale.
Please contact us to learn more and find out how to join the SBARC volunteer team.
Pet Owner Resources
- Best Friends Resource Center has information for owners on health, behavior, and training from veterinarians, animal care professionals and other experts.
- Tractor Supply Company has information on choosing dog food and choosing proper housing for your dog.
- PetFinder has articles about pet care and stages of pet ownership (adoption, grief, rehoming).
- Indiana Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) helps eligible pet owners pay as low as $20 per surgery in SNSI’s statewide network.
Animal Adoption
This web page was last updated on February 28, 2024. Links to other resources on this web page may have been last updated on a different date.
