An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost, or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats.

Parrots, for example, are the third most common pet owned by people. Most parrot shelters are privately run, due to the need for specialized care.

The goal of today's animal shelter is to provide a safe and caring environment until the animal is either reclaimed by its owner, placed in a new home, or placed with another organization.