The Bristol Animal Shelter located in Bristol, RI and is a Municipal Animal Shelter operated by the Bristol Police Department.

The Bristol Animal Shelter is a Municipal Animal Shelter located in Bristol, Rhode Island and is operated through the Bristol Police Department's Animal Control Division. The Shelter is open seven days a week with the exception of being closed on all major holidays. Daily operation hours are subject to change.

The Bristol Animal Shelter impounds stray dogs and sick or injured cats only. Persons wishing to surrender an animal must contact a private humane agency.

All complaints must be filed either through the Bristol Police Department or the Bristol Animal Shelter. Animal Control does not respond to wildlife complaints – any and all wildlife complaints must be handled by the Department of Environmental Management. Contact DEM at (401) 222-2781.

Friends of the Bristol Animal Shelter is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization located in Bristol, Rhode Island.

The mission of the Friends of the Bristol Animal Shelter is to assist the Town of Bristol in their efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for the sick, abused, abandoned and homeless animals that come into the care of the Bristol Animal Shelter until they find their forever home. To that end, we will provide funding for routine and emergency veterinary services for the animals in their care. We are also committed to promoting humane education in order to reduce the neglect, abuse and abandonment of companion animals.

Bristol’s Animal Ordinances:
-Dog at Large: All dogs must be kept under physical restraint at all times, i.e.…leash or behind a fence.
-Vaccinations: It shall be unlawful for any person to own any dog or cat over three months of age that has not been inoculated against rabies.
-Dog License: Every dog in the town of Bristol shall be licensed yearly. Proof of rabies vaccination is required. A license must be renewed every April. A license can be obtained through the Bristol Town Hall.
-Barking Dogs: No person shall keep any dog, which by habitual howling, yelping, or barking, disturbs the quiet of any person residing in the neighborhood.
-Canine Waste Removal: It shall be a violation for any person to fail to remove and dispose of any feces left by his dog on any private property and to not have on their persons a means or removal.
-Confinement of Dogs in Heat: It shall be a violation for any female dog in heat to be at large or restrained out of doors.
-Abandonment: The owner of the keeper of a dog or cat who moves from his place of residence and leaves behind such animal shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
-Sanitary Conditions: It shall be a violation for any person not to provide a maintained area, adequate shelter, and an adequate lead, no less than 15 ft., and adequate food and water for his dog.
-Feral Cat Populations: It shall be a violation for any person to maintain or keep feral cats or back yard feeder cats without having such cats rabies vaccinated and spayed/neutered. For assistance with feral cat populations, please contact PawsWatch at 253-0719.
**Fines: A fine of $25.00 will be levied for each first violation of any of these ordinances. Second violations carry a $50.00 fine, and third or subsequent violations carry a $100.00 fine.